On February 5th 1868 a large earthquake struck Hawaiʻi Island and sent the sea rushing over the fishing village of Miloliʻi. The Hauʻoli Kamanaʻo Church survived, and is forever immortalized in the mele Lā ʻElima written by Aunty Elizabeth Kuahuia. Come hear its story... That was how the day went on Saturday, February 8th, 2014 as the Miloliʻi community gathered to celebrate La Elima, a special day in the history of this treasured Hawaiian fishing village and the Hauoli Kamana’o Chuch. As Uncle Walter Kahiwa, Jr. tells the story, Lā ʻElima marks a day on February 5th, long ago in 1868, when a large earthquake struck Hawaiʻi Island and sent the ocean rushing over many seaside villages along the South Kona coast. The Hauʻoli Kamana’o Church – one of 20 Hawaiian churches built by John Paris – was pushed about 300 yards inland by the rushing sea. The original location of the church is now underwater. Villagers later moved the church to its present day site using palm trunks to roll it into place. Although other areas were destroyed, somehow Milolii was spared the misery experienced elsewhere. The kupuna from other South Kona communities joined the village in thanksgiving, which lasted several days. The story of that day has become immortalized in the mele Lā ʻElima, sung by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and others but composed by Miloliiʻs Elizabeth Kuahuia. It was a great day of food,  fellowship and the blessing of Miloliiʻs Waʻa Kaukahi and keiki project presentations by Miloliʻi Opelu Project and OHA Native Hawaiian Culture Grant. The Big Island Video News produced a video story of the event. Check it out here. Download a copy of the program here.

Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi needs to raise additional funding to complete the center by the Fall of 2015. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this vital community project please download the following attachment. All donations are tax deductible. MILOLI'I, HAWAI‘I—Pa'a Pono Miloliʻi Inc. a non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving the lives of the residents of the native Hawaiian fishing village of Miloliʻi has broken ground on a $1 million community center in Miloliʻi. Through a 2006 Congressional Housing and Urban Development grant championed by the late United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye, the project completed all design and planning requirements this summer and broke ground in September. The facility will feature a 3,200 square foot open air community center with enclosed areas designated for classrooms, historical library, office space, gift store, and a certified kitchen. Adjacent to the main facility will be a comfort station /restroom, guest quarters and a hale waʻa for storage and maintenance of Miloliʻi canoes. The entire facility is being built on a 40,000 square foot parcel leased from the Department of Land & Natural Resources and will include a parking lot, native Hawaiian landscaping, water storage and solar photovoltaic power system. Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi Inc. completed Federal and State Chapter 343 EIS requirements, County Of Hawaiʻi Special Management Area requirements, National Historic Preservation, Archaeological Survey, Conservation District Use Permit and Hawaiʻi County Plan and Building Approval in order to begin construction on the facility. The project, when completed, meets all ADA requirements and would not have been possible without the coordination and help of the United States Office of Housing and Urban Development, State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources and The County of Hawaiʻi. The [...]

Pa'a Pono Miloliʻi through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Native Hawaiian Culture Grant is proud to support a group comprised of Miloliʻi and Kohala keiki, kumu and kupuna that are perpetuating the cultural art of Hula through the intergenerational transfer of cultural knowledge. Led by Kumu Hula Kuwalu Anakalea, a graduate of Kumu Hula Taupori Tangaro and project coordinator Kuakahi Kaupu-Cabuag, Miloliʻi has been requested by Kumu Hula Tangaro to participate in the opening of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival this Sunday at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium. This ceremony is the blessing of all Merrie Monarch Festival events to follow throughout the week. Kumu Tangaro has loosely adopted Miloliʻi and given them the name UNU KOʻA. UNU is the root of the name of all Kumu Tangaroʻs cohorts and KOʻA is the fish aggregation site, prominent in Miloliiʻs rich ʻŌpelu nearshore fishery. The Milohala group has participated in four hula enrichment camps this past year, three in Miloli’i and one at Ho’oku’ikahi Festival at Pu’ukohola Heiau.  Milohala was responsible for greeting Hokule’a on her island-wide community voyage this past year.  Miloli’i was Hokulea’s first stop. This performance will be a milestone in Miloliiʻs history. Miloliʻi has never participated in any Merrie Monarch Festival events and has never been deeply connected to a prominent Halau lineage of Hawaiʻi Island. Pa’a Pono Miloli’i through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has supported Milohala’s recent activities in preparation for this performance.  PPM has provided 3 enrichment-training sessions for Milohala MM participants.  PPM has provided all costuming for the performance.  Milohala has been in accelerated training mode for the past month.  Haumana have learned over 20 hula, oli and mo’olelo.  Although Milohala has only a 5-6 minute spot on [...]

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