Preserving a vital ‘Ōiwi archive for future generations
Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina is dedicated to increased access and preservation of Hawaiʻi’s stories from Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina’s (NMOKA’s) moving-image collection. Since 1974, NMOKA, an independent video production team founded by Joan Lander and Puhipau, has been dedicated to perpetuating and documenting the land and people of Hawai‘i. For more than forty years, NMOKA gathered voices and images of traditional/contemporary Hawaiian culture, history, language, art, music, dance, environment, and the politics of independence/sovereignty, leaving a vital ʻŌiwi archive for future generations. In 2020, NMOKA began collaborating with Puʻuhonua Society to continue cataloging and making accessible this collection of over 6,500 video tapes.
We are currently focused on presenting an exhibition and screening series around a collection of tapes associated with NMOKA’s documentary Ahupuaʻa, Fishponds and Loʻi. Released in 1992 with producer, Nalani Minton, Ahupuaʻa, Fishponds and Loʻi documents Native Hawaiian systems of land use and resource management across six Hawaiian Islands — O‘ahu, Lāna‘i, Maui, Molokai, Hawai‘i, and Kaua‘i. On each island, the team gathered oral histories from kūpuna and kupaʻāina speaking about Hawaiian aquaculture and agriculture practices. By the end of their journey, Joan Lander and Puhipau had recorded more than 86 hours of footage. Eventually, this invaluable content was edited down to a 90-minute program. The unedited footage continues to be cared for by Joan, making up a small portion of their collection. Through the individual and collective stories gathered in the Hoʻomana collection, we come to understand more fully, the backbone of malama ʻāina and aloha ʻāina today. It is our hope to bring the ‘ike shared in the tapes back into the communities from which they originated.
To learn more about Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina, click on the image on the left to download a narrative sheet describing the background of the project.
Ahupuaʻa, Fishponds and Loʻi: Oʻahu
October 6, 2023 – January 12, 2024
Koa Gallery, Kapiʻolani Community College
Tuesday - Friday, 11am to 3pm, and by appointment
This exhibition is now closed. However, Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀinaʻs resource desk of searchable transcripts and digitized tapes are still accessible on the 2nd floor of Native Books and The Living Library at KEY Project.
The work continues as Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina, a partnership between Puʻuhonua Society and Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina, breathes new life and makes publicly accessible the invaluable ʻike kūpuna housed in their collection. After three years of digitizing materials associated with NMOKAʻs 1992 film Ahupuaʻa, Fishponds and Lo’i, Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina has organized an ongoing exhibition and screening series presenting unseen video and transcripts. Ahupuaʻa, Fishponds and Loʻi: Oʻahu features kūpuna, kupaʻāina, and makaʻāinana speaking about loʻi kalo, loko iʻa, and storied places in various ahupuaʻa on the island of Oʻahu.
July 7 – August 28, 2023
Arts & Letters Gallery
1164 Nuʻuanu Ave | Chinatown
This exhibition is now closed. However, Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀinaʻs resource desk of searchable transcripts and digitized tapes are still accessible on the 2nd floor of Native Books and The Living Library at KEY Project.
Film Screening and Panel Discussion
August 25, 2023 | 5pm-8pm
KEY Project
47-200 Waihee Rd, Kaneohe, HI 96744
In partnership with Pu’uhonua Society, KEY Project and its Living Library hosts a screening of unedited footage from the making of Ahupuaʻa, Fishponds and Loʻi, Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina’s 1992 film. The selection of tapes feature Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Charlie Reppun, Keoki Fukumitsu and Marion Kelly in various wahi of Koʻolaupoko. Following the screening there will be a panel discussion moderated by John Reppun (featured kalo farmer), with Nālani Minton (Producer), Nick Reppun (featured baby now kalo farmer) and Sancia Miala Shiba Nash (Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina Project Collaborator.) Heavy pupus and refreshments will be provided.
Film Screening and Panel Discussion
July 28 | Friday | 6pm-8:30pm
Arts & Letters Gallery
1164 Nuʻuanu Ave | Chinatown
The first of Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina’s screening series presenting selections of raw footage from the Hoʻomana collection. The selection of tapes feature Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Charlie Reppun, Keoki Fukumitsu and Marion Kelly. Panel Discussion with Nālani Minton (Producer of Ahupuaʻa, Fishponds and Loʻi), Charlie Reppun (longtime Waiāhole kalo farmer and featured in film), and Sancia Miala Shiba Nash (filmmaker & Project Assistant for Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina). Moderated by Emma Broderick (Puʻuhonua Society Executive Director).
Click on the button on the left to view Nā Maka o ka ʻĀinaʻs 1992 film Ahupuaʻa Fishponds and Loʻi online.
Tapes from the Ho‘omana Collection
Watch a recent program of unedited footage from the Oʻahu portion of the Hoʻomana collection, digitized and cataloged by Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina.
As screened: July 28, 2023, at Arts & Letters Nu‘uanu. » »
Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina Online
To view a catalog of Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina’s collection, available transcripts, and ordering information, visit their website. To watch trailers, short videos, and a selection of educational programs, see their other social media and video channels.
Support for Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina is provided in part by Hawaiʻi People’s Fund and Atherton Family Foundation. Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina has received additional support from the Association of Tribal Libraries, Archives and Museums.
