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HUI MOʻOLELO


​The word hui translates to club, association, joint ownership, team or 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.

Click the image for a 5-minute overview of our Hui Mo‘olelo program partnership with the Maui Historical Society and the County of Maui. >>>
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Through Hui Mo‘olelo (“gathering of stories”), an annual cohort of storytellers is trained through a series of free, community workshops. Upon completion, participants are paired with an intergenerational partner to generate a site-specific story that is audio-recorded. The audio excerpts become the basis for annual requests for proposals by professional artists, in which they interpret a recording as a work of public art in collaboration with community members. Proposals are selected by a community panel, followed by an intensive learning and cultural exchange that is rooted in specific places throughout Maui County.

The Hui Mo’olelo program has been recognized for its outstanding contribution to the local community, stemming from past National Endowment for the Arts grant projects that include Wailuku’s SMALL TOWN * BIG ART initiative and the County of Maui Public Art Master Plan. 

LEILEHUA COHORT
Lahaina Cohort
Lei Pua ʻAla Cohort

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New recordings are currently underway!
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Pualani Enos, UH Mānoa Matsunaga Institute for Peace & Troy Siruno, Hawaii Leadership Forum
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE

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Val Tavai, Senior Community Services Manager at Honolulu Community Action Program & Lani Teves, associate professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE

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Hōkū Pavao, Maui performing artist and arts administrator & Francis Taua
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE
• Performance Art -
coming soon!
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Kenji Cataldo, Co-Host & Producer of Hawai’i Rising, a podcast produced by Hawai’i People’s Fund & Frank Lee
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE

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Cynthia Cary, Retired social worker, University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Human Services Program & Lee Stein
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE
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Lyz Soto, Poet and Director of Literary and Conversation Programs, Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities & Allen Kam
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE

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Nicolita Garces, Archivist & Librarian & Ashley Ancheta Galacgac, Engagement & Operations Manager, Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE
• Mural - coming soon!

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Daniel Southmayd, Medical Case Manager at Maui Aids Foundation Inc. & Nilo Nono
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE

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Dolly M.I. Tatofi & Camille Rockett, Director, Community Health and Equity, Hawaii Medical Service Association 
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE
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Sean-Joseph Takeo Kahāokalani Choo, Kamamo House & William Haʻo, Actor and Director
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE
• Pop-Up Performance -
coming soon!
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Angelica Daoang & Lance Collins
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE

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Erin Wade & Carol Ball
• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE
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​Coach Earle Kukahiko & Kaliko Storer of Lāhainā
​• Full Recording HERE (Bonus Video)​
​• Excerpt HERE
​• Animation HERE
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​Louis Garcia III & Kaliko Storer of Lāhainā
​• Full Recording HERE (Bonus Video)​​
• Excerpt HERE
​• 
Animation HERE
• Mural - coming soon!
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Reverend Gensho Hara, Lāhainā Jodo Mission & his daughter, Yayoi Hara
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Translated transcript HERE

​• Animation (one) (two) and (three)
• Utility Box Artwork HERE
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Abraham "Snake" Ah Hee, Lahainaluna Class of 1964, Lopaka White, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission and Myrna Ah Hee, Lahainaluna Class of 1980
​​​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt #1 | Excerpt #2
​• 
Animation HERE
​
• Mural project HERE
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​Tom Fujita, Lahainaluna High School Class of 1962 & Dean Tokishi, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
​​• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE
• Mural project (one) and (two)

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Teva Medeiros, Lāhaināluna High teacher and his Grandfather Timothy Medeiros Sr.
​• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE
​
​• 
Animation HERE
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Theo Morrison, Executive Director, Lahaina Restoration Foundation & Erin Wade, Planning & Development Chief, County of Maui 
​​• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt​ HERE
• Mural project HERE

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Scott Fisher, Director of ʻĀina Stewardship at Hawai'i Land Trust & Kim Thayer of Mauna Kahalawai Watershed Partnership 
​• Full Recording HERE
​•​ Excerpt HERE
•​ Sculpture HERE
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Uncle William Garcia, Jr. & Pualani Enos, UH Mānoa Matsunaga Institute for Peace
​• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE
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Uncle “Gaby”  Gouveia & Pualani Enos, UH Mānoa Matsunaga Institute for Peace
​• Full Recording HERE
• Excerpt HERE

• Mural - coming soon!
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Bruce Uʻu & Nohe Uʻu-Hodgins of Hawaiian Canoe Club, Ho'aloha Park, Kahului
• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
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Joyce Kawahara, Kahului Elementary (and more!) & Dean Tokishi, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
• Full Recording HERE
• ​Excerpt HERE
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​Jeanette Nalani Kaauamo of Wailuanui & Lopaka White, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
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Kevin Gavagan, Assistant Director of Engineering at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and & his daughter, marine biologist Kukui  Gavagan
​• Full Recording HERE
• ​Excerpt HERE
•​ Animation HERE

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Andrew Chin, ukulele instructor at ʻĪao Intermediate School & his stepfather, artist Michael Takemoto
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• ​Excerpt HERE
•​ Animation HERE

