HONOLULU (KHON2) — Day 1 of the Native Hawaiian Convention is officially underway in Tulalip, Wash., where attendees have the chance to partake in valuable conversation and make amazing connections.
KHON2’s Kamaka Pili met with various guest speakers, keiki, haumana from Kamehameha Schools and former KS student government.
KS students Aleki Yagin, President, and Rayley-Ann Cuba-Nethon, Vice President, said they came to the convention to learn more about their culture and gain ike so they can bring it back home to share with the rest of their peers and kanaka.
“I recognize a bunch of problems and pilikia in our community. Like the loss of Hawaiian language. We are trying to bring that back and I think it is really important to bring back some cultural practices in our community because of its loss, it might not come back,” Yagin explained.
Yagin added that KS students do oli and panina at the end of the day to ask for permission and close off the week and day together as one, adding hula and kapu kai as a way to connect with the aina.
“I was hoping that I can take back my experience and some ike that I learned here,” Yagin said.
“I want to take back some values that I got from this convention and some takeaways. I just want to share it with them and make them feel as I was feeling at this time.”
Both Yagin and Cuba-Nethon said they are excited to bring back all the ike they gained over the course of the convention.
The convention will feature lots of breakout sessions with interesting topics where keiki can surround themselves with important conversations.