
Watch: Dalani Tanahy at the ‘Ahu: Ngā Wairua o Hina wānanga
Watch Hawaiian kapa artist Dalani Tanahy talk about her work as a kapa maker and artist.
Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Open every day 10am-6pm
(except Christmas Day)
Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Join us for a free performance by Pūpūkahi I Ke Alo O Nā Pua sharing stories of Hawai‘i through hula.
Wed 8 Oct 2025, 2.00–2.45pm
Rongomaraeroa, the marae, Level 4
Free with museum entry
Pūpūkahi I Ke Alo O Nā Pua, from Mid-Pacific Institute in Mānoa, O‘ahu, was founded in 1988 by Kumu Hula Michael Nālanakila‘ekolu Casupang to share the art of Hula with more than 100 students each year.
The name “Pūpūkahi I Ke Alo O Nā Pua” means “United As One In the Presence of the Flowers,” and reflects the mission of Pupukahi: to use the art form of hula to unite and build positive relationships, perpetuate Hawaiian culture through hula and language, and develop life skills that prepare students for the future.
Carrying on the traditions of a strong hula lineage that includes Aunti Mā‘iki Aiu Lake and Robert Uluwehi Cazimero, Pūpūkahi continues to honor its roots while guiding a new generation of dancers and cultural practitioners.
Over the years, Pūpūkahi has shared aloha and culture across Hawai‘i and beyond, traveling to California, Washington, New York, Kaua‘i, Maui, Hawai‘i Island, and Lāna‘i, as well as internationally to Japan, Korea and New Zealand.
Through hula, song, and fellowship, Pūpūkahi unites communities, nurtures pride in heritage and strengthens bonds that extend across Hawai‘i and the world.
Image provided by Michael Casupang, Mid Pacific Institute (273011)
Watch Hawaiian kapa artist Dalani Tanahy talk about her work as a kapa maker and artist.
The Aloha shirt is an iconic Hawaiian taonga (treasure) with a rich history and layers of meaning. Assistant Pacific Cultures curator Sonya Withers explores the stories in their designs.
New Zealand and Pacific collections intern Sonya Withers and history curator Claire Regnault recently travelled to Hawai'i where they collected 83 aloha shirts with a focus on indigenous Hawaiian designers. Claire Regnault reflects on the connection these designers have with their natural environment and how this inspires their designs.