Mazie K. Hirono, HI
“September is Hawaiian History Month. I am honoring three Native Hawaiian leaders: scholar Mary Kawena Pukui, traditional healer Levon Ohai, and ocean navigator Kaiulani Murphy. I want Americans to learn more about them and their work to save Hawaiian culture.”
“Mr. President, last year, the State of Hawaii officially designated September as Hawaiian History Month. Hawaiian History Month aims to recognize, reflect, and share Hawaii’s history. This year, I come to the floor to celebrate Hawaiian History Month by highlighting three Native Hawaiian leaders who have played pivotal roles in the education and perpetuation of Hawaiian culture: Mary Kawena Pukui, Levon Ohai, and Kaiulani Murphy. These histories are necessarily brief, and I encourage my colleagues and all Americans to take the time to learn more about these revered leaders. In the 1960s and 70s, there were tremendous efforts to revitalize and perpetuate the practices of Native Hawaiians. This era, referred to as the Hawaiian Renaissance, ushered in a cultural resurgence that embraced traditional language, hula, and music to give voice to Native Hawaiian culture. The restoration of the Hawaiian language, which had nearly been lost due to attempts to suppress its teaching, was a necessary part of this renaissance. Mary Abigail Kawenau laokalan iahiiaka ikapoliope lekawahin eaihonua Pukui, born April 20, 1895, was one of the most significant Native Hawaiian scholars and cultural figures who helped preserve Hawaiian language, stories, and traditions. Her leadership, legacy, and outstanding contributions to Hawaiian knowledge earned her the honor of being recognized on the Native American $1 coin program in 2025. As a child, she was immersed in Hawaiian culture; her mother came from a long line of priests, medicinal experts, and midwives. Her mother raised her to be bilingual, receiving education in Hawaiian language, crafts, and culture in addition to the English language. Notably she is known for publishing more than 50 books and articles and composing over 150 songs and chants. Some of her most well-known publications consist of ``Place Names of Hawaii (1974), ``Olelo Noeau,’’ and co-authoring ``Hawaiian-English Dictionary’’ (1957, revised 1986). The nearly 3,000 Olelo Noeau she published help to share the wisdom, thoughts, guidance, and lessons of Hawaiian ancestors through her translated and annotated proverbs. Another practice that was also revitalized during the Hawaiian Renaissance in the 70s and 80s was laau lapaau, the practice of Hawaiian medicine. In 1988, Congress passed the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act that recognized laau lapaau, knowledge passed down from generation to generation by Hawaiian practitioners, as a legitimate form of traditional medicine. Levon Ammon Ohai, from Kapaa, Kauai, is one of those Hawaiian medicine healers. Ohai worked as a Hawaii Department of Education teacher, as well as a professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Because of his dedication to the preservation and perpetuation of traditional Hawaiian knowledge systems, practices, and culture, he is known in the community as a kahuna laau lapaau, an expert in the medical field. He is also recognized by Papa Ola Lokahi, a federally created entity working to better health outcomes in the Native Hawaiian community, as a traditional healer. Another central part of the Hawaiian Renaissance was the revitalization of traditional wayfinding, showcasing the traditional migration of Polynesians. In 1976, the Polynesian Voyaging Society, with the help of Mau Piailug, a master navigator from Micronesia, sailed their first successful voyage on a double-hulled sailing canoe, named Hokulea. This voyage would be the first of many. In 2013, the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage began, an over 40,000-nautical-mile voyage that used traditional wayfinding techniques. The journey’s name means ``to care for our Earth.’’ The voyage’s purpose was to spread awareness regarding living sustainably, sharing Hawaiian culture, and showcasing the utilization of traditional knowledge systems. Today, the Polynesian Voyaging Society continues to train and inspire the next generation of Native Hawaiian navigators. Kaiulani Murphy was a key crew member in the Malama Honua Voyage and has been a navigator on Hokulea for more than 20 years. Additionally, she was the first woman to navigate Hokulea from Tahiti to Hawaii. In August 2026, Murphy, along with three other Native Hawaiian women-- Shantell De Silva, Pomaikalani Bertelmann, and Lehua Kamalu--became the first and only known females to be granted Pwo, master navigator status, the highest honor and responsibility among traditional Pacific navigators. Murphy is dedicated to steering future generations of wayfinders at Honolulu Community College, where she is a full-time Hawaiian studies professor. Every day, but particularly during this month, we honor and thank Mary Kawena Pukui, Levon Ohai, Kaiulani Murphy, and the many other Native Hawaiian leaders for their extraordinary vision, leadership, and commitment to the Native Hawaiian community at all points of Hawaiian history including past, present, and future.”
