RWMF 2025: Kulāiwi to bring Hawaiian ancestral knowledge to contemporary audiences
Shawn addresses the press conference, flanked by Pono (left) and Lehua. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
SANTUBONG (June 21): The Hawaiian trio of Kulāiwi aims to bring ancestral knowledge to contemporary audiences through traditional music, language, and hula at the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2025.
The group, comprising Shawn Kekoa Pimental, Pono Fernandez and Lehua Kalima Alvarez said their performances are grounded in cultural memory and serve as a means of reconnecting with identity, land, and history.
'Kulāiwi means native lands, but it also means the land where our ancestors' bones are buried.
'Our ancestors hold so much mana – so much power – in their bones, and through our mele (songs) and hula, we honour that legacy and pass it forward,' said Shawn during an interview here today.
According to him, traditional music and dance are not only forms of artistic expression but also cultural transmission.
'The way for us to reconnect is through music and hula. We go back to our ancient chants to rediscover what it means to be connected to our land. That informs how we walk in today's world.'
Speaking about language revitalisation, Shawn explained that Hawaiian music acts as a bridge between generations.
'For our generation, we weren't raised speaking Hawaiian. We were raised speaking English. Music helps us reclaim what was lost.
'It's our way of remembering, and it's also a bridge to the future,' he said.
The trio highlighted that their work is part of a larger cultural movement to revive Hawaiian language and traditions.
'We now have 'kaiapuni' – Hawaiian immersion schools – where children learn in Hawaiian from preschool. These kids are becoming native speakers, something that was nearly lost when our language was banned after colonisation,' said Shawn.
They also acknowledged the intergenerational trauma resulting from language suppression.
Addressing a question on preserving culture amid Americanisation and globalisation, the group cited ongoing struggles for land, language, and cultural rights.
'We thought we were making good progress, but we're still being whitewashed out of our own land. The fight continues for funding and recognition,' said Shawn.
He also touched on activism linked to sacred sites such as Mauna Kea, where they had joined protests to protect the mountain from desecration by large-scale telescope construction.
'It's not that we're against science.We're against the destruction of our most sacred spaces and natural resources.'
In sharing their message with global audiences at RWMF, Kulāiwi emphasised the universal relevance of cultural and ecological preservation.
'When we come to places like this, we ask for permission to be here. We stand with you in protecting the rainforest, the land, and ancestral knowledge – not just for indigenous people, but for the world,' said Shawn.
Kulāiwi's performance at RWMF, scheduled to take place last night, features music that fuses traditional Hawaiian language and contemporary harmonies. ancestral knowledge Hawaii Kulāiwi native RWMF2025
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Shawn addresses the press conference, flanked by Pono (left) and Lehua. – Photo by Roystein Emmor SANTUBONG (June 21): The Hawaiian trio of Kulāiwi aims to bring ancestral knowledge to contemporary audiences through traditional music, language, and hula at the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2025. The group, comprising Shawn Kekoa Pimental, Pono Fernandez and Lehua Kalima Alvarez said their performances are grounded in cultural memory and serve as a means of reconnecting with identity, land, and history. 'Kulāiwi means native lands, but it also means the land where our ancestors' bones are buried. 'Our ancestors hold so much mana – so much power – in their bones, and through our mele (songs) and hula, we honour that legacy and pass it forward,' said Shawn during an interview here today. According to him, traditional music and dance are not only forms of artistic expression but also cultural transmission. 'The way for us to reconnect is through music and hula. We go back to our ancient chants to rediscover what it means to be connected to our land. That informs how we walk in today's world.' Speaking about language revitalisation, Shawn explained that Hawaiian music acts as a bridge between generations. 'For our generation, we weren't raised speaking Hawaiian. We were raised speaking English. Music helps us reclaim what was lost. 'It's our way of remembering, and it's also a bridge to the future,' he said. The trio highlighted that their work is part of a larger cultural movement to revive Hawaiian language and traditions. 'We now have 'kaiapuni' – Hawaiian immersion schools – where children learn in Hawaiian from preschool. These kids are becoming native speakers, something that was nearly lost when our language was banned after colonisation,' said Shawn. They also acknowledged the intergenerational trauma resulting from language suppression. Addressing a question on preserving culture amid Americanisation and globalisation, the group cited ongoing struggles for land, language, and cultural rights. 'We thought we were making good progress, but we're still being whitewashed out of our own land. The fight continues for funding and recognition,' said Shawn. He also touched on activism linked to sacred sites such as Mauna Kea, where they had joined protests to protect the mountain from desecration by large-scale telescope construction. 'It's not that we're against against the destruction of our most sacred spaces and natural resources.' In sharing their message with global audiences at RWMF, Kulāiwi emphasised the universal relevance of cultural and ecological preservation. 'When we come to places like this, we ask for permission to be here. We stand with you in protecting the rainforest, the land, and ancestral knowledge – not just for indigenous people, but for the world,' said Shawn. Kulāiwi's performance at RWMF, scheduled to take place last night, features music that fuses traditional Hawaiian language and contemporary harmonies. ancestral knowledge Hawaii Kulāiwi native RWMF2025