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Musicians Anthony Pfluke & Kevin Brown
​​• Full Recording HERE
​​• Excerpt HERE
•​ Animation HERE

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Jennifer Freeland, Behavioral Health Specialist · Hawaiʻi State Department of Education & her father, Haines Burt Freeland
• Full Recording HERE
​• Excerpt HERE
​• Animation coming soon!​
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Hōaka Delos Reyes, expert in the field of stone-on-stone carving (kālai pōhaku) & Anuhea Yagi, Student of Hawaiian Life Ways 
​​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
•​ Animation HERE
• Mural - coming soon!
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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
​​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
•​ Animation HERE

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

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

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Soon Yai Amaral, Elder kamaʻāina of Lānaʻi & Diane Preza, Kamaʻāina of Lānaʻi
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
• Animation HERE

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Anthony Pacheco & his father Henry Eskaran, Jr., Kamaʻāina of Lānaʻi
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
• Animation HERE

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

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Michael Bursack & Annadele Yahiro, Docents for Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House / Maui Historical Society
​• ​Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
​• ​Animation HERE

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Sally Ann Delos Reyes, Water-woman & Lopaka White, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
• Performance art HERE
​• ​Animation HERE

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Kekoa Enomoto, ʻAhahui Kaʻahumanu and Chairwoman, Paʻupena Community Development Corporation & Kauwela Bisquera, General Manager, Queen Kaʻahumanu Center
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
• Mural HERE

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Frank De Rego, Maui Police Commission, Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, Maui County Climate Action Resiliency Planning Advisory Committee & ​Wallette Pellegrino
​​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE

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Coach John McCandless (aka Johnny Mac) & Dean Tokishi, Ocean Resources Specialist, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
​• Animation HERE

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

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

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Gordean Bailey, Kumu Hula, Halau Wehiwehi of Leilehua & Sissy Lake-Farm, Kumu Hula, Hālau Makana Aloha O Ka Lauaʻe 
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
• Animation HERE

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

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Kalapana Kollars, Hawaiian Cultural Programs Director, Lahaina Restoration Foundation & Wallette Pellegrino
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
​• Paintings HERE
• Animation HERE

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

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Dean Tokishi, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission & Skippy Hau, Aquatic Biologist, State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources
​• Full Recording HERE
​
• Excerpt HERE
• Animation​ HERE

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Nani Fay Paglinawan, Women Helping Women lifetime achievement awardee & Pualani Enos, UH Mānoa Matsunaga Institute for Peace
• Excerpt HERE
•​ Mural HERE
•​ Animation HERE


Preserving Our Stories at the Library of Congress: Through our collaboration with StoryCorps, all interviews are published to the StoryCorps Archive and preserved at the American Folklife Center (AFC) of the Library of Congress, ensuring its availability to future generations of researchers and historians. These recordings are processed and securely stored by StoryCorps before being transferred to the Library of Congress for long-term preservation. While the StoryCorps collection at the Library is currently a closed collection and not accessible to the public on-site, you can access these interviews through archive.storycorps.org/user/mauipublicart and archive.storycorps.org/user/stba. By participating, we are contributing to a growing national archive that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of people across the United States.

Helpful Links & Background

​From 2021 to 2023, artist Leilehua Yuen led workshops for our SMALL TOWN * BIG ART program that cultivated a Maui storyteller network and captured stories embedded in a Maui sense of place. This work helped to create a new foundation for public artwork design. Armed with Leilehua's 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 the Hui Mo’olelo workshop series, each are paired with an intergenerational partner for an audio-recorded talk-story that captures these connective moments for potential artistic interpretation. Representing a wide range of special places and stories, the recordings are available for your research, enjoyment, memory or inspiration. Please enjoy. 
  • Storytelling Pilot Project (PAGE)
  • Leilehua Yuen project (PAGE)
  • Self-recorded cohort member stories (LINK)
  • Hui Mo‘olelo & Lahaina (BLOG)
  • DIY Tutorial for Participants (LINK)
  • 2024-2025 NEA Grant Announcement (Maui Now)
  • Arts & Resilience Event (Lahaina News)
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Workshop Recordings

  1. 2021 Leilehua Cohort Workshop #1 LINK (4/28/21) | Workshop #2 LINK (5/20/21) | Workshop #3 LINK (6/2/21) | Workshop #4 was an in-person event at the Bailey House in Wailuku (7/18/21)
  2. 2022 Leilehua Cohort Workshop #1 LINK (4/28/22) | Workshop #2 LINK (5/5/22) | Workshop #3 LINK (5/13/22)
  3. 2023 Leilehua Cohort Workshop #1 LINK (5/27/23) | Workshops #2 & #3 were facilitated offline 
  4. 2024 Hui Mo‘olelo: Lāhainā Cohort Workshop #1 LINK (6/21/24) | Workshop #2 LINK (6/28/24) | Workshop #3 LINK (7/5/24) | Wellness with Aloha LINK (7/12/24)
  5. 2025 Hui Mo‘olelo: ​Lei Pua ʻAla Cohort Workshop #1 LINK (1/16/25) | Workshop #2 LINK (1/23/25) | Workshop #3 LINK (1/30/25)
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