He Aupuni Palapala
Cover Image: Detail of front page of the January 1, 1862 issue of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. Photo by David Franzen, ©2009 Bishop Museum Archives. QM 204791.
He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers is an ambitious, multi-year collaboration between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu, supported by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and with contributions from Kamehameha Schools. Its goals are to catalog the existing nūpepa (Hawaiian language newspapers) in public repositories in Hawaiʻi, recording the condition of each page. It will also redigitize and partner with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Papakilo Database to make word searchable the clearest pages available and to upload them online for free public access.
The Hawaiian language newspapers total more than 100,000 pages of text, encompassing practically all aspects of Hawaiian life, culture, literature, environment, and history—told in the words of Hawaiians of the day.
Aole o’u makemake e paio aku, he makemake ko’u e pololei ka moolelo o ko’u one hanau, aole na ka malihini e ao mai ia’u i ka mooolelo o ko’u lahui, na’u e ao aku i ka moolelo i ka malihini.
[I have no desire to argue, I want the history of my homeland to be accurate; it is not for the foreigner to teach me the history of my people, it is for me to teach it to the foreigner.]
—S. M. Kamakau, “Hooheihei ka Nukahalale…” Ke Au Okoa, 10/16/1865, p. 1
Aole o’u makemake e paio aku, he makemake ko’u e pololei ka moolelo o ko’u one hanau, aole na ka malihini e ao mai ia’u i ka mooolelo o ko’u lahui, na’u e ao aku i ka moolelo i ka malihini.
[I have no desire to argue, I want the history of my homeland to be accurate; it is not for the foreigner to teach me the history of my people, it is for me to teach it to the foreigner.]
—S. M. Kamakau, “Hooheihei ka Nukahalale…” Ke Au Okoa, 10/16/1865, p. 1
Detail of front page of the January 1, 1862 issue of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. Photo by David Franzen, ©2009 Bishop Museum Archives. QM 204791.
Huakaʻi, Travel
Hawaiian language newspapers often featured travel descriptions, whether it be a visit within a single island, or to another island, or to lands far across the sea.
Mele, Poetic Compositions
Hawaiian language newspapers, were a place to share and preserve old and new mele.
Latest News
Hawaiian language newspapers, like any other newspaper, published the latest news of the day.
Moʻolelo and Kaʻao
Hawaiian language newspapers were a place for the safekeeping of traditional stories.
Legendary Places
Hawaiian language newspapers were a place to talk about wahi pana or legendary places. Many of these places have been covered over and lost to time, but their stories remain, thanks to the foresight of the many contributors to the newspapers.
A Place to Share One’s Grief
Hawaiian language newspapers had a readership that stretched across the archipelago from Hawaiʻi Island of Keawe to Niʻihau that snatched away the sun. People were subscribing to the newspapers even father away. Placing an announcement in the paper was the most efficient way to inform family and friends of the death of a loved one.
Traditional Knowledge
Hawaiian language newspapers were a place for the recording of traditional knowledge: from genealogy, to mele, to place names, to wind and rain names for different lands.
Descriptions of Travels, Near and Far
From the first Hawaiian language newspaper, Ka Lama Hawaii, until the very last, Ka Hoku o Hawaii, there were published countless accounts of travels around these islands as well as to foreign lands across the sea.
Huakaʻi, Travel
Hawaiian language newspapers often featured travel descriptions, whether it be a visit within a single island, or to another island, or to lands far across the sea.
Mele, Poetic Compositions
Hawaiian language newspapers, were a place to share and preserve old and new mele.
Latest News
Hawaiian language newspapers, like any other newspaper, published the latest news of the day.
Moʻolelo and Kaʻao
Hawaiian language newspapers were a place for the safekeeping of traditional stories.
Legendary Places
Hawaiian language newspapers were a place to talk about wahi pana or legendary places. Many of these places have been covered over and lost to time, but their stories remain, thanks to the foresight of the many contributors to the newspapers.
A Place to Share One’s Grief
Hawaiian language newspapers had a readership that stretched across the archipelago from Hawaiʻi Island of Keawe to Niʻihau that snatched away the sun. People were subscribing to the newspapers even father away. Placing an announcement in the paper was the most efficient way to inform family and friends of the death of a loved one.
Traditional Knowledge
Hawaiian language newspapers were a place for the recording of traditional knowledge: from genealogy, to mele, to place names, to wind and rain names for different lands.
Descriptions of Travels, Near and Far
From the first Hawaiian language newspaper, Ka Lama Hawaii, until the very last, Ka Hoku o Hawaii, there were published countless accounts of travels around these islands as well as to foreign lands across the sea.
