Watch Nā Hulu Lehua The Royal Cloak & Helmet of Kalaniʻōpuʻu, a 25 minute film that documents the historic return of Kalaniʻōpuʻu's treasured ʻahuʻula & mahiole.
In 1779, Kalaniʻōpuʻu, aliʻi nui of Hawaiʻi Island, greeted Capt. James Cook in Kealakekua Bay and draped his treasured ʻahu ʻula over the newcomer’s shoulders as a gesture of goodwill. While Cook himself would not leave Hawaiʻi, Kalaniʻōpuʻu’s feathered cape and mahiole sailed back to Europe with Cook’s crew, and ultimately ended up at the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
An unprecedented partnership between the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Bishop Museum and Te Papa with support from Hawaiian Airlines enabled the return of Kalaniʻōpuʻu’s priceless garments. In March 2016, a delegation from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Bishop Museum and Hawaiian Airlines traveled to Aotearoa to engage in protocol and return the ʻahuʻula and mahiole to Hawaiʻi.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs documented this awe-inspiring journey in the film, “Nā Hulu Lehua: The Royal Cloak and Helmet of Kalaniʻopuʻu.” The 25-minute documentary shares the significance of high chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu, his mea kapu and the incredible partnerships that made their historic return home possible.
| ISLAND | LOCATION | DATE & TIME | CONTACT |
| Molokaʻi | Mitchell Pauʻole Community Center90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai | Jan. 26, 2017
6:00 –7:30 p.m. |
Brent Nakihei
OHA Molokaʻi Office |
| Maui | ʻIao Theater | Feb. 18, 2017
Doors open at 6:00 pm. Film starts at 6:30 p.m. |
Roy Newton
OHA Maui Office (808) 873-3363 |
| Hilo, Hawaiʻi | Palace Theatre
38 Haili St. |
Feb. 22, 2017
Doors open at 6:00 pm. Film starts at 6:30 p.m. |
Kamuela Bannister OHA East Hawaiʻi Office (808) 933-3108 |
| Kona, Hawaiʻi | Huliheʻe Palace
75-5718 Aliʻi Drive |
Feb. 24, 2017
Doors open at 6:00 pm. Film starts at 6:30 p.m. |
Shane Palacat-Nelsen
OHA West Hawaiʻi Office (808) 327-9525 |
| South Kona, Hawaiʻi (Event Flier) |
Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau National Historic Park Amphitheater | Feb. 25, 2017
Doors open at 6:00 pm. Film starts at 6:30 p.m. |
Shane Palacat-Nelsen
OHA West Hawaiʻi Office (808) 327-9525 |
| Kapolei, Oʻahu | ʻOlino Theater at Ka Makana Aliʻi
91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 600 |
March 11, 2017
Doors open at 10 a.m. Film starts at 10:30 a.m. Seating is 1st come, 1st served. |
TBA |
Mahalo for sharing your manaʻo on this historic return. Your manaʻo may be incorporated into promotional materials to help continue the cycle of inspiration.
Click here to learn more about the high chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu, his treasured feathered garments and the partnerships that made it possible for them to return to Hawaiʻi.
me to learn more about my culture. It makes me want to know my cultures and where I came from. – Hirirau, 9
me to learn about King Kamehamehaʻs history. I love Hawaiian history and legends. I am happy about history. – Bobbi B., 9
me to want to learn about Hawaiian history. I felt inspired to learn about Hawaii and Hawaiian history. This movie was very interesting. I learned a lot about Hawaiian culture. – Acyra, 9
me to learn how the Hawaiians did in the past. I learned that it takes 1,000,000 feathers to make the cape and helmet. – Tamahei T., 10
me to learn more, i felt really inspired about it to learn about Hawaiian history. – Jaychelle A., 9
me to be like him when Iʻm older. Once I got a brand new toy but one of my friends were leaving so I gave him it to remind him of me. – Jetlee P., 10
me because I like learning about things long ago and about Hawaiian and other cultures. I really think that the movie was cool and I learned that the royal cloak and helmet is special to a lot of people and that people took good care of it. – Halahuni, 10, Laie
it inspires me to go and make things. – Marquis L., 10, Hauula
me because i want to learn more about Hawaiians. I love to learn about cultures and how people lived and some activities. I love to learn about food and different people. In the video it showed me how people can come together. – Ivy M., 9 ½
me because I want to learn about the Hawaiians. I really want to learn about how they make the feather clothes. – Kingston, 9, Laie
me to try to learn Hawaiian. It makes me feel like I belong here in Hawaii and no were else in the world. – Josiah, 10, Laie
about our Polynesian culture. This video was really inspiring to me in my heart. Especially since I’m Polynesian. I felt that the helmet and cape of Kalaniopu’u is really important. I just thought that the video was really beautiful. I loved the video and hope to see another one like it. I’m glad I watched it. 🙂 – Eden M., 9, Laie
me to watch more Hawaii history videos. I like learning about the Hawaiian culture in books or movies. It helps me understand the culture of Hawaii better. I moved here a few years ago, and I’m still trying to understand our culture surrounded by the sea. – Dallin Joel Reece, 9, Laie
me cause it respects cultures. It was a nice video. – Enjoli T., 9, Hauula
you to do things that he did and more. It moves your heart for Hawaii culture. – Alissa M., 9, Haula
me to work hard. What I watched was a miracle 4,000,000 feathers that’s crazy. So it makes me want to work harder. – Leyton, 10, Laie
Homecoming and Hope. A cycle has come to an end and the goodwill of the chief brought the holy items home again. – Katrin, 48, Atlanta