Mr. President, last year, the State of Hawaii officially designated September as Hawaiian History Month. Hawaiian History Month aims to recognize, reflect, and share Hawaii’s history. This year, I come to the floor to celebrate Hawaiian History Month by highlighting three Native Hawaiian leaders who have played pivotal roles in the education and perpetuation of Hawaiian culture: Mary Kawena Pukui, Levon Ohai, and Kaiulani Murphy. These histories are necessarily brief, and I encourage my colleagues and all Americans to take the time to learn more about these revered leaders. In the 1960s and 70s, there were tremendous efforts to revitalize and perpetuate the practices of Native Hawaiians. This era, referred to as the Hawaiian Renaissance, ushered in a cultural resurgence that embraced traditional language, hula, and music to give voice to Native Hawaiian culture. The restoration of the Hawaiian language, which had nearly been lost due to attempts to suppress its teaching, was a necessary part of this renaissance. Mary Abigail Kawenau laokalan iahiiaka ikapoliope lekawahin eaihonua Pukui, born April 20, 1895, was one of the most significant Native Hawaiian scholars and cultural figures who helped preserve Hawaiian language, stories, and traditions. Her leadership, legacy, and outstanding contributions to Hawaiian knowledge earned her the honor of being recognized on the Native American $1 coin program in 2025. As a child, she was immersed in Hawaiian culture; her mother came from a long line of priests, medicinal experts, and midwives. Her mother raised her to be bilingual, receiving education in Hawaiian language, crafts, and culture in addition to the English language. Notably she is known for publishing more than 50 books and articles and composing over 150 songs and chants. Some of her most well-known publications consist of ``Place Names of Hawaii (1974), ``Olelo Noeau,’’ and co-authoring ``Hawaiian-English Dictionary’’ (1957, revised 1986). The nearly 3,000 Olelo Noeau she published help to share the wisdom, thoughts, guidance, and lessons of Hawaiian ancestors through her translated and annotated proverbs. Another practice that was also revitalized during the Hawaiian Renaissance in the 70s and 80s was laau lapaau, the practice of Hawaiian medicine. In 1988, Congress passed the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act that recognized laau lapaau, knowledge passed down from generation to generation by Hawaiian practitioners, as a legitimate form of traditional medicine. Levon Ammon Ohai, from Kapaa, Kauai, is one of those Hawaiian medicine healers. Ohai worked as a Hawaii Department of Education teacher, as well as a professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Because of his dedication to the preservation and perpetuation of traditional Hawaiian knowledge systems, practices, and culture, he is known in the community as a kahuna laau lapaau, an expert in the medical field. He is also recognized by Papa Ola Lokahi, a federally created entity working to better health outcomes in the Native Hawaiian community, as a traditional healer. Another central part of the Hawaiian Renaissance was the revitalization of traditional wayfinding, showcasing the traditional migration of Polynesians. In 1976, the Polynesian Voyaging Society, with the help of Mau Piailug, a master navigator from Micronesia, sailed their first successful voyage on a double-hulled sailing canoe, named Hokulea. This voyage would be the first of many. In 2013, the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage began, an over 40,000-nautical-mile voyage that used traditional wayfinding techniques. The journey’s name means ``to care for our Earth.’’ The voyage’s purpose was to spread awareness regarding living sustainably, sharing Hawaiian culture, and showcasing the utilization of traditional knowledge systems. Today, the Polynesian Voyaging Society continues to train and inspire the next generation of Native Hawaiian navigators. Kaiulani Murphy was a key crew member in the Malama Honua Voyage and has been a navigator on Hokulea for more than 20 years. Additionally, she was the first woman to navigate Hokulea from Tahiti to Hawaii. In August 2026, Murphy, along with three other Native Hawaiian women-- Shantell De Silva, Pomaikalani Bertelmann, and Lehua Kamalu--became the first and only known females to be granted Pwo, master navigator status, the highest honor and responsibility among traditional Pacific navigators. Murphy is dedicated to steering future generations of wayfinders at Honolulu Community College, where she is a full-time Hawaiian studies professor. Every day, but particularly during this month, we honor and thank Mary Kawena Pukui, Levon Ohai, Kaiulani Murphy, and the many other Native Hawaiian leaders for their extraordinary vision, leadership, and commitment to the Native Hawaiian community at all points of Hawaiian history including past, present, and future.