Hale Kūkākūkā
at Kūʻokoʻa Kūkanono
At our annual Kūʻokoʻa Kūkanono celebration, we host a hale kūkākūkā or talk story tent to bring together kūpuna, mākua, and ʻōpio from across the mokupuni to share moʻolelo and provide free, accessible ea-ducation rooted in community and aloha ʻāina. This Hale is open to all ages and welcomes every curious mind who is interested in learning directly from pillars of our community. Join us to deepen your understanding of kūʻokoʻa and discover the ways it has been practiced across our history.
Past Year Videos
KŪ‘OKO‘A KŪKANONO 2025
Check out highlights from the Hale Kūkākūkā below! To view the full speaker session, scroll further down the page.
Hale Kūkākūkā 2025 Highlights
Moʻokūʻauhau of Aloha ʻĀina:
Imaging Futures of Kūʻokoʻa for our Moku
Panel Discussion with Jon Reppun, Pilialoha Melody MacKenzie, Keoni deFranco
Moderated by Mahina Kaomea and Kaliko Kalāhiki
In this panel, we will hear from three kupa of Koʻolau as they reflect on their genealogies of aloha ʻāina, which have set into motion generations of work to protect and fight for ʻāina and its resources. How do we organize our community to protect ʻāina from development and restore pono back to those spaces? What can these moʻokūʻauhau teach us as we continue to imagine futures of ea and kūʻokoʻa for Kailua, and for our lāhui? Join us for a cross-generational conversation that can help our community learn more about our collective fight to protect our ‘āina.
Recorded November 29th, 2025
History of Lā Kūʻokoʻa
Moʻolelo with Noenoe K. Silva
Hear Hawaiian scholar Noenoe K. Silva reflect on the rich history of Lā Kūʻokoʻa celebrations throughout our pae ʻāina. How did these celebrations create and sustain Hawaiian resistance to the illegal overthrow and annexation, culminating in the thousands of signatures on the document now known as the Kūʻē petitions? And how might our contemporary celebrations of this Hawaiian holiday continue to create momentum towards ea for our lāhui?
Recorded November 29th, 2025
Hikaʻalani and “‘O ‘Oe nō Paha Ia e ka Lau o ke Aloha
Moʻolelo with Kīhei De Silva
In 1895, a kūpuna named Hīkaʻalani testified in court before the Ko‘olaupoko Water Rights Commission to protect the waters of Kawainui and Kailua. She thought herself to be the last person to know and care for the wai and ʻāina around Kawainui. Hear Kīhei de Silva retell her story alongside the mele “‘O ‘Oe nō Paha Ia e ka Lau o ke Aloha” to learn how we may better care for our waters and lands and remind Hīkaʻalani that she was not the last.
Recorded November 29th, 2025