Ka`Imi Na`auao O Hawai`i Nei Institute | To search for the truth of the Hawaiian Culture

Our Vision & Mission

Ka `Imi Na`auao O Hawai`i Nei Institute

…means to search for the truth of the Hawaiian culture. Through hula, we help restore the culture to its original dignity. We teach how to understand, enjoy, and appreciate the medicine, science, art, language, crafts, philosophy and religion of the Hawaiian people.

“E Mau Ke Ea, E Mau Ke Ola” Let the spirit live; may life and health flourish”

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Purchase our
Educational Documentaries

Keahualaka, A Door to Hawaiian Spirituality

Keahualaka is an ancient place of significance tucked into the cliff near Makana Peak in the Ke`e heiau complex. Buy your copy of the DVD for $20 plus shipping. Learn More

Hawaiians as Scientists,
“He Mele No Kane”

‘Hawaiian style’ lesson plans DVD including Teachers Study Guide
This innovative teaching tool promotes cultural learning through films and photo of traditional chant and hula combined with related lesson plans, geared to elementary through middle school classes. $15 plus shipping. Learn more…

Current News

Annual Blessing for Conservation agencies and Pōhaku Hula workday

Apr 8, 2021

By Keahi Manea Since early 2012, Ka `Imi Institute members have collaborated with Kaua`i Forest Bird Recovery Project to provide a blessing for the Project’s spring research season. Dr. Cali Crampton, Project Director, requested the first blessing as they planned the...

‘PROJECT LOKAHI’ REVISITED

Dec 17, 2020

In Hawai`i, winter solstice occurs in 2020 just after midnight on Dec. 21: 12:02 a.m. Since the longest daylight of the year occurred, measured during the summer solstice in June, daylight has been shortening–sunset by sunset–until winter solstice arrives now, giving the shortest period of daylight of the year.

« Older Entries

19th Century Hawaiian Language Manuscript

Printed copies of the two hand written booklets which comprise the “19th Century Hawaiian Language Manuscript” are available through the University of Hawai`i Library system. For information about how to access copies on O`ahu, Maui College and UH Hilo, go to the University of Hawai`i at Manoa Library website. Contact a Hawaiian collections librarian listed on the site for access to the title “19th Century Hawaiian Language Manuscript”.

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Kaimi Institute

4 weeks ago

Here is a piece of history. Precious in spite of the poor quality film-ages before iphones! youtu.be/NLjfhm2cVS4 ... See MoreSee Less

Hula Ho`ike - Ka`imi Na Auao O Hawai`i Nei

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Kaimi Institute is in Waimea, Hawaii.

1 month ago

Shelbi gave Keahi this lei po’o to celebrate her birthday at Tues. ukulele & Hula. ... See MoreSee Less

