For the past decade, Na Papa Kanaka o Pu`ukohola have held commemorative ceremonies at the Nu`uanu Pali in memory of the great battle that took place there. We gather to honor the strength, skill, intelligence, and bravery of Na Kupa`aina o Hawai`i who played a role in this pivotal moment of history. It is said that this was the last major political action purely determined by Hawaiians toward forging their future. We gather to keep our history alive in our minds and naʻau and to perpetuate our culture.We would like to invite you to participate with us for the annual “Commemorative Ceremony” honoring the Battle of Nu`uanu and the men and women that participated.As the sun rises over the Pali on Saturday, April 25 traditional oli will be heard marking the 215th year since the events occurred that placed Kamehameha as the ruler of O’ahu, Moloka`i, Maui, and Hawai`i. Groups attending are invited to give ho`okupu, oli, hula, or traditional offering of your choice. The early morning ceremonies should begin at 5:30AM and then we will move into a sharing of mo`olelo, oli, hula, and ho`okupu. We will greet the dawn with sunrise protocols, and pule to the start of a good day.We gather with the purpose of honoring Nā Kānaka, Nā Koa, and Nā Ali`i that shared in this pivotal moment of history. “I ulu nō ka lālā I ke kumu”, the branches grow because of the trunk (Without our ancestors we would not be here), `Olelo No`eau, Mary Kawena Pukui. It is intended as a time to come together, to share, and move forward in unity and peace-- Ho`oku`ikahi.Aloha aku noFINAL NOTE: If you are attending, be sure to be prepared for cold, wet weather, just in case. If you would like to present hookupu of any kind, you are most welcome to do so. physical hookupu may be presented, or hula, oli, or other traditional hoike naau.Call time is indeed 5AM, with procession starting 5:30.
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  • (continued from below)...

    As the sun rose over the Pali Look out you could hear, participate, and witness the traditional Oli. This had marked the 215th Anniversary since the events occurred that placed Kamehameha as the ruler of O'ahu, Moloka'i, Maui, and Hawai'i. The oli had stopped when Kahuna Ohu Gon had announced that the trees had cast their shadows upon the Koolaupoko's. We had greeted the Dawn of Morning with Sunrise protocols, chants, olis, hulas, and gifts. The Ceremony continued for two hours and it was so full of energy as we honored our ancestors. We have gathered to keep our history alive in our minds, in our
    hearts, in our souls, and to perpetuate our Hawaiian Culture.

    Ohu lead the Chanters, the Na Papa Kanaka o Pu'ukohola , the Na Kupa'aina o
    Hawai'i, the Halaus, the Hawaiian Civic Clubs, other Organizations, and
    Visitors who attend back down to the Tent area. We gathered together to
    embrace each other for sharing this Awesome Commemoration. The Ceremonial Participants gathered to get warm, changed, and to get something
    warm to drink ( hot coffee, hot tea, hot cocoa, and hot water), some fresh
    pastries, and juicy fruits. We had bid Aloha to all of them for sharing
    with us this special moment in time. I would attend and participate in this
    Honorable Commemoration over and over again. The Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club
    would like to invite all of the Hawaiian Civic Clubs to witness and partake
    in this unbelievable moment of Time and History. We would have stayed
    later, but the O'ahu Council had called a General Membership Meeting in
    Kahana Valley at 09:00 a.m.; so Mina Elison, Marvelle Kuulei Laughlin, Mary
    Ann Kanoelani Crowell and myself had to bid our farewells at 08:00 a.m. for
    we had at least an hours drive.

    Once again I hope that all of you would make it a traditional activity to
    attend. The whole family should be involved and plan to make this a special
    event to share with friends in the Community. We are all responsible to
    support one of the rarest commemorations of our Hawaiian History. Mahalo to
    all that had put this event together, Kahuna Sam Ohu Gon, Na Papa Kanaka o
    Pu'ukohola, Na Kupa'aina o Hawai'i, the variety of Halaus, Kumu Hulas,
    Kahus, and of course Doctor Burrows and Aunty Waimea for their guidance.

    Aloha Ke Akua;
    Kahu Ryan Alena Kaimana Kuhio Kalama
    President of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club
  • (continued from below)...

