Native Hawaiian

The 28 hale, or houses, will dominate the floors of Festival Village at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. Each Pacific nation and territory will have its own structure.

The volunteers will be in charge of helping more than 2,100 delegates from 26 Pacific nations and territories. Since each island has its own customs, volunteers underwent cultural etiquette training to better understand and help FestPAC participants.

The Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, the largest gathering of Pacific Islanders, is anticipated to draw more than 100,000 people and over 2,100 delegates from 26 Pacific nations and territories. Kiribati was the first nation to arrive on island, while others are expected to land later this week. The free 10-day festival starts June 6. HPR's Cassie Ordonio reports.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is attempting to intervene in the state's selection process for curator of the Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum in Nuʻuanu. OHA is urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to pause the appointment until the agencies can review the selection process in consultation with Hawaiian beneficiaries. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has more.

ConFest 2024 celebrates Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in theater. It's been around for nearly a decade and a half. Among the events is a reading of the play “Fighting Like Mad.”

A stream of water trickles into a thriving kalo field as you walk through the doors of the East-West Center Gallery. "Ho‘okahe Wai, Ho‘oulu ‘Āina: Kalo and Community" shares stories and artistry from students who were inspired by the kalo field, or loʻi, adjacent to the Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. HPR's Cassie Ordonio has more.

The nonprofit Purple Maiʻa is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The tech-focused organization aims to empower the next generation of Hawaiʻi’s technology problem solvers.

The resting place of Hawaiian royalty has had 15 curators since the mid-1800s. A majority have been descendants of families who served aliʻi for generations. DLNR announced this week that it was breaking tradition and selecting a curator who was not a lineal descendant of these families and had not trained under previous kahu. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

Hawai‘i will host the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders for the first time in June. It's only three weeks away and officials are still looking for a handful of volunteers.

Community members in Mākena on the southeast coast of Maui are invited to take part in the construction of a traditional Hawaiian hale, or house, beginning this Friday in Waipao.