KAHOʻOLAWE
Animated Stories
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Michael K. Nāhoʻopiʻi has been involved with Kahoʻolawe from virtually every perspective in its recent history, from Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana member and former US Navy Officer-in-Charge of Kahoʻolawe during the conveyance of the island to the State of Hawaiʻi, to senior manager during the early Model Cleanup and - now - Executive Director of the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC).
In June 2022, former KIRC staffer Kelly McHugh-White sat with Michael for an audio recorded talk-story rooted in a Kahoʻolawe sense of place. A segment of their conversation was interpreted by artist Taisiya Zaretskay as this animated short, which premiered at the historic ʻĪao Theater in December 2022 and was exhibited at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Pā‘ina Market from January - March 2023. |
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On April 27, 2024, the Kahoʻolawe-inspired story of Kevin and Kukui Gavagan was unveiled as a short animated film during a free event at ProArts Playhouse in Kīhei.
As the family of Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission's Terri Gavagan, Kevin and Kukui have spent many years participating as kākoʻo (supporters) and volunteers both within the Reserve as well as from their Maui home. As Assistant Director of Engineering at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Kevin Gavagan received the 2022 Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award by the Maui Invasive Species Committee, the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, and the County of Maui, exhibiting a passion for horticulture, native plants, and Hawaiian culture as well as leadership in helping to restore Kahoʻolawe. As a Kanaeokana Aloha ‘Āina Leader Awardee, Kukui has been recognized for her growing commitment to aloha ‘āina; accepting the kuleana to work for the benefit of our community and affirming the importance of our cultural values in today’s society. |
Pop-Up Performances
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In May 2023, singer, songwriter, author and poet Tanama Colibri performed a public pop-up performance featuring original songs inspired by Kahoʻolawe. Following a 4-day trip to the island with Maui Public Art Corps, which is only accessible through volunteer work accesses with either the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission or the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana, Tanama worked closely with community members with special ties to this place to create music that celebrates its unique character and stories. The one-time-only/ pop-up performance was scheduled in Wailuku Town as part of the SMALL TOWN * BIG ART initiative, which additionally featured original music celebrating its distinctive sense of place, history and culture.
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In June 2023, Nā Hōkū Hanohano finalist Anthony Pfluke shared music composed through his Maui Public Art Corps Kahoʻolawe volunteer access during a pop-up performance in Wailuku Town, free and open to the public. Through his experiences on Kahoʻolawe, community consultations and other opportunities to engage with the artist, Anthony presented an original set that reflected the stories and history of these special Maui places.
"If I’m granted the opportunity to create a mele for Kahoʻolawe and Wailuku, I’m excited to discuss and receive mana‘o and ‘ike from nā kūpuna of these places, in order to properly weave together the mele. I intend to write most of the songs in ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i, if not all, but through the process of talking with kūpuna and all involved in the project, the identity of the songs will be found." |
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In November 2023, singer/songwriter, looper pedal artist and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Henderson collaborated with Adaptations Dance Theater to debut Ola i ka wai ‘o Maui. A pop-up performance of 5 movements inspired by an interview between Lopaka White of the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission and Aunty Sally Ann Delos Reyes of Lahaina, Stephen composed each movement with distinct pani maoli (native instruments) and place-based melodic motifs pulled from mele wahi (a known song about that particular place) for dancers to develop original choreography from. One movement, Uwe ka lani ola ka honua, features voiceovers of Aunty Sally speaking about meeting in the ocean to save Kaho’olawe: “You can’t just bomb an island”; “You going put us in jail!? You going shoot us!?”; “If I going die today, then it’s a good cause”.
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Hui Mo‘olelo
Through our Hui Mo‘olelo program, participants complete an immersive storytelling workshop and record conversations with an intergenerational partner. Each year, we invite artist proposals to interpret the resulting stories as public artworks in collaboration with the community. A growing collection of stories about Kahoʻolawe or by its stewards can be found below:
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Hui Mo‘olelo Process
Our process was designed with the help of StoryCorps DIY best practices and further guided by long-standing cultural practitioners, historians, and community leaders including oral historians Kepā and Onaona Maly, artist Leilehua Yuen, and past Hui Mo‘olelo facilitators Kalapana Kollars, Anuhea Yagi and Sissy Lake-Farm.
