HIHumanities Documentary Short Honoring Mary Kawena Pukui Directed by Sancia Shiba Nash

Ka moʻopuna i ke alo, The grandchild in the presence

We are delighted to announce the new documentary Ka moʻopuna i ke alo, The grandchild in the presence. Mary Kawena Pukui was the 2020-2021 Honoree of our Hawaiʻi History Day program because of her outstanding leadership in this year’s theme: Communication in History, A Key to Understanding. Kawena’s life-long work drew inspiration from her moʻopuna and was guided by her kūpuna: “Knowledge to me is life. Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono” (Mary Kawena Pukui). 

Directed by filmmaker Sancia Shiba Nash, and produced by HIHumanities, this really special film honors the life, work, and legacy of Mary Kawena Pukui, who dedicated her life to perpetuating ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, nā mea Hawaiʻi, and ʻike kupuna. 

Paired with this documentary is the brand-new online essay “Mary Kawena Pukui, ke Kāʻeʻaʻeʻa ʻIke Hawaiʻi” by renowned Kanaka historians Noenoe K. Silva and Nanea K. Armstrong-Wassel, honoring this beloved kumu and introducing her to our youth.