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.
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.
Queen Liliʻuokalani Gives Waikahalulu Lands on her Seventy-Third Birthday for a Public Park.
Have you visited Waikahalulu Falls and the park surrounding it? Did you wonder why it is called Liliʻuokalani Park?
Na Wahi Pana o Kaʻū Nei.
Here is an article published in Nupepa Kuokoa that recalls some of the famous places in Kaʻū Hawaiʻi, written by P. M. Malumalu on April 21, 1871.
Schooling ʻAlalauā
Last week’s post consisted of a few articles on the topic of schooling fish. This week will focus more on the juvenile stage of ʻāweoweo, called ʻalalauā or ʻalalauwā.
Iʻa Kū—Schooling Fish
Iʻa kū (schooling or running fish) is one of the topics covered under local news.
Death of Moses Kuaaea Nakuina—115 Years Ago.
You might know Moses Kuaaea Nakuina (7/12/1867–8/3/1911) as a civil servant, or as a politician, or as a member of the clergy, but he was also a collector and teller of stories.
Generous in Death as in Life
John Papa ʻĪʻī is known for his generosity—while alive and beyond.
Ke Kumu Hawaii
Ke Kumu Hawaii was the first newspaper printed in Honolulu. It was published by the Sandwich Island Mission, edited by Reuben Tinker, and ran from November 12, 1834 to May 22, 1839.
Birthday Celebration for Charles Reed Bishop.
Hauʻoli Lā Hānau, e C. R. Bihopa!
Timeline and Commentary
This timeline runs for three issues of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. Although there is no attribution where you would expect one to be (at the beginning or at the end of the series), the accompanying commentary sounds very familiar.
Some firsts in Hawaiʻi
The Hawaiian language newspapers published timelines of Hawaiian history as well as world history.
Local News from 150 Years Ago, 1876
One of the main features of the newspapers was the local news column. Here is the kind of news people were reading about a hundred and fifty years ago.
A New Year Mele, Slightly Updated
Wishing you all a very happy new year! Here are a few New Year’s greetings from the newspapers of the past.
Mary Kawena Pukui on the Perpetuation of the Hawaiian Language and Hula.
Mary Kawena Pukui dedicated her life to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian knowledge, with language and hula in particular.
Hauʻoli Lā Hānau e ke Aliʻiwahine Puʻuwai Momi
In 1891, in celebration of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Kamehameha School hosted its annual Founder’s Day, a memorial to Pauahi’s birthday on the 19th of December. This tradition continues this year on the Kamehameha School campuses across Hawai’i, with festivities such as singing, hula, and scripture readings. Here at Bishop Museum, we will have a double celebration—to honor two important women who left behind important legacies—our namesake Ke Aliʻiwahine Bernice Pauahi Bishop, and Mary Kawena Pukui (in the last of the 2025 Nānā i ke Kumu Series).
“Old Plantation”
Many Hawaiian homes and buildings were given a name. Whether it be the house of bones of Kalaikoa called Kauwalua, or the modern palaces like ʻIolani Hale and Keōua Hale, or the drinking establishments like Nekina, or the former school house on the Bishop Museum campus named Hale Bīhopa. The Ward estate was not an exception. It was known as Old Plantation.
