Moanalua was once a center for hula and chanting under the reign of King Kākuhihewa of Oʻahu. Prince Lot Kapuāiwa later perpetuated this legacy when he allowed hula celebrations to be publicly performed at his Moanalua cottage after decades of being banned. In 1884, Bernice Pauahi Bishop willed the ahupuaʻa of Moanalua to Samuel M. Damon.

Kamananui Valley within Moanalua later became the intended path for the H-3 freeway. However, Frances “Patches” Damon Holt and her sister Harriet “Haku” Damon Baldwin, great-granddaughters of Samuel Damon, successfully halted the project. In the 1970s, they founded the Moanalua Gardens Foundation (MGF) to preserve the valley`s cultural and natural heritage.

During that time, MGF also launched the annual Prince Lot Hula Festival and introduced Hawaiʻi`s first culture-based environmental education curriculum for K-12 students.

Today, MGF furthers its mission through cultural preservation, education, and stewardship of Kamananui Valley. Key programs include the Halia Oral History Program to collect moʻolelo of Kamananui, the Hanauna Digital Library and Archive to preserve oral histories, and the Mālama Kamananui Valley Program to provide hands-on environmental education for Hawaiʻi`s youth.

Our team had the privilege of exploring Kamananui Valley, delving into its history and the efforts to protect and honor this sacred place.

#dtlhawaii #oahu #moanalua #moanaluavalley #kamananui #kamananuivalley #moanaluagardenfoundation #moanaluagarden #hula #moolelo

The Native Hawaiian Convention is happening NOW and we are so excited about several key discussions at this year’s convention. These are just a few of the conversations that align with our values and promise to inspire action, community engagement, and meaningful change ✨

🗣️ What sessions are you looking forward to?

#hawaiianhistorymonth #bigisland #nativehawaiianconvention #cnhaconvention #hawaiianhistory #hawaii #community

Kailua was an early settlement for Native Hawaiians, who flourished on its fertile lands and abundant natural resources. Farmers cultivated kalo in the loʻi and also grew dryland crops like kalo, banana, sweet potato, and sugarcane, while fishermen harvested from the rich fishponds and nearby ocean. By 1750, Kailua was the Royal Center of power for the district of Koʻolaupoko and a favored place of the O‘ahu chiefs.

In the late 1940s and 1950s, Kailua experienced a rapid transformation into a residential community, driven by the growing military presence at Kāneʻohe Bay and the development of military housing and infrastructure. In 2013, Alexander & Baldwin (A&B) purchased land holdings from Kaneohe Ranch and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, previous landowners and developers.

DTL worked with A&B in 2015 to develop a comprehensive community engagement strategy for their commercial land holdings in Kailua. This strategy envisioned how cultural and historical research might guide the engagement and planning process moving forward. In doing so, DTL researched the history, culture, and genealogy of Kailua; developed cultural themes; and planned and facilitated internal visioning sessions and focus groups.

#strategy #planning #culture #community #hawaii #communityengagement #kailua #kailuatown

For over two decades, the Native Hawaiian Convention has brought individuals, organizations, and leaders together to address key issues impacting our lāhui. It’s a space to explore cultural preservation, natural resource protection, economic growth, healthcare, education, and Native Hawaiian self-determination.

The multi-day event features panels, workshops, and breakout sessions led by experts and cultural practitioners, creating opportunities for collaboration and action that strengthen Hawaiʻi’s cultural and social foundations.

The upcoming convention is packed with discussions that align with DTL’s core values and promote community-driven impact. Want to know more about the sessions we’re looking forward to? Join our newsletter at dtlhawaii.com for all the details!

The Native Hawaiian Convention will be held on Hawaiʻi Island at Hilton Waikoloa Village, September 17-19. Register through the link here: www.hawaiiancouncil.org/2024convention/

#hawaiianhistorymonth #bigisland #nativehawaiianconvention #cnhaconvention #hawaiianhistory #hawaii #community

ʻUlu, or breadfruit, has a deep-rooted history in Polynesia and holds great value in Hawaiʻi for its versatility, as well as for its role in Hawaiian mythology and history.

Brought by early navigators, ʻulu became an essential crop and food staple. The ʻulu tree was cherished not just for its fruit but also for its leaves and wood. Traditionally, its wood was used for canoes and surfboards, while its leaves were used for sandpaper. Almost all parts of the tree were used in healing. Today, there is renewed interest in ʻulu, highlighting its role in sustainable farming and cultural preservation.

For our Maui ʻohana, Lā ʻUlu on Maui celebrates the ʻulu tree and its cultural significance. @mauinuibg invites the community to Lā ʻUlu - Breadfruit Day on Saturday, September 7th, from 10 AM to 2 PM.

This free event features ʻono ʻulu recipes, presentations, and hands-on activities like making kapa from ʻulu bast, and creating oeoe (kamani nut whistles). Kahanu Garden and the Breadfruit Institute will sell three ʻulu varieties—ʻUlu Fiti, Maʻafala, and Maoli. There will also be an opportunity to sponsor Maoli ʻulu trees for donation to people with fire-affected properties.

#dtl #dtlhawaii #culture #community #hawaii #ulu #breadfruit #laulu #ulutree #hawaiibreadfruit #mauievents #supportlocalmaui

Our kūpuna recognized that energy is a life-sustaining force present all around us—in our ʻāina, kai, makani, and more. Native Hawaiians have lived in harmony with our natural resources, understanding that sustainability means respecting and harnessing the energy of our environment in a way that honors our connection to the land and our responsibility to future generations.

In 2022, @energyhawaiigov contracted DTL to produce a cultural genealogy as well as to plan, develop, and implement a community outreach and stakeholder engagement program to support their statewide efforts to achieve 100% clean energy by the year 2045.

As we embrace renewable energy today and work toward it in our future, it’s important that we remind ourselves of the values and practices that have guided our people for centuries.

#alohaaina #malamaaina #malamahonua #energizekakou #energy #sustainable #sustainability #hseo #hawaiistateenergy #hawaiistateenergyoffice

The earliest known census in Hawaiʻi can be traced back to the 1500s when ʻUmi-A-Liloa, King of Hawaiʻi Island, had his people place a pōhaku in a pile to represent themselves in their district. In the late 1700s to early 1800s, a konohiki under Kaumualiʻi on Kauaʻi recorded a census in Wainiha Valley, noting over 2,000 people and 65 Menehune. The census was eventually expanded in 1850 and now collects official population counts and detailed data on demographics, housing, and economic status every 10 years.

DTL was contracted by @hawaiicommunityfoundation to provide outreach services for the Hawai‘i Census 2020. Our efforts included coordinating nine community events across Maui, Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i, and Hawai‘i Island to reach at least 200 attendees at each. Additionally, we planned two major events on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, drawing over 2,000 people, and supported marketing, social media, and event execution.

#strategy #planning #hawaii #communityengagement #events #eventplanning #eventplanner #hawaiicommunityfoundation #census #census2020