In Hawai’i, on the Island of Maui, there is a place called Kipahulu. Long before the first Europeans arrived on Maui, Kipahulu was prized by the Hawaiian ali’i (royalty) for its fertile ‘aina (land) and kai (ocean). Thousands of people once lived a sustainable lifestyle in this area farming, fishing, and surviving with the resources of the ‘Ahupua’a (traditional Native Hawaiian land division which stretches from the mountain to the sea).
In 1995, a small group of Native Hawaiian residents came together to revive, restore, and share the practices of traditional Native Hawaiian culture with others in Kipahulu. We, the Kipahulu ‘Ohana, are a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating residents and visitors of the “ways of old” through cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities. Using the wisdom and spiritual guidance of our kupuna (elders, learned teachers), we seek to re-establish a Hawaiian lifestyle in Kipahulu. By initiating sustainable projects, dividing the labor, and sharing the results we will preserve our culture.
Mahalo Ke Akua. Ano ai ke aloha.
“Thank you with blessings from God. Greetings with love.”
–Kupuna Daisy