Featuring Keliʻi Ruth and Kalena Silva.

E kālele kēia hālāwai ma ke kūlana mea nui o ka leo oli i ka wā o nā kūpuna me ka
hoʻohālikelike pū aku me ke oli ʻana o kēia manawa. E aʻo ʻia nō hoʻi ke oli ʻana i kekahi mele. E
mālama ʻia kēia hālāwai ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. (This session was conducted i...

Featuring panelist Kamalei Kawaʻa, Kalehua Ontai, Kainani Kahaunaele. Moderated by Hulali ʻŌpiopio.

In partnership with over 25 haku mele from across the pae ʻāina, Kāhuli Leo Leʻa proudly
presented "Mele Pūnana Leo, " a collection of 13 new mele, one for each Pūnana Leo campus. Celebrate Pūnana...

Featured speaker Theresia Howe.

The cultural practice of mele persists when mele practitioners enjoy economic sustainability. One pathway toward economic sustainability comes in the form of music royalties. This breakout session offers an introduction to music royalties – what they are, how it w...

Featuring Manu Boyd, Tracie Lopes & Keawe Lopes. Moderated by Zachary Lum.

This panel explores the integral connection between mele and hula, where fluency in one enhances the understanding of the other. Panelists will discuss intersections between linguistic, cultural, and performative fluency ...

Featuring Hōkū Zuttermeister, Hoʻomanawanui Apo, Les Ceballos & Chad Takatsugi.

What does it mean to be a “hula musician?” This session asks seasoned “hula musicians” to reflect on their roles, experiences, and kuleana in supporting the hula dancer – and how their kuleana may differ from another...

Featuring Kīhei de Silva, Kealiʻi Reichel & Kainani Kahaunaele. Moderated by Zachary Alakaʻi Lum.

This first plenary session of the inaugural Mele Conference features a fundamental
discussion around the significance of mele as a cultural practice – from discussions on the
unique procedures and v...

Featuring Kainani Kahaunaele, Kaniaulono Hāpai, Kalehua Krug, Kamalei Krug & Lele Krug. Moderated by Kamuela Yim.

Promoting the rich importance of mele starts at home – with family. By featuring ʻohana who have dedicated their family spaces to mele, this presentation explores investing in family...

Featuring Jon Osorio, Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu & Kahikina de Silva. Moderated by Zachary Alakaʻi Lum

This panel centers mele lāhui (songs of Hawaiian nationalism) as expressions of aloha ʻāina across time. Panelists will examine how these mele have carried the voice of the Lāhui through political ...

Featuring Kekuhi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, Hailama Farden & Pele Harman. Moderated by Haʻalilio Solomon.

Celebrating family musical legacies, “Nā Mele ʻOhana: Intergenerational Resonance” highlights generations of ʻohana who serve as stewards of language, poetry and identity.

Featuring Keawe Lopes, Hiapo Perreira & Kalehua Krug. Moderated by Amy Kalili.

This panel highlights the vital role of mele in revitalizing and sustaining the Hawaiian language. Panelists will share how mele serve as powerful tools for language learning, cultural transmission, and community empo...

Featuring Kimo Alama Keaulana, Keawe Lopes & Kekaihālaʻi Avilez.

KA WAIHONA A KE ALOHA is an interactive resource center for the promotion, preservation and perpetuation of mele, and is housed in Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Since its establish...