Ka ʻAha Hoʻolauna Aloha

08/20/2026

Join the KAHĀ Board of Directors

Ka ʻAha Hoʻolauna Aloha (KAHĀ) is seeking passionate, values-driven leaders to join our Board of Directors as we enter an exciting new chapter of growth, governance, and impact.

If you believe in preserving and perpetuating ʻike Hawaiʻi, strengthening our communities, and helping shape the future of Native Hawaiian education and culture, we invite you to consider serving.

As a KAHĀ Board Member, you will help:

✨ Provide strategic leadership and organizational oversight.
✨ Uphold our fiduciary responsibilities and commitment to ethical governance.
✨ Champion the preservation and advancement of ʻike Hawaiʻi and nohona Hawaiʻi.
✨ Support programs, partnerships, fundraising, and long-term sustainability.
✨ Serve with integrity, humility, and aloha alongside a dedicated team of leaders.

We welcome individuals with diverse professional backgrounds, including nonprofit leadership, education, finance, law, governance, marketing and communications, philanthropy, business, cultural practice, community engagement, and other areas of expertise that strengthen our mission.

E hoʻomau kākou i ka mālama ʻana i ka ʻike Hawaiʻi.
Together, let us preserve, protect, and perpetuate our ʻike for generations to come.

Apply now:

We welcome leaders from Hawaiʻi, the continent, and beyond who are committed to advancing KAHĀ’s mission and contributing their time, expertise, relationships, and aloha in service to our community.

07/09/2026

📸 The Memories Continue Next Week...

The moments that made KAHĀ 2026 so special are almost here.
From powerful workshops and inspiring exchanges of ʻike to joyful reunions, heartfelt embraces, and unforgettable performances, our official conference photo gallery captures the spirit of this year's gathering.

✨ The official KAHĀ 2026 photos will be released next week!

Get ready to relive the laughter, the learning, the hula, the mele, and the aloha that brought our community together. We can't wait to share these memories with you.

A very special mahalo nui to our official conference photographer, Uncle Joe Dypiangco, whose generosity, talent, and keen eye beautifully documented the people, moments, and spirit of KAHĀ. Because of his dedication, these memories will continue to inspire our community for years to come.

Stay tuned, and be ready to tag your friends, your hālau, and everyone who made this year's conference so meaningful.

07/04/2026

One week later, and we're still carrying the manaʻo with us. 🌺
Take a journey back to KAHĀ 2026 as we revisit one of our unforgettable Hōʻike sessions with Kumu Paul Kalani "Boboy" Kaawa Flores-Hatt, Jr.

Participants explored the beauty, history, and wahi pana of Waiʻanae through the standing hula ʻōlapa "Waiʻanae," performed with the ʻulīʻulī. One of six mele composed in honor of Queen Liliʻuokalani by her courtier, Eleanor Kekoaohiwailani Wright Prendergast, the mele commemorates the Queen's train journey while honoring the enduring spirit of the Waiʻanae moku.

Rooted in ʻike Hawaiʻi, hula, and place, Kumu Boboy guided dancers beyond choreography—inviting them into the stories, rhythms, and cultural legacy that continue to shape our lāhui. His leadership as a Kumu Hula, educator, and Native Hawaiian scholar reflects KAHĀ's commitment to preserving and perpetuating ʻike kūpuna for future generations.

Mahalo nui, Kumu Boboy, for sharing your ʻike, aloha, and unwavering dedication to our poʻe.

07/02/2026

Some of our favorite moments from the KAHĀ 2026 ʻAhaʻaina.

As our gathering came to a close, we were reminded that KAHĀ has never been just about the workshops or the presentations. It is about the people. The conversations shared across tables. The laughter between generations. The songs that brought us together. The embrace of old friends and the joy of making new ones.

This is aloha in action.
This is pilina made stronger.
This is laulima—many hands and hearts working together.
This is our shared kuleana to ensure that ʻike Hawaiʻi continues to thrive for generations to come.

Mahalo nui loa to Lawakua for filling the evening with beautiful mele and manaʻo, to Mailani for sharing her extraordinary gift and aloha through music, and to Dillon Ancheta for guiding our celebration with warmth, humor, and heart.

To every kumu, loea, presenter, volunteer, sponsor, vendor, and participant—mahalo for bringing your ʻike, your stories, and your aloha. Each of you helped create something far greater than an event. Together, we strengthened a community grounded in culture, connection, and purpose.

Until we meet again, may we continue to carry the spirit of KAHĀ into our homes, our communities, and our daily lives.

A hui hou. 💛🌺

Photo Credit: Joe Dypiangco

07/01/2026

🌿 Hana Noʻeau: Where ʻike becomes art through the hands of our poʻe.

At KAHĀ 2026, participants stepped into the timeless practice of Wai Hoʻoluʻu with Kumu Sabra Kauka and Janne Larsen, exploring the traditional Hawaiian art of dyeing kapa with natural dyes made from plants gathered from the ʻāina.

