JOEY KALANAKILAOKALĀHUI PALUPE, KEIKI O KA ‘ĀINA
Ku’i Kalo
Joey Kalanakilaokalāhui Palupe, of Ko`olaupoko O`ahu, has been immersed in different aspects of Hawaiian Culture his entire life. Born and raised in Kualoa and Kahalu`u, he attributes his knowledge and experiences to his `ohana and his upbringing. “Understanding the perspectives of our kūpuna is what will help us to move forward, together. Ku`i kalo has sustained the Hawaiian people for hundreds of generations. Poi was not just the staple of our diet, but the story of our mo`okū`auhau (genealogy)”. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa with a Bachelor’s in Hawaiian Studies, he hopes to share the perspectives of his ancestors through the practice of doing to afford others the chance to strengthen their cultural identity.