OUR CONFERENCES
A Word From Our Founder
Aloha,
As we look ahead to 2027, my heart is full of gratitude for all that we have built together and for all that is still to come.
Our theme for 2027 is E Hawaiʻi Nui Kuauli — Great Hawaiʻi of the Verdant Lands.
Throughout 2027, KAHĀ will celebrate the ʻike, moʻolelo, traditions, people, and places of Hawaiʻi Island. It will be a year of honoring the knowledge that has been carried forward through generations and creating new opportunities for our communities to learn, gather, strengthen pilina, and keep that ʻike living, both in Hawaiʻi and across the diaspora.
In June, we will gather once again in Las Vegas for our fifth annual KAHĀ Conference, where we will also launch our first KAHĀ Keiki Hula Competition, creating a new space to uplift our keiki and perpetuate hula for generations to come.
Mahalo nui for walking with us, believing in this work, and helping us strengthen the bridge between ka ʻāina and our communities throughout the world.
Me ka naʻau haʻahaʻa,
Kumu Loea Kuʻualohanui Kauliʻa | KAHĀ Founder
2027 Conference Registration Opens in December
Through the Years
Where Culture Comes Alive. Where Pilina Grows.
KAHĀ's annual conference is more than a gathering. It is a homecoming of culture, knowledge, and community. Bringing together kumu, cultural practitioners, Native Hawaiians, and Hawaiians at heart from Hawaiʻi and the continent, we create a space where traditions come alive, generations learn from one another, and lasting pilina is formed. Our purpose is to reconnect people with their Hawaiian roots, uplift cultural practitioners, and ensure ʻike Hawaiʻi continues to live, grow, and thrive for generations to come.
2025: Celebrating Kaua’i
KAHĀ's third annual conference celebrated the rich cultural heritage of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau.
The gathering also featured a Hawaiian cultural marketplace and an ʻAhaʻaina honoring Kumu Loea Leimomi Ho, strengthening community bonds while celebrating Hawaiian traditions.
2024: Strengthening Cultural Connections
Building on its inaugural gathering, KAHĀ's second conference brought together kumu, cultural practitioners, and community members to deepen their connections to Hawaiian culture through education, arts, and shared experiences.
The conference featured a keynote address by Kumu Loea Dr. J. Kimo Alama Keaulana, the gathering's honoree.
2023: Commemorating Kamehameha the Great
KAHĀ's inaugural conference in 2023 celebrated the legacy of Kamehameha the Great, bringing together 33 cultural presenters, kumu, practitioners, and community members to honor Hawaiian history, traditions, and cultural identity.
The gathering honored Lynette Kahekili Kaopuiki Paglinawan, a respected cultural practitioner whose pioneering work helped preserve hoʻoponopono.
2026: Honoring Oʻahu
KAHĀ's fourth annual conference honored the history, traditions, and cultural legacy of Oʻahu.
Through workshops, demonstrations, storytelling, performances, and the closing ʻAhaʻaina honoring Dr. Kalani Akana, participants strengthened their connections to Hawaiian culture and one another.
2026 ‘Ike Akamai Scholars
The ʻIke Akamai Scholarship empowers Native Hawaiian and Hawaiian-at-heart youth ages 16–25 to deepen their cultural knowledge, strengthen leadership skills, and build meaningful pilina.
Announced in conjunction with KAHĀ's annual conference, the scholarship provides opportunities for young leaders to learn directly from cultural practitioners, connect with their communities, and carry ʻike Hawaiʻi forward for future generations.
2027 Applications will open in February.