'A'ole pau ka 'ike i ka hālau ho'okahi...
People. Place. Practice. Waipilihoa builds and sustains pathways for traditional Hawaiian professions on Molokai. From practitioner networks to haumāna mentorship, we are restoring systems of knowledge, training, and place-based practice rooted in ancestral values and community leadership. We are not starting from scratch, we are going back to the way we used to do things, so Molokai NUI a Hina remains as great as he always has been.
The disciplines are organized by hālau named for someone or something kaulana in Molokai mo'olelo, that inspires the character, values, and practices we strive to achieve mastery in. Loea lead the hālau...
Self Reliance and Relationships
Nāula was a Makahiki runner from Kalaupapa, who brought one of his mother's famous 'iwa'iwa fern lei for his sweetheart, eventually leading to the spread of the ferns from the uplands of Kīpū to the south shore of Pālā'au. He is known for his commitment to care for his beloved by preparing every necessary provision.
Abundance and Wealth
Ha'eha'ekū was bullied as a child but returns to kōkua the famine struck people of Ho'olehua by carrying water from ma uka to their fields. His only request was for the people to share the food fairly with one another, which they failed to do, resulting in a lasting ha'awina of aloha.
Healing and Balance
Ku'una was a kāula and a kahuna lā'au lapa'au who relied on her gifts to heal people physically and spiritually. She carved her premonition of the coming of the white man into the sandstone at Awalau, called kālaina wāwae as a warning for the people of Molokai.
Preservation
Pāka'a left the service of Keawenuia'Umi to bring his 'ohana to Molokai after several kahuna plotted against him. They came to retrieve him but met his son KūaPāka'a instead.
Life Cycles
Leialoha refers to the complete circle of life, from mauli ola, first breath at birth to mauli 'awa, the last breath at death. Named for Kaleialohaokalāhui of Pelekunu.
Community Engagement
The shell and coral lined trails of west Molokai provided passage across all the districts. Even at night, the markers were illuminated by moonlight, providing safety under any conditions.