UH Mānoa
What is written on the UH Mānoa seal?
“Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina I ka pono."
"The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."
Who is Wendy Hensel?
She is the current president of the UH system.
"We will die as Hawaiians, we will never be Americans."
Haunani-Kay Trask. January 17, 1993. This quote was taken from her speech at Iolani Palace in Honolulu. This speech occurred on the 100th anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Who was Queen Liliʻuokalani?
Queen Liliʻuokalani was the last soverign of Hawaiʻi. She was a scholar as well as an extraordinary musician and composer. Her most famous piece was "Aloha ʻOe." One of Queen Lili‘uokalani’s first orders of business was to amend the constitution and restore power to the monarchy and to the Hawaiian people. The local sugar planters and businessmen instigated an overthrow, fearing a loss of revenue and the influence of the Queen. With the help of U.S. Marines, they forced Queen Lili‘uokalani to surrender the Hawaiian Kingdom to the United States in 1893. A provisional government was established and named the Republic of Hawai‘i, proclaiming Sanford B. Dole as president.
What is a mo'olelo?
Story, tale, myth, history, tradition, literature, legend, journal, log, yarn, fable, essay, chronicle, record, article; minutes, as of a meeting. (From moʻo ʻōlelo, succession of talk; all stories were oral, not written.)
What does Native Hawaiian Student Services do?
1. Growing Hawaiian Leaders (NHSS prepares students to build upon a legacy of excellence, with creativity and confidence, in order to fulfill the kuleana of their time, thereby leading Hawaiʻi into a thriving, life affirming, de-occupied future.
2. Strengthening Hawaiian Research (NHSS programs are designed to highlight the fact that higher education is not new).
3. Empowering the Lāhui (NHSS creates experiences that intentionally engage Hawaiian identity because NHSS believes that it's integral to supporting student success).
Who was James Dole?
James Dole was the founder of Hawaiian Pineapple Company. He was president and manager of the company. He was known as the "Pineapple King." He harmed Native Hawaiians through the establishment and operation of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (HAPCO) and the subsequent Dole Food Company. This involved land grabbing, exploitation of Native Hawaiian labor, and the disruption of traditional ways of life.
"Most importantly, every individual on our campuses is a vital member of our ʻohana. No matter where you come from, who you are, what you believe or who you love, we see you, and you are welcome here."
Wendy Hensel. February 6, 2025. President Hensel addresses federal policy changes and reaffirms commitment to community.
Who was King Kamehameha I?
A great warrior, diplomat and leader, King Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810 after years of conflict. Kamehameha I was destined for greatness from birth. Hawaiian legend prophesized that a light in the sky with feathers like a bird would signal the birth of a great chief. Historians believe Kamehameha was born in 1758, the year Halley’s comet passed over Hawaiʻi.
Given the birth name Paiʻea, the future king was hidden from warring clans in secluded Waipiʻo Valley after birth. After the death threat passed, Paiʻea came out of hiding and was renamed Kamehameha (The Lonely One). Kamehameha was trained as a warrior and his legendary strength was proven when he overturned the Naha Stone, which reportedly weighed between 2.5 and 3.5 tons. You can still see the Naha Stone today in Hilo.
During this time, warfare between chiefs throughout the islands was widespread. In 1778, Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaiʻi, dovetailing with Kamehameha’s ambitions. With the help of western weapons and advisors, Kamehameha won fierce battles at lao Valley in Maui and the Nuʻuanu Pali on Oʻahu. The fortress-like Puʻukoholā Heiau on the island of Hawaiʻi was built in 1790 prophesizing Kamehameha’s conquest of the islands. In 1810, when King Kaumualiʻi of Kauaʻi agreed to become a tributary kingdom under Kamehameha, that prophecy was finally fulfilled.
Kamehameha’s unification of Hawaiʻi was significant not only because it was an incredible feat, but also because under separate rule, the Islands may have been torn apart by competing western interests. Today, four commissioned statues stand to honor King Kamehameha’s memory. Every June 11th, on Kamehameha Day, each of these statues are ceremoniously draped with flower lei to celebrate Hawaiʻi’s greatest king.
