Aloha mai e ko Hawaiʻi. Mea nui nā moʻolelo haʻi waha i ka paʻa o ka ʻike a mōʻaukala o ko kākou poʻe a nohona Hawaiʻi.

Oral histories are a way to document the lives of our kupuna and teach us about the history of our land.

ʻO Mitchell Mikiala Fujisaka koʻu inoa a ua hānau ʻia ma ka lā 8 o ʻOkakopa i ka mh 1936.

My name is Mitchell Mikiʻala Fujisaka. My date of birth is October 8, 1936.

Nui ka ʻike a moʻolelo waiwai o nā kūpuna a ke hōʻoia nei ʻo Kepā Maly i ka palapala ʻia o ka nui o ia mau moʻolelo e like me ka mea hiki.

Our kupuna are rich with stories and experiences and Kepā Maly is making sure he documents as many of them as he can.

ʻImi ana mākou i mau moʻolelo mai nā kūpuna no ka hoʻomau ʻana i ka ʻike a hoʻāla hou i ka hoihoi no kēia mua aku.

KEPĀ MALY

MEA MĀLAMA MOʻOMEHEU

We are constantly seeking out stories from our kupuna in order to keep the knowledge alive for future generations.

He laekahi a he mea palapala moʻomeheu ʻo Kepā. A ua holo aku ʻo ia i Keauhou a me Kahaluʻu ma Hawaiʻi mokupuni no ka nīnauele i nā kupuna no ke ʻano o ka nohona ma ia wahi.

A cultural specialist and ethnographer, Kepā was in Keauhou and Kahaluʻu on Hawaiʻi island to interview kupuna about their lives in and around the area.

Maopopo hoʻi kākou i ka moʻolelo, pono ka ʻāina i ka hana a nā kūpuna a e ola nō a ola ka ʻāina.

We know the story well that the land was righteous by the hands of our kupuna who thrived as did their land.

Maopopo leʻa iā Kepā no waiwai o kēia hana no nā hanauna o kēia mua aku.

Kepā prefers to think of his work not as documenting the past for himself, but for the future generations.

Hoʻāla hou i ka hana pono i ka mua aku, o ka hanauna hou.

This work keeps our customs alive for the future generations.

ʻO ia ka manaʻo nui, inā ʻimi mākou i nā mea a nā kūpuna, i nā hunahuna o ka moʻolelo, hiki iā mākou ke hoʻomaopopo i ka hana pono, i ke ola pono ma ka ʻāina ma kai ma uka.

The true intent is to seek out the knowledge of our kupuna thru their stories that educate us on appropriate behaviors, ways of being, even how to car for the land, from the mountain to the sea.

ʻO ka launa me nā kūpuna ka mea nui loa iā Kepā.

For him, the best part of his job is spending time with the kupuna.

ʻO kaʻu mea punahele, ʻo ke kamaʻilio a kolekole nō hoʻi me nā kūpuna a hōʻiliʻili i kekahi o ko lākou mau moʻolelo, ko lākou mau mea i hoʻomanaʻo ai.

My favorite task is talking story with the kūpuna, gathering their precious stories and memories.

Mahalo nui iā ʻoe e Kepā no ka paʻu mau ma kēia hoʻopaʻa ʻana i nā moʻolelo o ko kākou Hawaiʻi.

Mahalo to Kepa Maly for continuing to document the stories of Hawaii.