Nā Hanana Kanu
Programs & Events at Kanu
Below are our major school-wide celebrations held throughout the year.
Kani Ke Ō
November is the season of rain storms, clapping of thunder, rolling waves, and wind blowing over the kula of our ʻāina. Kanu o ka ʻĀina celebrates this time of year with our annual Kani Ke Ō. During Kani Ke Ō, we celebrate with our own "kani" (sounds of music), observe the storming feet of haumāna getting into their choir or hula lines, participate in applause for each performance, engage in laughter, hear and experience aloha or the sound of deep breathing in preparation before the "kani" begins.
Kani Ke Ō provides the opportunity to select a meaningful theme that guides the haumāna (students) through a reflective process. The process involves choosing music that will tell a moʻolelo, practicing, and then being mākaukau (ready) to share the joy and heartfelt aloha in every melodic note with their ʻohana and community.
Lā Kūʻokoʻa
Lā Kūʻokoʻa is a pivotal day in Hawaiʻi’s history and was widely celebrated annually across the Hawaiian Kingdom prior to the overthrow on January 17, 1893. In 1842, the Hawaiian Kingdom, led by Kauikeaouli, sent Timoteo Haalilio, Willam Richards, and George Simspon on a diplomatic mission to seek recognition of Hawaiʻi’s independence from the global superpowers of the time. On November 28, 1843, the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was formally recognized by England and France through the signing of the Anglo-Franco Proclamation and through a verbal acknowledgment with the United States as a result of their efforts. E mau loa ke ea o ka ʻāina!
Festival of Lights
Every December, we celebrate the season of giving and receiving, Makahiki, the Winter Solstice, and our annual school-wide Festival of Lights fundraiser. The late Kumu Scot Plunkett founded the Festival of Lights. Uncle Scot envisioned our entire campus lit by streams of bright, colorful Christmas lights! It is a time for our Kanu ʻohana to reflect on the year, count our blessings, and celebrate the coming of a new year. Hand-made student arts and crafts, ʻono-licious food booths, sweet treats, decorations, childrenʻs games, a Canned Goods Drive, Christmas music, and our emcee highlight the evening with fun, laughter, and Christmas cheer.
Kū I Ka Waʻa Festival
Kū I Ka Waʻa celebrates the legacy of voyaging traditions and those in our community who have brought these traditions to the forefront of our learning. Whether on land or on/in the moana, all that we do to learn, prepare, and support each other goes hand-in-hand. Kū I Ka Waʻa allows for all haumāna to engage in waʻa-based education (knots, star compass, cloud identification activities that connect the ʻāina - from mauka to makai - to the waʻa, etc.) while building their identity and establishing kuleana to sustaining waʻa traditions. This event helps celebrate the waʻa, moana, and ʻāina through educational experiences & activities that build the mauli of our community & ʻohana.
