HUI MOʻOLELO

The word hui translates to club, association, joint ownership, team; to form a society or organization; to congregate. The word moʻolelo means story, myth, legend and history, and is derived from the words "moʻo" and "ʻōlelo", or the succession of speech, as stories of the Hawaiian people were traditionally passed down orally.

Due to the strong resonance of the 2021 Talk Story project through SMALL TOWN * BIG ART, we invited artist Leilehua Yuen to lead a 2022 Hui Mo’olelo cohort to help expand our network of storytellers, capture new stories, and inspire potential works of public art for upcoming requests for proposals. 

Armed with these teachings, as well as best practices from a wide range of storytelling and oral history experts, the Hui’s intention is to capture an authentic moment of connection through stories that are embedded in a Maui County sense of place. As participants complete kumu Leilehua's workshop series, each are paired with a partner of one or more previous generations to engage in an audio-recorded talk-story that captures these connective moments for potential artistic interpretation. 

Representing a wide range of special places and stories, the following are now available for your research, enjoyment, memory or inspiration. Please enjoy. 

Anuhea Yagi, Student of Hawaiian Life Ways + Hōaka Delos Reyes, expert in the field of stone-on-stone carving (kālai pōhaku)
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE

Hōkūlani Holt, PhD, Kumu Hula, Pāʻū O Hiʻiaka, Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, University of Hawaii Maui College + Cody Pueo Pata, Kumu Hula, Halau Hula ʻo ka Malama Mahilani and cultural advisor to the Maui County Mayor
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE

Kahoʻiwai Belsom, Attorney + Jocelyn Romero Demirbag, Ed.D., Director of Development, Maui Nui at The University of Hawaii Foundation
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
​Resulting artwork HERE

Michael K. Nāhoʻopiʻi, master lauhala weaver and Executive Director of Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission + Kelly McHugh-White, Maui Public Art Corps
​Excerpt HERE
Full Recording HERE
Resulting artwork HERE

Soon Yai Amaral, Elder kamaʻāina of Lānaʻi + Diane Preza, Kamaʻāina of Lānaʻi
​Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
Resulting artwork HERE

Anthony Pacheco and his father Henry Eskaran, Jr., Kamaʻāina of Lānaʻi
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
Resulting artwork HERE

Dean Del Rosario, Kamaʻāina of Lānaʻi + Shelly Preza, Executive Director, Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
​Resulting artwork HERE

Annadelle Yahiro + Michael Bursack, Docents for Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House / Maui Historical Society
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE

Sally Ann Delos Reyes, Water-woman + Lopaka White, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE

Kekoa Enomoto, ʻAhahui Kaʻahumanu and Chairwoman, Paʻupena Community Development Corporation + Kauwela Bisquera, General Manager, Queen Kaʻahumanu Center
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
​Resulting artwork HERE

Frank De Rego, Maui Police Commission, Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, Maui County Climate Action Resiliency Planning Advisory Committee + ​Wallette Pellegrino, Former Host of "Preserving Our Recollections”
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE

Coach John McCandless (aka Johnny Mac) + Dean Tokishi, Ocean Resources Specialist, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
Excerpt HERE
Full Recording HERE
​Resulting artwork HERE

Sissy Lake-Farm + Lopaka White talk story about Hawaiian Canoe Club
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE

Roselle Bailey, Kumu Hula, Ka’Imi Na’auao O Hawaii Nei Institute + Anuhea Yagi, Student of Hawaiian Life Ways
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
​>> Paintings HERE
>> Animation HERE

Gordon Bailey, Kumu Hula, Halau Wehiwehi of Leilehua + Sissy Lake-Farm, Kumu Hula, Hālau Makana Aloha O Ka Lauaʻe 
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
>> Resulting artwork HERE

Clifford Naeʻole, Cultural Advisor at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua + Hōkūao Pellegrino, Nohoʻana Farm
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
>> Animation HERE
​>> Mural & Dance HERE

Kalapana Kollars, Hawaiian Cultural Programs Director, Lahaina Restoration Foundation + Wallette Pellegrino, Host of ”Preserving Our Recollections” 
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
​>> Paintings HERE
>> Animation HERE

Lopaka White, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission + Kepā Maly, Cultural Historian & Resource Specialist, Executive Director of Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
>> Resulting artwork HERE

Dean Tokishi, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission + Skippy Hau, Aquatic Biologist, State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources
Excerpt HERE
​Full Recording HERE
>> Resulting Artwork HERE

Nani Fay Paglinawan, Women Helping Women lifetime achievement awardee + Pualani Enos Dunn, Attorney
​Full Recording HERE