Aloha, It’s More Than Hello | Noelani Kamalu | TEDxBYU

Prior to the Hawaiian Renaissance in the 1970's, Hawaiians were prohibited from speaking their language and participating in cultural traditions. Noelani discusses the benefits that arise when individuals and
communities embrace their heritage-for Hawaiians it means seizing the spirit of Aloha.
Noelani Kamalu is a crew member of the historic
voyaging canoe Hokulea. The canoe was built as a replica
of an ancient Polynesian vessel during the second Hawaiian
Renaissance-a time that saw the revitalization of Hawaiian
culture and pride after decades of negative stereotypes.
The Hokulea's successful voyage to Tahiti in 1976 played a
major role in reigniting cultural identity. Kamalu received
her bachelor's in Hawaiian language and has spent the last
decade teaching at Hawaiian-focused charter schools. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@elyxur4726]

WHY DOESNT THIS HAVE MORE VIEWS

[@amawahine]

Wow, that was fantastic. You did such a great job on your talk. Malaho for all your knowledge you taught us in your crew class.

[@chaslenganir6632]

Beautifully said. Mahalo piha!!!

[@soulvac1]

That was totally AWESOME! Like some locals would say "I get chicken skin" listening to your message. The longer I watched, the more beautiful you and your message became...so proud of you!

[@lvin4meslf]

Amazing! Love her too pieces. She definitely planted seeds on my Keiki Kane as his Kumu that he still carries today… she so amazing!!

[@envisionlife4430]

Enjoyed this more hearing it the second time. Great job Jessi(Noelani). ;) Aloha

[@markferwerda7968]

Our 3-year tour to Honolulu was beautiful in general, but regarding one of our neighbors when we lived in a beautiful rental home, very negative. As of the day I briefly visited the owners of a barking dog which had an undisciplined barking fit at 5am one work day morning, dents began appearing in the back of my van which faced the street. Every few days I'd have a new dent in my van (some aloha spirit). I guess that dog owner felt as if as a "visitor" to the island, I had no right to complain about his pooch barking and waking me at 5am. Fortunately, when I decided to sell that van prior to our next tour to Stuttgart, Germany, a small group of men from a Pacific island (not Hawaii) wanted my van for the price I was selling it without ever having looked at the back of the vehicle where all the dents were. Even after I showed them the dents, they still wanted it for my listing price.

[@RichardRLiu]

Noelani, thanks for this. One small question: Why did you not mention the rediscovery of traditional Polynesian navigation, which employs no instruments. For readers of these comments who do not know, the first voyage to Tahiti using only traditional Polynesian navigation demonstrated just how advanced Polynesians had been, and just how wrong the then-current explanation of where Hawaiians had come from and how they had arrived in Hawaii. The resulting pride engendered in Hawaiians in particular and Polynesians in general was, in my opinion, the key to the Hawaiian -- and, in fact, the Polynesian -- Renaissance. Polynesians could be justly proud of their culture. Other Polynesian canoes have in the meantime joined Hōkūle‘a, each sailed in the traditional way. If I understand correctly, almost all the legs of the Mālama Honua voyage were navigated traditionally. I think that a Hōkūle‘a navigated with modern instruments would not have inspired the first peoples along her route to open their hearts her and her crew.

[@darrenkamalu9047]

Aloha mai, She could have talked forever, but the Tedx format limits her to 10 minutes. There was a lot that was cut out or she would still be talking.

[@jameslynn3702]

I feel that LOVE is the secret to ALOHA. And to say only a two word prayer: "Aloha Paradise" Amen. Grazia

[@aav_n]

✨Aloha & Mahalo 💖💫

[@ahbroody]

Beautiful

[@iinolan_7]

my name is Noelani as well!!

[@darrenkamalu9047]

Imua a loa`a ka lei o ka lanakila