Kumu Hula Mehanaokalā Hind provides an introduction to the Lāhui Kānaka campaign being instituted by more than two dozen Kumu Hula across the pae ʻāina. This video is a first in a series of Public Service Announcements, being supported by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, that will be deployed via social media to expeditiously promote practices that support Mauli Ola (wellbeing) to help flatten the COVID-19 curve.
Aloha nui on behalf of Huamakahikina. As a proactive response to a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases affecting the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities of Hawaiʻi, a hui of Kumu Hula from across the pae ʻāina, now called Huamakahikina, originally agreed to a 30-day kapu to help stop the spread of the pandemic.
This kapu is called the “Lāhui Kānaka”, and it represents a gathering of intentions focused on stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi.
The original kapu began for hula practitioners on August 16th with the rising of the Mauli moon and continued for three anahulu (three 10 day periods) until the next Mauli moon on September 14th. During that time, the Lāhui Kānaka was further adapted by the kumu hula of Huamakahikina for implementation by the public, which was then invited to join us over the next malama. The ultimate goal of the Lāhui Kānaka is to maintain and improve the sanctity of the Mauli Ola of those within our pālama.
To learn more about the three terms I just mentioned, “Lāhui Kānaka”, “Mauli Ola”, and “Pālama”, we invite you to watch the 3 foundational presentations, the Hoʻokahua Series, that can be found on the social media platforms of Kanaeokana and of the OHA. Over the course of those presentations, we discuss ways to maintain and improve our overall well-being to be proactive in our collective efforts against COVID-19.
Our Newest Series is called: Hōʻeu, Hoʻūlu, Hoʻōla — Incite, Inspire, Invigorate.
We’ve already presented some wonderful discussions:
“The Wonders of ʻUala”
“Nānā i ke Kumu”
“Aloha Kaunaʻoa”
“Moʻokūʻauhau, Meʻe, Mele”
and,
Coming up will be:
“ʻAipono and Hoʻoikaika Kino” on Saturday, November 21 at 10am
“COVID-19 affects everyone differently,” said Kumu Hula Mehanaokalā Hind, who helped to organize the kapu. Hind, who is also OHA’s Director of Community Engagement, adds, “one of the scariest things about the disease is that you can have it without showing any symptoms.”
To make it through this pandemic healthy and whole, organizers believe that we must show our aloha for one-another in different ways because our customary greeting of a honi and hug can easily infect those we love the most with COVID-19. This is especially dangerous to our kūpuna who, overall, have been more severely impacted by the disease.
“We need to learn to show our aloha differently, like a verbal greeting, a ʻshaka’ or a smile,” Hind urged. “And we need to stop gathering in large groups! Limit gatherings to no more than 10 people because if just one person is sick, large ʻohana celebrations can become hotspots for transmitting COVID-19. You don’t want your party or celebration to become the origin of sickness for your loved ones.”
Organizers understand that the period of kapu will require discipline and focus, but are encouraging their haumāna and others who choose to join them to use the time to focus on mauli ola for themselves and their ʻohana. The hope is that, at the end of three anahulu, we will see a decrease in the daily COVID-19 infection count, and an increase in pono and akamai behaviors within our lāhui and the larger community.
To help share their message with the community, organizers initiated an ongoing social media campaign. The campaign features a series of Public Service Announcements (PSA) with various Kumu Hula sharing their manaʻo about the kapu and COVID-19. Supported by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, this cultural intervention is being coordinated in response to the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi in the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community.
Nā kumu hula Kaʻiulani Odom and Cody Pueo Pata share basic concepts and innovations of modern-day pālama in the face of ka maʻi Ikiiki ʻOwaikū (COVID-19).
Let’s review basic concepts of Lāhui Kānaka and reflect on various ways to support each other in our efforts to mālama i ka pālama.
Learn how to strengthen your pālama through intention and pule. Join nā kumu hula Hōkūlani Holt, Kapuaokalani Kaʻauʻa, Pele Kaio and CEO of the Mauliola Endowment, Kalei Nuʻuhiwa, who bring intention and pule to their every day well-being.
Join six kumu hula as they share moʻolelo, ʻōlelo noʻeau, and ʻike about ʻuala. Then join them for recipes using ʻuala for pūpū, salad, main dish, dessert, and a smoothie, everything ʻono and everything ʻuala.
Join these 5 Kumu Hula as they discuss a topic so important to our Mauli Ola, the well-being of our Kumu. Listen as they also discuss the Hālau Heirarchy and the kūlana and kuleana of each part of the hālau!
A timely presentation that honors the Kaunaʻoa during a time that our ʻohana on the island of Lānaʻi is challenged by a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Expand your ʻike Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian knowledge, as Kumu Akana speaks about ʻohana/hula lineages, and shares a hula noho for Tutu Pele, an oli for Hiʻiakaikapoliopele and a new mele composed to uplift the spirit of those suffering from illness.
The public is invited to learn more about the Lāhui Kānaka effort and the focus on behaviors that promote well being. Registration is required and may be completed at oha.org/webinar. The webinars will be live streamed on the OHA Facebook page and via Zoom at oha.org/webinar.
Two Pule Hoʻōla were researched and offered by Kalei Nuʻuhiwa for our purpose of the Lāhui Kānaka.
