Kahanuola Solatorio

3.14.22

Jonah Kahanuola Solatorio

Family: Born and raised in Papakolea, Oahu. I have 2 older brothers, and a younger sister. My parents Cappy and Samuel, Papakolea, Kewalu-Uka.

Education Level: Bachelors at Hawaiian Studies, Masters in Elementary Education at UH Manoa

Occupation: Hawaiian Language Teacher at Kamehameha Kapalama

Favorite Polynesian Food: Laulau, Panipopo

“There are few formative experiences in my life that I think can be summed up as experiences where being Hawaiian was centered and normalized. A lot of times our culture is used as entertainment, or we are with friends and acquaintances who are unfamiliar with our culture and ask questions (which is a good thing), but there is something powerful that comes from resting in who we are in our own spaces and not having to perform or explain ourselves to anyone. Some of those experiences for me have been standing in Waipi'o Valley at sunrise, chanting E ala ē, throwing lei into the ocean in remembrance of our kūpuna who are buried at Kalaupapa, sitting with manaleo (native speakers) and listening to their stories, and anytime I have been privileged to be in ceremony with other Kānaka Maoli.”

“The story of our ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i is inspiring! One of the kupuna who couldn’t learn Hawaiian was my grandpa. He would speak Hawaiian and get punished. The relationship with the language is precious. Everything that I do language wise and share and teach is because of our Kupuna. It is important for us to remember what our ancestors went through, don’t use their struggle as an excuse.”

I can truly say that I am blessed to be a proud kanaka maoli and kanaka polenekia because our cultures are rooted in strong familial values like Aloha: Love, Hō’ihi: Respect, Laulima: Cooperation and Kuleana: Responsibility. I have learned all these values and it has shaped me to be the kanaka that I am today.

I want to remind every Polynesian out there to be proud of who you are and to never be ashamed of where you come from. We as Polynesian people can teach the world alot using our culture and our language. Speaking of language I want everyone to learn your language. ‘A’ai i ka ‘ōlelo: Dare yourself to speak your language and share it with the world so that our culture and languages can live on for generations to come. Mahalo.

"Dare yourself to speak your language and share it with the world so that our culture and languages can live on for generations to come."

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