{"id":243027,"date":"2026-11-02T15:33:04","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T01:33:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=243027"},"modified":"2026-11-02T16:24:04","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T02:24:04","slug":"keep-kahoolawe-legacy-alive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/11\/02\/keep-kahoolawe-legacy-alive\/","title":{"rendered":"糖心视频<\/abbr> voices help keep Kahoʻolawe legacy alive"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Ancestors honored Kahoʻolawe<\/span> as a physical form of Kanaloa, the god of the ocean. (Photo credit: P.F. Bentley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fifty years after a protest helped launch the movement to protect the island of Kahoʻolawe<\/span>, University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> faculty are helping to carry forward its message of aloha ʻāina<\/span>, or love and care for the land.<\/p>\n

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Musicians lent their voices and original songs to the anniversary album. (Photo credit: P.F. Bentley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A new album, 50 Years of Aloha ʻĀina<\/span><\/a><\/em>, and a November 13 concert at Bishop Museum are the culmination of a year-long celebration of the Protect Kahoʻolawe<\/span> ʻOhana\u2019s<\/span> 50th anniversary<\/a>. The concert features Hawaiʻi<\/span> musicians such as Ikaakamai, Kimi\u00e9 Miner and Kaʻikena<\/span> Scanlan.<\/p>\n

“Gathering and singing songs together creates alignment and collective spirit. Contributing our voices and mana fosters aloha l\u0101hui (love for our people),” said Isaac ʻIkaʻaka<\/span> N\u0101huewai, known musically as Ikaakamai, a student engagement and Hawaiian language resource coordinator<\/a> at 糖心视频<\/abbr> Hilo.<\/p>\n

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From left, Activists Walter Ritte (seated) and Emmett Aluli (standing) at Hakioʻawa<\/span> Bay on Kahoʻolawe<\/span> in 1976. (Photo credit: Franco Salmoiraghi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

N\u0101huewai helped develop the anniversary album, which features 12 original mele (songs) and is available on all music platforms. The recording artist, who is also a PhD<\/abbr> candidate in 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Hawaiian and Indigenous performance studies<\/a>, helped recruit collaborators, wrote songs, directed the Protect Kahoʻolawe<\/span> Band, and produced and mixed five tracks together with other featured artists.<\/p>\n

He sees music as a way to help people remember history and pass knowledge between generations.<\/p>\n

Across 糖心视频<\/abbr>, faculty, staff and students also carry that work into classrooms, onto the ʻāina<\/span> (land) and across the ʻAlalākeiki<\/span> Channel to Kahoʻolawe<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Beyond stopping bombs<\/h2>\n
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糖心视频<\/abbr> kumu (teachers) have taken students to the islands for decades. (Credit: P.F. Bentley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today\u2019s efforts grew from a movement sparked in 1976, when nine people landed on Kahoʻolawe<\/span> to bring awareness to the United State\u2019s illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. When the activists reached Kahoʻolawe<\/span>, they were devastated by the destruction caused by nearly 50 years of military bombing. Deeply moved by what they saw, they felt called to protect and heal the island. Their historic landing inspired the formation of the Protect Kahoʻolawe<\/span> ʻOhana<\/span>. The bombing ended in 1990 after nearly 15 years of advocacy. The work to restore the island and its cultural practices, however, continues, as one of their slogans emphasize, the ʻOhana<\/span> is “Not Pau Yet!”<\/p>\n