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.
What was black and green and read all over?
The answer to the riddle above is the Kuokoa of May 23, 1863.
Rules for Writing to the Newspaper
The newspaper business was difficult enough without having to worry about people following the basic rules for submissions to be published.
Wilikoki’s Account of his Travels in Rome, the Wondrous City.
Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox (Wilikoki) was enrolled in the Royal Military Academy in Turin, Italy, as one of the youths sent abroad by Kalākaua to be educated in faraway lands, so that they may return and bring what they learned back home to serve their nation. This is the first part of Wilikoki’s account of his travels in Rome, a place he calls Ke Kūlanakauhale Kamahaʻo (The Wondrous City).
Abbreviations
How do you save space, time, and money? One way the Hawaiian language newspapers accomplished this was by using abbreviations.
Rev. E. Bailey’s Mission to Micronesia, 149 Years Ago.
The Hoku Ao leaves Honolulu for Micronesia on July 5, 1876 carrying aboard: Rev. Edward Bailey, representative of the Hawaiian Board; J. W. Kanoa & wife for Butaritari; Pilipo for the Gilbertese Islands; and John Smith who was returning to Wellington Island.
Aesop’s Fables by David Kaluhi Baker
Davida Kaluhi Beka [David Kaluhi Baker] (1863–1927) translates Aesop Romance, a fictional account of the life of Aesop. “He Wahi Moolelo Pokole no Esopa,” runs in Ko Hawaii Pae Aina from August 27 to October 29, 1881. Baker also translates and submits fables as well.
Be Prepared
We have been having a lot of bad weather lately. We, however unlike Hawaiʻi in 1918, have the Central Pacific Hurricane Center to keep us forewarned. Be prepared, and watch out for your family, friends, and neighbors.
Kingdom Era Photographer: Henry Lyman Chase, part 2.
It has been a year since we first talked about photographer H. L. Chase. Looking through the English newspapers also yield information not found in Hawaiian, and likewise the Hawaiian newspapers often speak of things that the English do not. Meanwhile, if possible, we should not forget the other language papers.
Nā Hale Inu Rama o Honolulu
Five different saloons vie for your patronage, enticing you with their advertisements in the newspapers of the day.
Hohole Samoka!
The Hawaiian language and other Polynesian languages use reduplication, which nuances the meaning of a base word by repeating some part or all of the word. The Hawaiian language newspapers record not only reduplicated indigenous vocabulary, but interestingly, reduplicated loan words as well.
Lahaina Town, 1901
In 1901, a writer from the Lahui Hawaii newspaper describes the improving conditions of Lahaina and compares it to the Lahaina of his youth. We catch a glimpse of the cultural and political landscape of Lahaina in the early 1900s—three saloons, remodeled homes, sweeping fields of sugar cane, government leaders hindering progress, and an unsettled citizen voicing discontent with a call to action. The writer’s message to Lahaina is to elect alternative candidates in order for progress to be made.
Lahaina Water Rights, 1895
The fight to retain traditional water rights is not new. In 1894, Henry Dickenson, newly appointed Commissioner of Water Rights, heard a complaint against Kumuliilii (m) and 57 others over their water usage, filed by C. F. Horner and Paul R. Isenberg of the Pioneer Mill. Dickenson sides with the Pioneer Mill.
Newspapers Need Subscribers… Who Actually Pay
S. N. Haleole, writes an article appearing in the Kuokoa newspaper on January 9, 1864, titled, “Pehea e ola loihi ai ka Nupepa?” [How will the newspaper live a long life?].
Kauaʻula, the Powerful Wind of Lahaina
In 1867, a description of Lahaina appears in the newspaper Ke Au Okoa, submitted by a writer(s) who simply identify as C & K of Lahaina. This lengthy description covers multiple topics including a detailed description of the Kauaʻula, the powerful wind of Lahaina.
Hōʻala Hou ʻia Ana
Published on the front page of the August 2, 1862 issue of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, shortly after the historic fire that claimed the original structure of Lahainaluna Seminary School was a mele kanikau, or song of lamentation. May its words not only bring feelings of familiarity and intimacy to what was lost, but after a period of mourning and healing, may it offer a sense of determination and inspiration to rebuild after this tragedy.
Back To School
Printed in 1877, Lahainaluna Seminary prepared for their new school year to begin in the coming July and showcased their class subjects and course material for each grade level.