Why are mo'olelos important?
Because they teach you the importance of a place, person, and/or thing.
Where is the Native Hawaiian
Student Services office located?
Native Hawaiian Student Services @ Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services. Room 113.
Who is Sylvia Luke?
Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke is the 16th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi, the third woman to hold the office, and the highest-ranking Korean American official in the U.S.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, she immigrated to Honolulu at the age of nine with her family. She attended Queen Kaʻahumanu Elementary School, where she learned English with the help of her 5th-grade teacher. She later graduated from Roosevelt High School and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she served as one of the few female presidents of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi, marking her introduction to public service. Following her undergraduate degree, she continued her education at the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Sylvia was first elected to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1998, where she served until 2022. During her twenty-four-year tenure in the State House, she had many roles, most notably as Chair of the Finance Committee, where she developed a reputation for bringing transparency and accountability to the state budget for over a decade.
Sylvia has long supported gender equity, civil rights, and assistance for seniors and immigrants. As Finance Chair, she played a crucial role in securing essential funding for criminal justice reform for female inmates, tax equity for working families, domestic violence survivor services, and care for the aging population.
Throughout her career in public service, Sylvia has been recognized for her advocacy and leadership by many organizations, including Hawaii Women Lawyers, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Technology Trade Association, Korean American Coalition, AARP Hawaii, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Friends of the Library of Hawaii, and Humane Society of the United States.
Lieutenant Governor Luke is leading Ready Keiki, the state’s plan to provide universal access to preschool, ensuring all Hawaiʻi children are ready for kindergarten and their futures while creating economic stability for local families. She is also spearheading Connect Kākou, the state’s initiative to expand access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet.
Sylvia is a wife, mother, dog mom, and former practicing attorney in Honolulu.
"We need to keep hate and intolerance from our campuses and our classrooms. We need to listen to one another and show compassion for others. We need aloha."
David Lassner on November 16, 2023. This quote was taken from President Lassner's remarks on the Israel-Gaza situation.
Who was King David Kalākaua?
King David Kalākaua (1836 – 1891) is often known outside of Hawai’i by his nickname, the Merrie Monarch, so-called for his patronage of Hawaiian music, dance, and culture. He loved the traditional Hawaiian dances, and so helped to revitalize a waning tradition of hula. The Merrie Monarch Festival, which honors his memory, is a celebration of Hawaiian culture that draws many tourists. In helping to preserve Hawaiian traditional culture, this festival is appropriate to honor a king who strove for those same goals. But for those who do not know much of Hawaiian history, Kalākaua is sometimes seen simply as a lover of music and dance, without a good understanding of the importance of these traditions. There was a serious side to this king and his efforts on behalf of Hawaiian culture and the Hawaiian people, which make him worthy of our appreciation as a hidden folklorist.
Name 3 mo'olelos.
Panewa, Laiekawai, Keaomelemele, Koolau Tour
What is Ka Papa Lo‘i o Kānewai?
Ka Papa Loʻi ʻo Kānewai sustains a thriving taro patch that shares its resources with the community. There are a variety of native and indigenous trees and shrubs growing along the stream and low-lying slopes. Families, students, and community organizations are welcome to engage and immerse themselves in hana Hawaiʻi and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Kūpuna and keiki feel welcome and comfortable sharing their knowledge about kalo and nā mea Hawaiʻi. Our staff is skilled in the identification, cultivation, and propogation of a variety of native plants.
Who was Haunani-Kay Trask?
Haunani-Kay Trask was a scholar, a poet, and a champion of sovereignty for the Hawaiian people. One of her best known books was "Notes From a Native Daughter: Colonialism in Hawaii" (1993).
"You must remember never to cease to act because you fear you may fail."
Queen Lili'uokalani. 1917.
Who was King Lunalilo?
