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.
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.
In pursuit of sovereignty
When looking for an event that occured on this day in history, we came across this article which speaks of Timoteo Haʻalilio being baptized aboard the ship Montreal on December 1, 1844.
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.