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Kaimi Institute

2 months ago

Annual Blessing for Conservation agencies and Pōhaku Hula workdayBy Keahi ManeaSince early 2012, Ka `Imi Institute members have collaborated with Kaua`i Forest Bird Recovery Project to provide a blessing for the Project’s spring research season. Dr. Cali Crampton, Project Director, requested the first blessing as they planned the release of 22 critically endangered puaiohi, the small Kaua`i thrush, into the Alaka`i Wilderness Preserve. These captive-bred birds had been hatched and hand reared in San Diego Zoo Global funded Bird Conservation Centers in Makawao, Maui and Keauhou, Hawai`i. The puaiohi release was intended to strengthen the severely diminished Kaua`i flock. Dr. Crampton and the Project staff wanted to provide every possible advantage for survival of the birds, and this included a culturally appropriate blessing ceremony. The first blessing occurred in February of 2012 at Kalalau lookout in Kōke`e State Park and included chanters, dancers, conservation agency staff and volunteers. An article and photos of the ceremony appeared in the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Conservancy “Notes From the Field” spring newsletter. The newsletter notes, “What is heartening is how much Hawaiians here want the puaiohi to survive and thrive. On this day of celebration their songs and dances invoked the protection and goodwill of the gods and elders for the birds and their habitat as well as for the biologists who work to conserve them. One lovely poetic song, or mele, written especially for the event, directly addresses the puaiohi and blesses the release”. Thus began a tradition of annual spring blessings for conservation agencies working in the Alaka`i Wilderness environment. Over the years, the blessing expanded to include Kōke`e Resource Conservation and the Kaua`i Invasive Species Committee and community volunteers, who after completion of the ceremony would participate in a forest weed-clearing workday at an area of the Kōke`e Forest called Pōhaku Hula. Through an “Adopt- a- Park” agreement with the Hawai`i State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Ka `Imi Institute has cleared invasive weeds and reforested indigenous plants in the Pōhaku Hula site for more than a decade. The most recent blessing event was held on a beautiful but chilly morning in February, 2021 at Kanaloahuluhulu Meadow. `Ōlapa (dancers) and ho`opa`a (drummers) dressed in double pā`ū over leggings and long sleeved shirts with jackets for extra warmth performed oli, mele and hula to honor Akua, `aumakua and kūpuna and request continued inspiration from Laka and protection for the flora and fauna from invasive species and storms. Each agency expressed goals for the spring season and the coming year, with statement of group affirmation for accomplishment of the goals. This expression serves to educate all present about the collective conservation work occurring the Alaka`i and Kōke`e State Park habitats. Following this blessing, 11 Ka `Imi Institute members and 3 Kōke`e Resource Conservation staff worked at Pōhaku Hula (so named for it’s historic significance in the 1871 trek of Queen Emma into the Alaka`i Swamp) to clear a total of 1,316 weeds, (Yes, we count them) including ginger, guava, blackberry and honeysuckle from an area covering nearly a quarter of an acre. Participants planted 12 native plants, including pilo, naupaka, maile and `uki`uki. Previous plantings are thriving and new maile and ferns are sprouting in abundance. It is rewarding to spend time caring for this beloved site that has been a part of our hula world for so long. Kumu (teacher) Roselle introduced haumāna (students) to this site in the late 70s to teach how to identify and care for plants used for adornments for performances and ceremonies. Hula people depend on the forest for adornment, so having a small patch of forest to mālama (care for) helps us understand the relationships of the plants we use. Remember, flora and fauna are interconnected. Loss of or threat to one native species affects the balance of all the others. As hula people, we tend to focus on the plants, but the plants depend on the birds for pollination, spreading seeds and insect control, and the birds need plants for shelter, nesting and food. If one element is in trouble, all are. Here is a challenge to hula kumu and haumāna: adopt a forest or coastal area to mālama. It will enrich your hula knowledge, inspire your creativity and help fulfil your kuleana (responsibility) of stewardship of the `āina (land). Contact the Department of Land and Natural Resources office in your county, or other official state, county or city agency in your area and ask about opportunities for your group to adopt and care for a specific area. #405 “Hahai nō ka ua i ka ululā`au. Rains always follow the forest. “ `Ōlelo No`eau, Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings. Mary Kawena Pukui ... See MoreSee Less

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Kaimi Institute

3 months ago

Ka 'Imi Na'auao - In Dialog with Hawaii e.V. - the European Partner of KAIMI Institute has been organizing performances of Hiroyo Kitao in Germany in the past years. Now we pulled together a workshop through ZOOM offering the possibility to learn from an exceptional performance artist. It is an opportunity not only, but especially for dancers to broaden perspective and connect in these times. English info on www.omna-institut.de/en/shintai-goto/ ... See MoreSee Less

Hiroyo KITAO, Shintai-Goto, 2010 July (Japan) 喜多尾浩代「身体事」 , contemporary dance, performance art

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身体事の敷地内探究 @ 座間 2010年身体事 : 喜多尾浩代 (抜粋)撮影 : 据置カメラhttps://fb.me/hiroyo.kitao.2021

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