NEWS RELEASE

Our Kakaʻako to Celebrate Hawaiian History Month with Virtual Talk Story About Kakaʻako’s History

September is Hawaiian History Month and Our Kakaʻako is celebrating by hosting a complimentary virtual talk story event on Saturday, September 18, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. titled “Celebrating Inoa ʻĀina: Hawaiian Place Names,” featuring Manu Boyd, cultural consultant at Kamehameha Schools and kumu hula of Hālau o ke ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani. The session will be live streamed via Zoom.

Boyd will take virtual attendees on a journey through Kakaʻako’s and O‘ahu’s influential past and share the importance of Hawaiian place names as told through oli (chant), mele (song), and mo‘olelo (story). He will also pay tribute to Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarch, Queen Lili‘uokalani, in celebration of her 183rd birthday.

Attendees can register for the virtual talk story at ourkakaako.com/hawaiianhistorymonth. A Zoom link will be sent to registered attendees.

“We are honored to spotlight Hawaiian History Month by paying tribute to Kakaʻako’s compelling past through stories and songs about this neighborhood that was once an industrial hub, traditional fishing village, and O‘ahu’s primary producer of pa‘akai (Hawaiian salt),” said Serge Krivatsy, Kamehameha Schools commercial real estate director of planning and development. “We’ll also highlight the life of Queen Liliʻuokalani, who was the hānai (adopted) sister of Kamehameha Schools Founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Through this educational event and our online Hawaiian History Month quiz, we hope to inspire people to learn more about the history and place names of the communities where we live, work, play and visit.”

Talk story presenter Manu Boyd is well versed in Hawaiian history, having worked with the Bishop Museum, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Royal Hawaiian Center, and Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu. He is also well-known in the island music and arts scene. As a kumu hula, he and his hālau, Hālau o ke ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani, have regularly competed in the Merrie Monarch Festival. As a haku mele (composer), he has won multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards.

Hawaiian History Month Quiz

Additionally, the public is encouraged to test their Hawaiian history knowledge in an online quiz that will be posted on the Our Kakaʻako Hawaiian History Month event web page, ourkakaako.com/hawaiianhistorymonth, from September 18 through September 30. Those who complete the quiz can enter to be eligible to win drawing prizes, including Our Kakaʻako logo wear or a $50 gift card from Highway Inn. Winners will be announced on social media.