Empowering the Next Generation: An invitation from Miloliʻi Lawaiʻa
June 27, 2025
“Ka Moana Ho‘olina o Miloli‘i: Na Mo‘olelo Lawai‘a o Kupuna”
The Ocean Legacy of Miloli‘i: The Fishing Stories of the Ancestors
In June, ‘Āko‘ako‘a and partners from the Hawai‘i Marine Education and Research Center (MERC) was invited by Kalanihale Miloli‘i to participate in their 2025 Miloli‘i Lawai‘a ‘Ohana Camp “Ka Moana Ho‘olina o Miloli‘i: Na Mo‘olelo Lawai‘a o Kupuna” The Ocean Legacy of Miloli‘i: The Fishing Stories of the Ancestors. This camp celebrated its 15th anniversary and took place on the historical Ho‘ōpūloa Landing. This area holds a significant history in Miloli‘i because it was once a village which got covered by the 1926 Mauna Loa eruption. A dozen homes, a wharf, a church, and nearly the entire Bay were destroyed by the lava flow, which led to the relocation of the village we now know as Miloli‘i.
This story and the many other mo‘olelo of Miloli‘i shared by its Kupuna are the inspiration for the camp's theme “Ka Moana Ho‘olina o Miloli‘i: Na Mo‘olelo Lawai‘a o Kupuna” (The Ocean Legacy of Miloli‘i: The Fishing Stories of the Ancestors). With this theme in mind, ‘Āko‘ako‘a and Hawai‘i MERC provided an activity for the keiki participants to create their own mo‘olelo of Miloli‘i videos similar to those the ‘Āko‘ako‘a cultural advisory board shares. Students came up with questions and scenic places across Ho‘ōpūloa to film their interview-style videos.
After a day full of camp activities, all the keiki and leaders came together to celebrate the last night of camp with a dinner, hoʻike - sharing back, and to watch their mo‘olelo videos. Witnessing the wisdom and creativity of the students in their videos was truly inspiring because of the special insights they shared of a place in South Kona, which has remained a remote fishing village. These keiki will one day be the next Kupuna of Miloli‘i, and their mo‘olelo will be carried on throughout the next generations just as the previous have before us.
Mahalo to ‘Āko‘ako‘a partners at Hawai‘i MERC, Kalanihale Miloli‘i and cultural advisory board member Ka‘imi Kaupiko for sharing this educational opportunity with ‘Āko‘ako‘a. This opportunity was a reminder to listen and learn from our future generations.