Crafted from the bark of the wauke (paper mulberry), kapa has long served as both a practical and cultural textile.

Through ancestral methods of pounding, soaking, and fermenting native plants, vibrant natural dyes are created and carefully applied by brushing, soaking, or stamping with ʻohe kāpala (carved bamboo printing tools) to produce meaningful geometric patterns and designs.

More than a craft, Wai Hoʻoluʻu is an expression of ʻike Hawaiʻi—a practice that reflects a profound understanding of the natural world and the enduring relationship between people and place. Every color tells a story. Every pattern carries meaning. Every piece honors the ʻike of our kūpuna.

Mahalo to Kumu Sabra Kauka and Janne Larsen for sharing this beautiful tradition and reminding us that Hana Noʻeau is not simply about making something with our hands—it is about carrying culture forward with intention, creativity, and aloha.

Photo Credit: Kumu Sabra Kauka

06/29/2026

🌺 Mahalo Nui Loa 🌺
Ua pau ka ʻAha ʻĀina KAHĀ 2026, akā hoʻomau ka pilina.
From the bottom of our hearts, mahalo nui loa to everyone who joined us for this year's KAHĀ 2026 ʻAha ʻĀina. Whether you traveled across the street or across the ocean, your presence, aloha, and manaʻo made this gathering truly special.
A heartfelt mahalo to our incredible presenters and kumu who generously shared their ʻike, moʻolelo, mele, hula, and ʻike kupuna. Your willingness to teach ensures these traditions continue to thrive for future generations.
To every attendee, volunteer, vendor, sponsor, and supporter—mahalo for showing up, participating, learning, laughing, and celebrating with us. Together we strengthened our pilina and reaffirmed our commitment to ʻike Hawaiʻi.
A very special mahalo nui loa to Dillon Ancheta, whose warmth, energy, and aloha as our host helped guide us through an unforgettable evening. Mahalo for bringing people together with grace and joy.
ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.
No task is too great when done together.
A hui hou kākou. Until we meet again, may the spirit of aloha continue to guide us all.

Me ke aloha,
KAHĀ

06/28/2026

🌺 Mahalo for an Incredible Day 2 at KAHĀ 2026 🌺

What a beautiful day of learning, connection, and ʻike.

Mahalo nui loa to every participant, presenter, volunteer, vendor, and supporter who made Day 2 of KAHĀ 2026 so meaningful. From inspiring workshops and hands-on cultural practices to heartfelt conversations and new pilina, each moment reflected the strength and beauty of our shared commitment to perpetuating ʻike Hawaiʻi.

To our esteemed kumu, loea, and cultural practitioners—mahalo for so generously sharing your ʻike, stories, and aloha. Your guidance continues to inspire and strengthen our lāhui and all who have gathered to learn.

As we prepare for our final day together, we invite you to carry today's lessons into tomorrow with open hearts and a spirit of aloha. There is still more to learn, more connections to make, and more memories to create.

E ʻike ana kākou tomorrow for our final day of KAHĀ 2026.

06/28/2026

What does it mean to dedicate a lifetime to preserving and sharing ʻike Hawaiʻi? 🌺

Join us at KAHĀ 2026 as we welcome Kumu Paula De Morales, a beloved educator whose commitment to Hawaiian language, culture, and history has inspired generations of learners across Hawaiʻi.

For more than 30 years, Kumu Paula served as an educator with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education, teaching in Kohala, Hilo, and at Waiākea High School. Her life's work has been rooted in a simple but powerful belief: that Hawaiian cultural education should be shared with all who seek to learn with humility and respect.

Her journey was shaped by early experiences at Bishop Museum, where she worked alongside the Archaeology, Anthropology, Ethnography, library, and recording departments, and by the privilege of learning from some of Hawaiʻi's most esteemed cultural leaders, including Mary Kawena Pukui, Eleanor Williamson, Margaret Titcomb, Dr. Kenneth Emory, Dr. Yoshi Sinoto, Dr. Terry Barrow, and Dr. Roland Force.

At KAHĀ, Kumu Paula continues this legacy by sharing ʻike grounded in ʻike kūpuna, ʻike Hawaiʻi, and a lifetime of service to our communities.

🌿 E hui mai kākou as we learn from one of Hawaiʻi's treasured cultural educators.

06/27/2026

What makes a mele truly Hawaiian?

Hear directly from acclaimed Haku Mele Kainani Kahaunaele as she shares the ʻike, language, and cultural foundations that give Hawaiian mele its enduring life and meaning.

A celebrated composer, musician, educator, and advocate for ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, Kainani has dedicated her life’s work to revitalizing the Hawaiian language and inspiring future generations through her leadership at Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.

There’s still time to join Kumu Kainani’s workshop tomorrow at KAHĀ 2026. Discover the heart of Hawaiian mele through thoughtful discussion, listening, singing, and a deeper exploration of the language, poetry, and cultural traditions that continue to shape our lāhui.

🌿 E komo mai. We welcome you to learn alongside us.

Learn more and register: hawaiiankaha.org