This year’s Sept. 2 birthday of Queen Lili‘uokalani was nearly overshadowed by other events, especially the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were going to have a big event with hula, music and our Lili‘uokalani Trust families and community partners,” said Shereen Ho‘opi‘i, the Lili‘uokalani Trust Kaua‘i director.
“But with the increasing concern for the COVID-19, everything is via Zoom for a lot of people, including our LT families and community neighbors.”
Over at the National Tropical Botanical Garden South Shore Visitor Center, the family of vendors and shoppers at the weekly Aloha Market was largely unaware of the queen’s birthday until kumu hula Leina‘ala Pavao-Jardin of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala enlightened the crowd diminished by the governor’s recent stay-away plea.
Performers Jayna Parongao and Kaliah Kaneakua with the halau offered the “hula is life” posture of the halau in presenting a celebration of the queen’s birthday, ending ith a message of aloha; aloha for the ‘aina, aloha for each other, aloha for all, of which Pavao-Jardin said the queen would be proud.
September is Hawaiian History Month
Malia Nobrega-Olivera, director of strategic partnerships and community engagement at Hawai‘inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, announced that Lili‘uokalani’s birthday kicks off September as Hawaiian History Month.
“In celebration of Queen Lili‘uokalani’s 183rd birthday, we will be sharing our 15th annual Onipa‘a Celebration and Hawaiian History Month virtually with our global community,” Nobrega-Olivera said in a release.
“Even though our communities are still in the throes of a COVID-19 surge, this September’s scheduled virtual events will bring incredible opportunities and food for thought for you, your family and friends.”
Lili‘uokalani was a musician, an educated royal, a leader for peace and social justice, and more. In 1881, she served as queen regent for her brother, King David Kalakaua, while the king was on a year-long world tour. Just weeks following the king’s departure, there was a virulent outbreak of smallpox in Honolulu.
Lili‘uokalani, a true leader of her community, imposed a strict quarantine, and by doing so prevented the spread of the disease, saving hundreds if not thousands of lives.
“It is clear that her decision spared many lives and much sorrow,” Nobrega-Olivera said. “We are thankful for her leadership, courage and ongoing example during these hard times.”
During these times of COVID-19, the goals of Hawai‘i Pono‘i Coalition members and partners are to put forth a Hawaiian agenda in recognition of social justice and reconciliation of historical and cultural wrongs in Hawai‘i that still linger today.
The Hawai‘i Pono‘i Coalition invites the community to join virtually for a diverse variety of live programs that started on Queen Lili‘uokalani’s Sept. 2 birthday and the start of Hawaiian History Month.
Today, a panel conversation, “Nana i ke Kumu: A Healer in Every Home,” is about ho‘oponopono, or the practice of making things right, setting one’s course towards righteous actions to return balance to families.
“This is a critical practice for healing our communities today from historical and cultural trauma,” said Meleanna Meyer, an artist, educator and student of ho‘oponopono.
The second week’s schedule includes “Hulihia: Imagining New Possibilities,” covering a wide range of pressing and important environmental and social justice issues affecting all who live in Hawai‘i.
“Ho‘ola: Hawaiian Health” is the subject of the third week that will cover historical, literary and educator perspectives on infectious diseases in Hawai‘i.
“Mele Lahui: Songs of our Nation” is the focus of week four, and will feature a film trailer, “Lili‘u Project,” created by the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s Creative Arts Department. The week will also share selected scenes from two youth operas composed by Herb Mahelona for Lili‘uokalani, titled “Auli‘i the Last Menehune of Nu‘uanu Valley,” and “Nani na Pua.”
The final week presentation is “Hana Keaka Hawai‘i: Stories on Stage,” which will highlight the story of Hawaiian theater at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, under the direction of Dr. Hailiopua Baker.
Hawaiian History Month will close with “Na Huliau: Turning Points on Stage,” a premiere of filmed monologues excerpted from three living-history plays by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl.
Hawai‘i Pono‘i Coalition members and partners believe that by educating the world about Hawai‘i’s past history, the community can work to develop and strengthen personal, familial and community bonds to more readily create healing conversations for all, actionable work towards justice and ties with others throughout Hawai‘i and the world.
w Info: hawaiianhistorymonth.org
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Happy birthday great and noble queen. Your acts of kindness and wisdom live, and will continue to live, as long as human memory survives.