More than 320 students, faculty, staff and community members gathered at Honolulu Community College on April 23, 2025, for its annual one-day Hoʻolauleʻa Celebration, held in the Hale Kawelohea and campus courtyard.
The event honors Ka Māla o Niuhelewai, the campus garden and cultural space, and celebrates Hawaiian traditions and sustainable practices. Participants enjoyed a wide range of hands-on cultural and eco-friendly activities, including genki ball making to help clean the Kapālama stream, native plant giveaways, a Trash to Treasures recycled art contest, Makahiki games and kuʻi ʻai (poi pounding). A resource fair with 32 vendors also shared valuable college and health information.
“I loved it. It was so much fun,” said student Aaliyah Aguon. “I got a lot of food and learned about a lot of organizations!”
The courtyard was filled with music from nearly a dozen entertainers, including Honolulu CC‘s MELE program students, faculty (Niuhelewai Serenaders) and staff.
Embracing kuleana
“When I proposed to the campus back in 2010 that we have an opportunity to recognize the original Native tenants of this ʻāina (land), the Honolulu CC campus overwhelmingly supported the creation of Ka Māla o Niuhelewai,” said Professor Alapaki Luke, coordinator of the garden. “Mahalo to the Honolulu CC campus and the greater community for the support to bring back the kalo to this ʻāina. The campus embraces its kuleana (responsibility) to the Native Hawaiian culture and language by promoting the learning and participation of place-based and cultural values to inform all campus work areas. Mahalo nui loa.”
The celebration closed with a Hawaiian lunch plate featuring kalua pig and sweet potato from the campus imu, chicken long rice, poi, haupia, kūlolo and lūʻau. More than 300 meals were served.
“I had a great time here,” said student Greg Harris. “I learned a lot and got some Hawaiian food.”
This celebration was made possible by Luke, the Hulili Ke Kukui Hawaiian Center, the Student Life & Development office, campus offices, vendors and more than 100 Honolulu CC community volunteers.
