Hui Hānai has been awarded a contribution from Hawaiian Native Corporation to publish the letters of members of the Kalākaua family in a forthcoming book, “Letters of Queen Liliʻuokalani of Hawaiʻi with Her Family, 1859–1900.”

Members of the Kalākaua family ruled the Hawaiian Islands during the last 20 years of the monarchy: King Kalākaua (David La‘amea Kamanakapu‘u Māhinulani Nāla‘ia‘ehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua) beginning in 1874, and his successor and sister, Queen Lili‘uokalani (Lydia Lili‘u Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamaka‘eha), from 1891 to 1893. 

This is a collection of letters they wrote to their siblings and members of their extended families, most of which have remained unpublished. The family letters to and from King Kalākaua are rare; letters to and from Lili‘uokalani as Princess and Monarch are more plentiful, and they include intimate notes to and from her husband, John Owen Dominis, during their extended courtship and later marriage, as well as letters to and from her sister, Princess Likelike (Miriam Likelike Kekāuluohi Keahelapalapa Kapili), wife of Governor Archibald Scott Cleghorn. Cleghorn and Princess Likelike were the parents of Ka‘iulani (Victoria Kawēkiu Ka‘iulani Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Cleghorn), heir apparent to the throne, but due to the overthrow of 1893, she never became monarch.

This volume will include all of Ka‘iulani’s letters to Queen Lili‘uokalani as well as the Queen’s replies. Collectively they give a vital and intimate picture of the Queen’s abruptly ended reign, the life of Princess Likelike, and the untimely death of Likelike’s daughter, Princess Ka‘iulani.

Particularly important is the correspondence regarding the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893 and the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States in 1898.

“This project by Hui Hānai will present important documents and private and personal letters of Queen Lili‘uokalani and her family, enhanced by the detailed and thorough commentary of the respected late historian David W. Forbes,” said Allen Hoe, Chair of Hawaiian Native Corporation. “Once published, this work will offer readers a deeper insight into the Queen’s life.” 

S. Haunani Apoliona, of Hui Hānai, best describes the collaboration to complete David Forbes’ work: “We are joining hands in the collective effort to underscore the spiritual and ancestral importance of sharing the kuleana of bringing the Queen’s mana‘o and family forward into the light for clarity and understanding of her life’s challenges.”

“Letters of Queen Liliʻuokalani of Hawaiʻi with Her Family, 1859–1900” is planned for publication by Hui Hānai in 2029, with distribution anticipated through the University of Hawai‘i Press.

In late 2025, Hui Hānai, a nonprofit organization that perpetuates the legacy of Queen Lili‘uokalani, acquired the publication rights for the title from the estate of David W. Forbes. A distinguished historian and bibliographer specializing in Hawai‘i, he had been collaborating with Hui Hānai on this project prior to his passing in Portland, Oregon, in January 2022.

Support for the acquisition of these publication rights was generously provided by the Lili‘uokalani Trust, the Christina F. Hassell and Watters O. Martin Jr. Family Foundation, and Hui Hānai.

“Having secured this significant milestone, Hui Hānai is now dedicated to the completion and publication of this work,” said Diane Peters-Nguyen, president of Hui Hānai. This will be David Forbes’ third publication in partnership with Hui Hānai providing insight into Queen Lili‘uokalani’s life—in this case, alongside the lives of Princess Likelike and her daughter, Princess Ka‘iulani.

Hui Hānai directors S. Haunani Apoliona and Mark Anderson will be working in association with Marilyn Kanani Reppun (librarian/archivist), Jason Kapena Achiu, and Barbara Pope. Barbara Pope Book Design, who worked with Forbes and Hui Hānai on their previous publications about Queen Lili‘uokalani, will provide editorial, design, and production services.

I wrote last week about new “60 Minutes” boss Nick Bilton, who is balancing his contentious new job while also writing a Martin Scorsese movie starring DiCaprio and Dwayne Johnson, which is apparently still a go at 20th Century/Disney.

Now, sources are telling Page Six Hollywood that Bilton has been working on the script for the last four months and is actually “95% done” — he got a ton of notes from Scorsese on this one.

“Marty wanted it to be more voice-over-y, more ‘Goodfellas,’” said an insider. “Those were the marching orders Nick was given, and he spent the last four months implementing the notes, fully knowing that his job [at ‘60 Minutes’] would be starting.”

“He sold the movie to Disney a year ago and spent about eight months working on a draft,” said an insider. We hear that “everyone was ecstatic,” including “the Disney team, The Rock and Emily [Blunt].”

The last time Scorsese made a “Goodfellas”-type movie is “The Wolf of Wall Street,” released 13 years ago.

Page Six has been hearing conflicting things about Scorsese’s Hawaii-set mob movie. One rumor is that the film would shoot this October. However, sources tell the outlet it ain’t so and that the movie won’t begin filming until next year — or even later, depending on the latest draft.

The film tackles the rise and fall of ‘70s underworld gangster Wilford ‘Nappy’ Pulawa, the first and only Hawaiian mob boss in the state’s history. The cast includes Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt.

Scorsese is currently in post-production on the DiCaprio/Jennifer Lawrence-starring “What Happens at Night” at Apple. There have been rumors that he would shoot another film this fall, which is probably why some speculated that the Hawaii mob movie would be shot in October. However, it’s quite possible that it might be another project. Stay tuned.

Forecast for Big Island Windward and Southeast

Forecast for Big Island Leeward

A series of southern hemisphere swells will continue through the week with the largest due to arrive this weekend. Currently, a building long-period south swell is overlapping a fading medium-period south swell. The bulk of the new swell energy was aimed east of Hawaii, which leaves uncertainty in resulting surf heights. Expect south shore surf to rise to around seasonal average tonight and Tuesday, and then decline Wednesday, followed by a smaller pulse of south-southwest swell Thursday and Friday.

A much larger south-southwest swell will arrive Saturday night and Sunday. A storm just southeast of New Zealand is producing a fetch of seas in excess of 40 feet aimed at Hawaii, and there is growing confidence that south shore surf will well exceed High Surf Advisory levels during the peak Sunday into early next week, with High Surf Warning conditions possible. This swell will coincide with the peak monthly tides and will likely lead to significant wave runup and impacts to coastal infrastructure.

Small west-northwest is possible over the next few days, while rough east shore surf slowly declines below seasonal average. Surf along east facing shores will decline further later this week.

NORTH EAST

am        pm  

Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.

Conditions: Semi choppy with ESE winds 5-10mph in the morning increasing to 10-15mph in the afternoon.

NORTH WEST

am        pm  

Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.

Conditions: Clean in the morning with ESE winds less than 5mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting W 5-10mph.

WEST

am        pm  

Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.

Conditions: Light sideshore texture in the morning with NNW winds 5-10mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting to the WNW.

SOUTH EAST

am        pm  

Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.

Conditions: Sideshore texture/chop with NE winds 10-15mph.

Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov and SwellInfo.com