Moʻolelo come alive through hula, cultural practice during annual festival this Saturday

Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park will celebrate 64 years as part of the National Park Service this Saturday.

The theme of the annual Hawaiian Cultural Festival is, “E mau ana ka moʻolelo, let the stories be perpetuated,” which will focus on the importance of perpetuating moʻolelo traditions – the stories of kūpuna passed down through the generations.

Embedded within moʻolelo is history, an ancestral worldview, and the lifestyle and cultural practices of those that came before, which continue to guide Native Hawaiians today in connecting the environment and one another. The kuleana (responsibility) of continuing these practices lies with all who live here.

Moʻolelo are kept alive through hula traditions, the recitation of genealogies, and through the protocols involving ʻoli, pule and mele, used in the gathering of precious resources and in seasonal ceremonies. The methods and means of perpetuating moʻolelo can be limitless, but all are critically important to inspire a sense of place, value and purpose in the present day and well into the future.

The 64th Hawaiian Cultural Festival will feature theme-related presentations in the amphitheater, cultural practitioners from Hawaiʻi Island sharing their crafts, hula performances, displays and information tables. The park entrance fee will also be waived for the day.

A hat, sunscreen and water are recommended, and there will be no food available in the park. However, picnicking, coolers, and chairs are not allowed in the Royal Grounds to protect fragile resources and preserve the historic setting of the park.

Co-hosted by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association, Friends of Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau, and Nā Hoa Aloha o ka Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, the Hawaiian Cultural Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. .