    A beautiful young women had approached me, and had asked, if I knew Ryan
    Kalama, I chuckled, and said, Aloha that I was he. She said oh thank God,
    explaining that she was Aunty Moana Demello's, Administrator of St. Matthews
    Episcopal Church, daughter and she handed me a bunch of beautiful Tropical
    flowers that she had gathered from her yard, and a handmade beautiful 40
    inch long Pukenikeni Lei, to give as a Hookupu to represent her family, the
    Hawaiian Civic Club of Waimanalo and the St. Matthews Episcopal Church. How thoughtful was this young women, who had taken the time to come so early in the morning, and attend her first Commemoration with her boy friend. She stated that she was also excited about seeing all the Ceremonial
    Participants getting ready.

    There were a variety of people who were taking pictures of all the
    Ceremonial Participants, Halaus, Kumus, Na Papa Kanaka o Pu'ukohola Halau,
    Na Kupa'aina o Hawai'i and the Chanters. At this time it was 5:30 a.m. the
    warriors of the Na Kupa'aina o Hawaii were in their malo attire standing in
    the 50 degree cold chill, some wore oil, some had meditated, some focused,
    some just toughed it out because of their passion to follow through on the
    ceremony. The Na Papa Kanaka o Pu'ukohola Heiau where adorn in their
    garments and Kiheis, the Hawaiian Civic Clubs that attended were well
    represented with their Clubs Kihei and Leis on carrying the Hookupu. The
    attending Halau's also came in their garments and adornments presenting
    their Hookupu of Oli, Dance, and/or Gift to lay upon the Designated Marking.

    The lovely Miss Mina Elison arrived with her beautiful ti leaf weaved lei;
    in which she had handmade, to be given for the Hookupu Ceremony for the
    Battle of Nuuanu. Mina, Aunty Yvonne, Uncle Donald,
    Hekili, Doctor Burrows, and myself had represented the Kailua Hawaiian Civic
    Club. Mina held the 40 inch Pukenikeni Lei, Hekili held the weaved Ti leaf
    Lei, and I held on to the Haleconia, Fern, and weaved Pele hair wrapped
    around the stocks. Kuulei Laughlin and Aunty Kanoelani Crowell with a
    coconut, beautiful arrangement of Anthuriums, Heliconias, Ferns, and weaved
    with Pele's Hair. They had represented the Hawaiian Civic Club of
    Waimanalo. Aunty Waimea had represented the 'Ahahui I Ka Lokahi and
    presented a large Gourd grown from the Kupaa Area at the Napohaku Site
    near the Kawainui Marsh.

    Kahuna Sam Ohu Gon, the Na Papa Kanaka o Pu'ukohola and the Na Kupa'aina o Hawai'i, had lined up to prepare for the Ceremony. The Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, the Hawaiian Civic Club of Waimanalo, and 'Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi had lined up behind them. Then the other participating Halaus had lined up after us. The Visitors who attended surrounded along the sides of the edging of the Park and the Forestry. Everyone became silent as the chanters began to walk towards the cliff where the Battle of Nuuanu took place. The sound of the Conch Shell was blown, the Kahunas and Kahus started their Chants of permission to enter began to echo through out the area. Cameras were flashing, the crowd started to form a half circle around the
    procession; which started at the tent area approximately 50 yards from the
    Pali Look Out where the Battle of Nu'uanu had been. Each Halau,
    Organizations, Special Guests, Kumus, Kahus, and visitors who had attended
    this Commemorative were all witnessing the most powerful moment of the
    Commemorative of the Battle of Nu'uanu.

