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.
Richard Armstrong’s description of Waialua in 1841.
Descriptions of places at a specific time give us clues into changes of the area through time.
Kamehameha Day, 1875.
There were no parades, but a 21-gun salute and a baseball game were included in the commemoration, 150 years ago, of Kamehameha Day.
Photographer in the Kingdom: Henry Lyman Chase, “Keiki”
Newspapers are one source not to overlook when sleuthing after the footsteps of those who went before.
piki.mana. nvs. Bituminous; coal. Eng. Lānahu pikimana, bituminous coal.
Here is another example of a word with more definitions than what is found in the dictionaries.
ʻō.lelo ʻē. n. Foreign language, incomprehensible lingo; mention of a matter other than the subject under discussion.
When you hear or see “ʻōlelo ʻē,” chances are the meanings above from the Pukui and Elbert dictionary are what comes to mind. But could one of the meanings have been more specific?
Levi Lemuel Joseph
Levi Lemuela Joseph was born on this day 153 years ago in Kīpahulu on Maui.
Lei Day at Honolulu Hale, 1931
Before the lei contests were held at Kapiʻolani Park, Honolulu Hale is where the action took place!
Hula Kuʻi and Another Kind of Kuʻi
After an exciting week of hula, the following is an article from the early 1900s speaking of the hula kuʻi.
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.