TIPS
SAMPLE QUESTIONS + PROMPTS
- Complete Hui Mo‘olelo workshop series, through which participants create their own micro-storytelling presentation (Past samples)
- Coordinate the best date & time to meet an intergenerational partner with a special connection to Kahoʻolawe to talk story at a quiet, comfortable space. We can meet you to assist as audio tech, or are happy to lend you DIY equipment with instructions.
- Both you and your partner should select 4-5 of the "Sample Questions & Prompts" below, or create your own prior to your scheduled recording. Feel free to go “off-script” and ask follow-up questions. Our goal is to gather, honor, and amplify stories rooted in Kahoʻolawe sense of place. You can tell jokes, stories, share photos, objects, memories or choose another way to help you get there.
- Once settled into your chosen recording space, note your starting time (or we can do this for you, if you choose to have us there as recording technician). In consideration of "bio breaks" and continuity, we have learned that 40-minutes is an ideal length of time to talk story. Start by stating your name, age, the date, and the place where you are - and let your match do the same. Then begin with your list of prompts.
- When pau, be sure to capture a photo of the two of you together and send it to us with your recording.
TIPS
- Let silence work—give time for reflection.
- Ask follow-up questions when something sparks curiosity.
- Keep focus on place + person + cultural context.
- Thank your partner sincerely at the end, and share how their story will be preserved.
- Engaging participants with respect (READ)
- The interview day (READ)
SAMPLE QUESTIONS + PROMPTS
- What moments during a past Kahoʻolawe access stand out most vividly for you—and why?
- Can you describe how it felt to step onto Kahoʻolawe for the first time?
- Did any particular spot on Kahoʻolawe feel spiritually or culturally significant? Can you describe that connection?
- How did being in this Island Reserve add depth or meaning to something you already knew about its history?
- Was there a moment on the island that brought up unexpected emotions or insights?
- What did being there teach you about your own connection to the ʻāina (land)?
- If Kahoʻolawe could speak, what would it say to someone who stood in the same spot today?
- How does speaking with me influence how you see or understand Kahoʻolawe?
- How did the restoration efforts—like planting native species or clearing invasives—change the way you experienced the island
- What does Kahoʻolawe’s transformation from ranch to target to cultural site teach us about resilience?
- What story or insight from Kahoʻolawe do you hope will be passed down to future generations?
- How might those who have never visited Kahoʻolawe understand its meaning?
- What responsibility do you feel now, after this access, in helping preserve or share its stories?
- Describe the soundscape of the island—waves, wind, birds, navigation tools—and what it reveals about the place.
- What flora or fauna did you encounter that felt especially significant in the context of restoration and culture?
- If you could bring one object back in memory from Kahoʻolawe to symbolize the island’s essence, what would it be—and why?
- Can you share your first memory of Kahoʻolawe?
- What brought you to the island the first time, and what did it mean to you then?
- How was Kahoʻolawe spoken about in your family or community when you were young?
- What stories about Kahoʻolawe have been passed down in your family or through your community?
- Are there chants, songs, or sayings about the island that hold special meaning?
- How did the bombing of Kahoʻolawe impact you, your ʻohana, or your sense of place?
- How have you seen the island change over the years—environmentally, spiritually, or culturally?
- What restoration efforts have been most meaningful to you personally?
- Are there practices or protocols that are especially important to follow when visiting Kahoʻolawe?
- What has Kahoʻolawe taught you about resilience and healing?
- What do you believe the island teaches us about caring for the ʻāina across all of the Pae ʻĀina
- Are there values from your ancestors about this place that you hope are never forgotten?
- What advice would you give young people who want to care for Kahoʻolawe and its stories?
- What is one story about Kahoʻolawe that you feel must be told to every generation?
- How do you hope Kahoʻolawe will look 50 or 100 years from now?
- What emotions come up for you when you think about Kahoʻolawe today compared to decades ago?
- Is there a specific moment on the island that changed your life or deepened your sense of purpose?
- If Kahoʻolawe could speak to us, what message would it share about its past, present, and future?
- How would you like to see the stories you carry about Kahoʻolawe preserved?