{"id":239966,"date":"2026-09-01T13:58:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T23:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=239966"},"modified":"2026-09-01T14:01:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T00:01:02","slug":"hawaiian-history-month-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/09\/01\/hawaiian-history-month-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaiian History Month brings history to life"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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2026 E\u014d E Liliʻu Concert<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From walking in the footsteps of Queen Liliʻuokalani<\/span> to stepping inside dramatic moments surrounding the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, communities across Hawaiʻi<\/span> and beyond are invited to experience history in new ways during Hawaiian History Month 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Liliʻuokalani, Ka M\u014dʻ\u012b Wahine o Hawaiʻi (Queen Liliʻuokalani) (Image courtesy: Hawaiʻi State Archives)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The month-long celebration features mele (songs), moʻolelo<\/span> (stories), living-history performances, cultural experiences and community gatherings throughout September. The University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa Hawaiʻinui\u0101kea<\/span> School of Hawaiian Knowledge<\/a> and Hawaiʻi<\/span> Ponoʻ\u012b<\/span> Coalition are among the sponsors of the annual commemoration, which is centered around the September 2 birthday of Queen Liliʻuokalani<\/span>, Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s last reigning monarch.<\/p>\n

“Hawaiian History Month creates opportunities for our community to experience our history as something living\u2014not simply something we read about in a book,” said Malia Nobrega-Olivera, director of strategic partnerships at Hawaiʻinui\u0101kea<\/span> who is helping organize events. “By returning to the places where these events happened and learning through mele, moʻolelo<\/span> and the voices of our community, we can better understand how our history continues to shape who we are today and recognize that we are all part of the moʻolelo<\/span> that continues.”<\/p>\n

Hawaiian History Month opened August 30 with the E\u014d E Liliʻu<\/span> Concert at Kawaiahaʻo<\/span> Church, featuring mele honoring the Queen\u2019s musical legacy, including performances by the 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Hawaiian Chorus.<\/p>\n

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ʻ\u014clapa (dancers) of all ages honored the Queen’s musical legacy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

List of events<\/h2>\n

Activities are planned throughout September including:<\/p>\n