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.
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.
E mau kō welo ana!
The Jubilee anniversary of the independence of Hawaiʻi fell on November 28, 1893. One of the larger commemorations that year took place in North Kohala.
George Luther Kapeau appointed lieutenant governor of Kona, Hawaiʻi, 1846
Kamehameha III appoints G. L. Kapeau lieutenant governor of Kona, Hawaiʻi in November 1846. Kapeau reports to Richard Armstrong describing his first days in that office.
Kaʻao, what they are and why they are important.
Abraham Panui, a school teacher from Kapaʻa defines “kaʻao” and explains why they are important.
Newspaper Subscriptions
Newspaper subscriptions were the lifeblood of the newspapers….just as long as they were paid for.
Hoʻi i ke Kai: Prince Kūhiō’s Canoe to Return to the Sea
Prince Kūhiō’s racing canoe will once again find its place upon the great Pacific, on Saturday, November 8, 2025. In commemoration of Henry Weeks, the canoe maker of Kainaliu, here are newspaper articles and other items from the Bishop Museum Library & Archives related to him.
Something unexpected on a nice day out fishing, 1912
This article on fishing is not only fun to read, but it also uses a good number of vocabulary related to pole fishing.
Princess Victoria Kaʻiulani Kawēkiulani Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa
This week Thursday, the 16th of October will be the 150th birthday of Princess Kaʻiulani!
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.
