#EKanikapilaKakou celebrates aloha 'āina amid Hurricane Lane

Aug. 29, 2018

Contributed by Nadine Lagaso

What began as a way to beat boredom during Hurricane Lane became a cross-country kanikapila, celebrating aloha ‘āina! The social media sing-along started last Friday with a Facebook video challenge by Kamehameha Schools He‘eia Preschool kumu and KS alumnus Ānuenue Pūnua.

“Ok gangy, let’s do a kanikapila pae ‘āina!” wrote Pūnua to her Facebook friends. “We are posted here at Kāneʻohe, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu waiting out Makani Pāhili Lane (Hurricane Lane). We want to challenge all of you to contribute to this virtual kanikapila.

“If possible, try to choose a mele of where you are at or maybe a place that is on your mind at the moment. Let’s see how many mele/oli/hula of our wahi pana (storied places) we can get posted. Mākaukau? Holo!”

Pūnua and her daughter Ko‘iahi sang the mele “Kāne‘ohe,” about their island home. At the time of this posting there were at least 70 #EKanikapilaKakou videos posted to Facebook in response to her video challenge, garnering more than 300,000 views! The mele and hula celebrate wahi pana from across the pae ‘aina and include posts from as far away as Chicago.

Videos were shared by keiki, kūpuna, ‘ohana and even local music luminaries like Del Beazley‎, Ryan Gonzo Gonzalez, Napua Greig, Kale Hannahs, Keauhou, Pomaika‘i Lyman, Matt Sproat, Chad Takatsugi and Josh Tatofi.

“I love learning about places through songs, especially older traditional Hawaiian songs,” said Pūnua. “By learning of these places, our perspective or lens as how we view things can change to see what our kūpuna saw back when these songs were written even though the physical landscape has drastically changed today.

“My hope is that the practice of kanikapila returns back into our ʻohana and homes. I hope that more of our keiki sing when they are asked, and are equipped to share the background of the songs that they choose to sing.”

If you have an aloha ‘āina video to share, include the hashtag #EKanikapilaKakou in your Facebook post to be part of the musical movement or just search for #EKanikapilaKakou to view the many other sing-along videos.

E Kanikapila Kākou — Chad Takatsugi

KS Communications Strategy Senior Consultant and KS alumnus Chad Takatsugi joined the kanikapila challenge by singing “Ka Wailele O Nuʻuanu.” Search for #EKanikapilaKakou on Facebook to view the many other sing-along videos.

E Kanikapila Kākou — Keauhou

Keauhou - comprised of KS Kapālama Performing Arts Kumu Zachary Lum, Jonah Solatorio, and Nicholas Lum - all KS alumni, sing the nahenahe mele "Waikapū" as part of the kanikapila challenge. Search for #EKanikapilaKakou on Facebook to view the many other sing-along videos.

I love learning about places through songs, especially older traditional Hawaiian songs. By learning of these places, our perspective or lens as how we view things can change to see what our kūpuna saw back when these songs were written even though the physical landscape has drastically changed today.
Ānuenue Pūnua, KS He‘eia Preschool kumu