ʻŌiwi News: Continuing the Tradition of Nupepa

For generations, the kānaka ʻōiwi have been tellers and keepers of stories of Hawaiʻi — orally through moʻolelo, mele, and oli, then through the written word, and now through digital and social media.

In the 19th century, the Hawaiian Kingdom became one of the most literate nations on earth. By 1834, literacy among Native Hawaiians was estimated at 91–95%, a remarkable achievement supported by the widespread distribution of pīʻāpā (spelling) books and early schooling efforts in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Images of Old Hawaiʻi). This rate was higher than many Western nations at the time — for example, in England by 1840, only about two-thirds of men and half of women were literate (Our World in Data). By the mid-19th century, Hawaiians sustained this momentum, with more than 100 Hawaiian-language newspapers published and literacy continuing above 90% (American Scientist, UH Foundation).

Literacy was not just a skill; it was a collective movement. Our people embraced the printing press and built a thriving nupepa culture. More than 100 Hawaiian-language newspapers were published between 1834 and 1948, creating one of the largest Indigenous-language archives in the world. These papers carried debates, poetry, news from around the islands and the globe, and discussions on governance, spirituality, and land. They were a lifeline for our lāhui, a place where knowledge flowed freely and where ea — life, breath, sovereignty — lived in print. Now over 100 years later, nupepa continue to be a treasured resource.

A Tradition to Uphold

ʻŌiwi News is born from this lineage. Our kuleana is to continue the tradition of the nupepa for the digital age:

• To gather and share the news of our lāhui.
• To highlight the voices and perspectives of our ʻohana, our communities, and our kūpuna.
• To ensure that ʻŌiwi stories are not only preserved but made accessible for all who seek to understand and carry them forward.

Like the newspapers of the Kingdom era, ʻŌiwi News is meant to be both a mirror and a platform: reflecting who we are, and giving voice to the issues, struggles, and triumphs that shape our future.

Our Approach

• Aggregation: We curate news from trusted sources across Hawaiʻi and beyond, so that the stories most relevant to our lāhui are never lost in the noise of mainstream headlines.
• Original Content: We create articles and cultural features rooted in ʻike Hawaiʻi, offering context and depth to the events shaping our people and our ʻāina.
• Accessibility: Just as the nupepa were widely read and shared, our aggregated news will always remain free to access. Knowledge belongs to the people.

ʻIke i ke au nui me ke au iki.
Know the big currents and the little currents.

- ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #1209

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