Lunalilo was one of the first students to enroll in the Chief's Children's School and was educated there throughout his childhood. He was known for his scholarly ability, poetic talents, and amazing memory for details. From a very young age, he loved to write, and his favorite subjects in school were literature and music. He composed Hawaiʻi's first national anthem, E Ola Ke Aliʻi Ke Akua, or, “God Save the King.”He was known for his sense of justice, his compassion and his kindness toward others. These traits were recognized by the age of six in the unselfish and caring manner in which he interacted with his servants. As a young man, he was courteous and intelligent, generous and friendly. His close friends affectionately called him “Prince Bill.” His native people called him ”Lokomaikaʻi”, meaning “generous” or “benevolent.”
Name three of the upper division HWST courses that UH Mānoa offers.
Perspectives in Hawaiian Studies (United Nations on Indigenous Resilience and Rights in Climate Emergency), Kū Ka Punohu: Intermediate Oli, Advanced Hawaiian Printmaking, Hawaiian & Indigenous Digital Media, Hawaiian Genealogies, Chiefs of Post Contact Hawaii, Myths of Hawaiian History, Mahi'ai Kalo I: Taro Cultivation, Aloha Kanaloa, Laau Lapaau Hoi Ka Mana i Loko, Issues in Modern Hawaii, Topics in Hawaiian/Indigenous Mo'olelo, Kia'ikanaloa, Aina Mauliola Hawaiian Ecosystems, Natural Resources Issues & Ethics, Indigenous Research Methodologies, Hawaiian Archival Research, Pono Science, Hawaiian Geography & Resource Management, Historic Preservation Law, Hawaiian & Indigenous Futurism, Kukulu Aupuni: Hawaiian Nation
Who is Samuel Kaleikoa Ka'eo?
He was a Hawaiian studied professor at UH Maui College and was in court on misdemeanor charges related to a protest. He spoke only Hawaiian in court, refusing to speak English. A warrant was issued because he refused to speak English. In ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, he confirmed his presence but because the judge couldn't understand him he was marked as "not present."
"The first step to knowledge is awareness. If you're not aware, you cannot grow by grasping and grabbing the information that's around you. So, more than passing down knowledge, it is about accepting reality."
Keli‘i “Skippy” Ioane Jr.
Who was Kamehameha III?
King Kamehameha III, born Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kuakamanolani Mahinalani Kalaninuiwaiakua Keaweawe‘ulaokalani, was the longest reigning Hawaiian monarch. [other names: Keaweawe‘ula Kīwala‘ō Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kīwala‘ō i ke kapu Kamehameha]
Under his rule the Hawaiian Kingdom received its first Constitution in 1840.
The 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i titled "Ke Kumukānāwai a me nā Kānāwai o ko Hawai‘i Pae ‘Āina, Honolulu, 1840" was the first fully written constitution for the Kingdom of Hawai‘i.
The constitution, compared to its predecessor, was extremely detailed. The June 7, 1839 document, sometimes called a constitution but more similar to a declaration of rights, stated simply that the government was based on Christian values and equality for all. Incorporating the 1839 document, the 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i was a turning point in Hawai‘i government.
This constitution organized the power of government and its functions by defining the House of Representatives as the legislative body, giving their people the power to vote, proclaiming the House of Kamehameha, establishing of the office of Kuhina Nui, creating of the office of royal governors of the various islands and recognizing Christianity as an authority.
In the same year of 1840, Kauikeaouli established the Chief’s Children’s School to groom Hawai‘i’s next generation of ali‘i. Also in 1840, Hawai‘i’s public school system is established by Kamehameha III. This is thirty years before Government-financed education became available in England in 1870 and forty years before the creation of the l‘ecole republicaine (Republican School) in 1880 where public instruction becomes mandatory for all children under the age of 15 in France.
One of the most memorialized days in King Kamehameha III’s reign took place on July 31, 1843 when British Admiral Thomas officially restored the Hawaiian Kingdom to Kamehameha III after the illegal cession of the islands by British Captain Paulet.