RISE! Keiki Vibrancy Series - Cultural Foundations

Starting in April, we will be offering age-appropriate cultural activities in a safe and supportive environment. Your child can look forward to completing season focused S.T.E.M. and arts/crafts projects, building their ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), mele (song), hula (dance) repertoire, and playing mea pāʻani (games) with staff and peers. Online registration is available now. Suppose you would also like to meet the staff. In that case, we look forward to seeing you at our orientation scheduled for Sunday, April 10, from 10 am-12noon in the Lobby Level Conference Room at 251 18th Street South, Arlington, VA 22202 (FREE garage parking). Register today!

Prince Kūhio Day

Prince Kūhio was born on the island of Kaua`i on March 26, 1871. He was Queen  Lili`uokalani’s cousin and she named him to be an heir to the throne, so he was given the title of “prince.” He studied in California and at the Royal Agricultural College in England. He was 24 years old when he joined the Royalist uprising against the new republic in 1895 and was captured and convicted of treason. 

Prince Kūhio is best remembered for his successful effort to get congress to pass the 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to provide homesteads for native Hawaiians. His letter to U.S. Senators stated that the only method in which to rehabilitate the Hawaiian race was to place the people “back upon the soil.” Though the Hawaiian Homes Act was passed, it was not to Kūhio’s liking as it contained requirements of high blood quantum and leased land instead of granting it fee simple, which created a permanent government institution. 

Prince Kūhio also introduced a bill in 1919, which requested that Hawai`i be admitted into America as a fully-fledged state. Hawai`i became the 50th state in 1959. He continued to serve the native Hawaiian people both at home and in Washington until his death in 1922. 

In 1949, a holiday was created to honor him, which is one of two state holidays celebrating Hawaiian royalty, the other being King Kamehameha Day on June 11.

What is Hinamatsuri?

Also called Doll’s or Girls’ Day, Hinamatsuri is a religious holiday in Japan, celebrated on March 3 of each year. Platforms covered with a red carpet-like material are used to display a set of ornamental dolls representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period. 

How Do We Celebrate Girls' Day in Hawai`i? is an interesting article about this celebration. Also, at the bottom, there’s a recipe for Hina-Mingyo Mochi, which is a traditional food for Girls’ Day.

EHCC Activities

March 26-27: ʻAHA ʻŌPIO (AIR) Our youth are progressive, flexible, curious, independent, adventurous, and intellectual. Air feeds our brain and is not fixed and solid but flexible and constantly moving. Air is the balance between fire and water and enables the mind to liberate the bonds of earth. Spread the word about our FREE RISE! ʻŌpio Vibrancy Series - Adulting 101 happening in March. This weekend-long event will cover various topics like Money and Credit Management, Investing, Taxes, Career Planning, Job Search/Resume/Interview, etc. Register today.

Apr thru Dec: RISE! Keiki Vibrancy Series - Cultural Foundations March Orientation | April Start. We offer age-appropriate cultural activities in a safe and supportive environment. Your child can look forward to completing season focused S.T.E.M. and arts/crafts projects, build ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), mele (songs), dances (hula) repertoire, and playing (mea pāʻani) games with staff and peers. Online registration is available now.

Coming Soon: ʻAHA MAKUA (LAND) Respectable, hardworking, detail-oriented, stable, reliable, cautious, punctual, practical. In esoteric wisdom, land relates to the body. If you do not look after yourself and are unfit or unhealthy, it becomes more challenging to support energies generated by the other elements. Land represents grounding, the foundation for life, and family roots. Share our RISE! Makua Vibrancy -  Healthy Body, Mind, and Spirit Fair with all. Subject matter experts from Hawaiʻi and the DMV area are excited to share some of the following with all of you: Lomilomi (massage), Laʻau Lapaʻau (Healing with Whole Foods), Hula (Dance), Self Defense, Meditation, Cooking Demonstration, etc.

Coming Soon: ʻAHA KŪPUNA (WATER) Our elders can be described as self-aware, adaptive, modest, devoted, reflective, authentic, integrating, and cooperative. Water is fluid and adaptable and dictates one's ability to manage various situations. In contrast, fire and air relate to thoughts and emotions, the element of water tests oneʻs ability to be fluid and adaptable when faced with adversity. Join us as we honor the journey of our elders/ancestors at our inaugural RISE! Kūpuna Vibrancy Series - Celebrating our Hulu Kūpuna (Precious Elders) Holokū Ball Fundraiser in October.

Community Connections

Mar 20 (Sun): Honi Hala, virtual Hoa Pili Jacket Pin Workshop registration is now open. Take this workshop with someone or make two pins and give one away o a hoa pili (close friend). No experience is required. The fee is $80 (includes all materials & shipping cost). Learn more.

Mar 16 (Wed): Join Kū-A-Kanaka for their monthly MOʻOLELO KAHIKO. In this interactive, bi-lingual webinar about KE KUMU ʻULU, we will learn about the origin of the breadfruit tree and how the God Kū provided food for his ʻohana and all the people of Hawaiʻi during a famine. Like all Moʻolelo Kahiko events, this webinar will be fun for the entire ʻohana, allowing you to learn new words, Hawaiian ʻōlelo noʻeau and a song about Ke Kumu ʻUlu. Cost is Free. Register today.

Mar 20 - Apr 17: Rediscover Spring throughout Washington, DC and be a part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival March 20 – April 17, for four weeks of celebration filled with food, fun, and culture! Learn more.

Mar 26 (Sat): Join Kū-A-Kanaka for a special MOʻOLELO KAHIKO webinar to celebrate the birthday of one of Hawaiʻiʻs foremost heroes PRINCE KŪHIŌ KALANIANAʻOLE, who modeled being a modern Hawaiian for us. In this very interactive, bi-lingual webinar, we will learn lots of interesting and important facts about Ke Aliʻi Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, who spent a lifetime trying to rehabilitate Hawaiians to get back to the ʻāina. Cost is Free. Register today.

Interested in sharing something in our Newsletter? How about a special event or announcement?

Please send an email to: Marilyn@ealaehcc.org