As Hawai‘i prepares to honor Queen Liliʻuokalani this weekend with a rare, full recitation of the Kumulipo at ʻIolani Palace, Punahou School is hosting a meaningful prelude event this evening, Friday, Sept. 12, from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at Thurston Memorial Chapel. The gathering brings together ancestral knowledge, reflection and a Kumulipo-inspired meal prepared by Academy students with guidance from Chef Mark “Gooch” Noguchi ’93 and Kylee and Derek Mar – a powerful expression of culture and community in advance of Sunday’s historic ceremony.
The evening features a panel with Kumu Kamuela Chun, Mehanaokalā Hind, Kaponoʻai Molitau and Kalei Nuʻuhiwa, who have guided a group of 55 chanters in memorizing the entire 2,102-line mele Kumulipo. These four will share insights into their preparation and the deep responsibility of carrying the kuleana of performing this mele during tonight’s program at Punahou. They are part of a larger group of cultural practitioners who will gather on Sunday, Sept. 14, at ʻIolani Palace to present the Kumulipo in its entirety – a once-in-a-lifetime event paying tribute to the Queen’s enduring legacy.
Students in the Ke Kilohana: Cook Your Heritage course, taught by Chef Gooch, are preparing a meal to feed over 400 guests at tonight’s event. The course explores identity and tradition through food, connecting students to Hawai‘i’s cultural values. The overall menu has been carefully planned to include ingredients from each Wā, or section, of the Kumulipo, allowing the audience to truly internalize the words and meaning in the present day.
To deepen their understanding, Kylee Mar, Punahou’s Director of Archives and Special Collections, recently spoke to the class about the Kumulipo’s connection and importance to each of their lives and Punahou’s kuleana. She invited students to taste a pinch of paʻakai (salt) gathered from Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu, in order to facilitate clarity and intention, and encouraged them to bring positive energy and respect into the meal preparation.
Chef Gooch divided students into small groups working at four stations: washing and slicing lūʻau leaves; breaking down, peeling and cutting ʻulu (breadfruit) and kalo; sautéing onions; and bagging blanched lūʻau leaves. Each task is performed with care and intention, honoring the lessons left to us by the kūpuna in mele such as the Kumulipo.
Senior Kaya Keoholua Smith ’26 reflects on the event’s significance: “The Kumulipo, and Punahou’s role in hosting tonight’s special event, really uplifts our Hawaiian Department. As a Hawaiian Language Level V student, it’s inspiring to see the language and culture alive in our community. Through cooking and Ke Kilohana, I feel grounded not just in my own heritage, but in the heritage of this place we all share.”
This holistic experience – honoring mind, body, spirit and culture – resonates tonight as the Punahou community comes together. The event builds toward Sunday’s historic chanting of the Kumulipo at ʻIolani Palace, honoring Queen Liliʻuokalani and her legacy.
For all involved, tonight is more than a prelude – it is a living lesson in kuleana, connection and cultural responsibility.
While tonight’s gathering is at capacity, the program will be livestreamed on YouTube, courtesy of Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition. We invite you to tune in here: Livestream Link
Photos by Kathleen Connelly