    Everyone had surrounded the Pali Look out area the three Kahu's had beckoned
    everyone in to give their offering. The wind was blowing, the air was
    chilled, and the Ceremonial Participants stood strong to give us their
    Commemoration to the Battle of Nu'uanu. The Na Papa Kanaka o Pu'ukohola and the Na Kupa'aina o Hawai'i purpose was to honor the Na Kanaka, Na Koa, and the Na Ali'i that shared in this Historical Moment. As the sun rose over
    the Pali Look out you could hear, participate, and witness the traditional
    Oli.
  • Mahalo a nui to all participants! For me, it is important to do this every year, but I have been there every year since 1995 (the 200th year since the battle) and I did not know what it means to others, so I was very glad to receive this from Reverend Ryan Kalama, President of Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, who attended for the first time this year:

    COMMEMORATIVE OF THE BATTLE OF NU'UANU 2009

    I awoke at 3:00 a.m. full of excitement about witnessing and participating
    in this Awesome Event. I had put on my garment that I prepared the night
    before. I stood in front of the Mirror dressed in black, with my yellow and
    tapa black print Kihei, my black and gold velvet Lei and yellow gold with
    black threading yarn Lei. I took the time to meditate that Ke Akua would
    bless everyone who was going to attend this Commemoration. We, Marvelle
    Kuulei Laughlin, Mary Ann Kanoelani Crowell, and myself, Kahu Ryan Alena
    Kaimana Kuhio Kalama arrived at 04:30 a.m., Saturday early morning, on April
    25th, 2009, at the Pali Look Out, and we could see the many Ceremonial
    Participants preparing their garments, for this Honorable Event, under a
    tent; which was surrounded by the walls of the Koolau. These men and women
    of the Commemoration were adorned in their Ceremonial Attire that was so
    appropriate for this Event. One could hear and feel the breezes blowing
    through the trees through out the area, some of the visitors were expressing
    that they felt the chill breezes and they thought that the sound of the
    breezes were talking to them.

    The environment was completely dark, except for the brightness of car
    lights, as people were driving their cars up to the site and parking where
    ever they could find space, the huge 10 foot X 20 foot tent had bright
    lights which gave a glow reflection through out the area. The aroma of hot
    coffee, the sweetness of pastries, and the juicy fruits where being handed
    out to be shared amongst the Ceremonial Participants and the many guest that
    were surrounding the area. You could hear the whispers of everyone sharing
    how exciting everything seemed to be. The many of shadows walking
    everywhere as the anticipation waits on.

    The cool breeze swirled through out the area as we had all snuggled together
    trying to keep warm. It was so chilly that Kumu / Kahuna Sam Ohu Gon
    had noticed that our young man, Hekili, was very cold and offered his warm
    black fleece jacket to keep him warm. Hekili was selected to be one of the
    Hookupu Presenters, representing the future Ceremonial Participants, at this
    awesome Event. Many visitors who had attended this Commemoration wore
    jackets and warm clothing respectfully, stood by around the area, in the
    chilled air, awaiting the men and women, who were preparing themselves
    for this Honorable Historical Event. Everyone seemed so excited awaiting
    for the Event to begin. This anticipation kept their interest as more
    visitors arrived, and so there they all stood in the chilled air of 50
    degrees. Those who were Hawaiian, and those who so believe in our Culture,
    had such a passion of wonder as they awaited for the Ceremony to begin.

    This was my first experience, I could feel the excitement that others were
    feeling, who haven't seen this type of rare Event any where, we were awed
    with all the Ceremonial Participants, and we could feel the energy that was
    in the air. Marvelle Kuulei Laughlin, President of the Hawaiian Civic Club
    of Waimanalo, and Aunty Mary Ann Kanoelani Crowell, Vice-President, were
    greeting the majority of the Ceremonial participants, took a moment to
    introduce me to who they knew and then went to gather their Hookupu from the
    car. They were preparing themselves for this special Event. Kahu Yvonne
    Leimomi Keawe Kaiahua, Uncle Donald Kaiahua, and their grandson,Hekili,
    dressed in black, had arrived with their Kihei and Leis on. They also
    entered into the tent area to greet and malama everyone who was
    participating.

    A beautiful young women had approached me, and had asked, if
  • Aloha kakou!
    If you are attending, be sure to be prepared for cold, wet weather, just in case. If you would like to present hookupu of any kind, you are most welcome to do so. physical hookupu may be presented, or hula, oli, or other traditional hoike naau.
    Call time is indeed 5AM, with procession starting 5:30.
  • DA MOKOMOKOS OF KU HONORS KAMEHAMEHA.WE STAND UNITED AND NEVER DIVIDED. EA...
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