Our current program, Na Mālama Hoʻi I Nā Iwi Kūpuna, addresses the inequity in the treatment and care of ancestral Native Hawaiian remains. This project is designed to meet the needs of nā iwi kūpuna by providing education and knowledge necessary for the care of these remains.

The program will educate the Native Hawaiian community and their ʻohana on how to create Hinaʻi Lauhala, the sacred burial containers used in Hawaiian culture. The workshops consist of two days, with participants required to attend both days to fully grasp the resource preparation process.

Workshops will be held on weekends for approximately 4 to 6 hours each day. Participants will focus on the preparation and crafting of the sacred ceremonial item. They will gain knowledge about the history of natural resources, their cultural uses, and the purpose behind these materials, as well as the skills to create the item traditionally.

Additionally, participants will learn about the history of repatriation and reburial of nā iwi kūpuna, emphasizing the cultural significance of caring for their ancestors. The workshops aim to equip community members with the knowledge and skills to pass down this cultural heritage to future generations, reinforcing the responsibility to mālama (care for) nā iwi kūpuna, which strengthens the mana (spiritual power) and identity of the Hawaiian people.

These workshops are pono (proper) and essential for maintaining spiritual balance and harmony.

Hosted By Hawaiian Church of Hawaiʻi Nei

For additional information and to register, please visit https://hawaiianchurchhawaiinei.org/malama-i-na-iwi-kupuna.