First “Talk Story with Kupuna” Program

Local resident "Auntie Annie" speaks to visitors about growing up in Kawaihae.

Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site hosted its first “Talk Story with Kupuna” program on Wednesday, October 14. Local Hawai’i Island residents Bill and Annie Akau retold their stories of growing up in Kawaihae. Several dozen visitors from Hawai’i and the Mainland listened to many heart-felt personal accounts. “Uncle” Bill talked about the unhurried life of “aloha” that used to be the norm in his younger years. Bill’s sister, “Auntie” Annie, spoke passionately about various topics, ranging from the drastic environmental changes that have taken place at Kawaihae, to the importance of reclaiming traditional Hawaiian place names, to the destructive tsunami of 1946.

The “Talk Story with Kupuna” program gives a forum for local residents to share their stories with visitors from around the world. In ancient times, the Hawaiian people did not have a written language. Their stories were passed down by word-of-mouth from generation to generation. Through this program, the fascinating stories of people like Bill and Annie can be preserved in much the same way. If you would like information about upcoming events, please visit the Park’s calendar of events.