The Nā Momi Hoʻoheno oral history series was created to capture the treasured life stories of our Hawaiian people so that future generations might be enriched by these priceless moʻolelo of our unique way of life. Inspired by Women’s History month, we are honored to present three distinguished wāhine Hawaiʻi, beginning with Dr. Ione Jean ʻAlohilani Rathburn Ryan. Aunty Ione was born in Honolulu on October 18, 1926 and is a 1944 graduate of the Kamehameha School for Girls. She has enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a counselor and educator and holds the distinction of being the second Hawaiian woman to obtain a doctoral degree. We hope you enjoy the conversation as Aunty Ione is joined by her cousin Robert Clarke Paoa, and her nephew Manu Boyd.

In 1985, the Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa made landfall in Waitangi, Aotearoa. Ngāti Ruawāhia is a unique tribal designation honoring the kinship between Hawaiians and the Māori of the Tai Tokerau region that resulted from the arrival, kept alive through the decades by Kamehameha Schools. Learn more about the history of Ngāti Ruawāhia and our strong connections across Moananuiākea by exploring this latest Prezi video, and keep checking back as we continue to expand our Heritage Pūʻolo offerings.

Kūlana Kanaka is a video talk-story that invites guests to speak about our roles and responsibilities as kanaka ʻōiwi to ourselves, our ʻohana, our kaiāulu, and our lāhui. In this episode, Keʻala Kwan, Director of ʻIke Hawaiʻi Cultural Development at Kamehameha Schools, talks story with Kumu Hina about her identity as a kumu, cultural expert, and advocate. We also find out ways our kūlana or role in society helps to determine our kuleana as kanaka ʻōiwi.