Hawaii

Hawaii: NI museum to return more human remains

Published

1 year ago

February 13, 2025

Press Room

Hawaii: NI museum to return more human remains

Robbie Meredith

BBC News NI Education and Arts Correspondent

NMNI A man is wearing a twead jacket and a navy jumper. He's standing outside. — William Blair, from the NMNI, says the museum is “fully committed to the rightful repatriation of collections to source communities”

National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI) is to return further human remains to Hawaii.

Human remains and other sacred objects were previously repatriated by NMNI to Hawaii in 2022.

That came after NMNI had identified some items stolen from other countries or connected to the slave trade among its collections.

It has now located three additional ancestral human remains (iwi kūpuna) taken from Hawaii in 1840 and plans to return them.

Representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs visited the Ulster Museum in 2022 for a ceremony in which two ancestral human remains (iwi kūpuna) were returned to Hawaii

National Museums Northern Ireland In 2022 Representatives from the Office of hawaaian affairs then travelled to Belfast, where National Museums NI held a ceremony at the Ulster Museum to return two separate human remains including a skull, and five sacred objects. — Representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs visited the Ulster Museum in 2022 for a ceremony in which two ancestral human remains (iwi kūpuna) were returned to Hawaii

‘Elated’

Kamakana Ferreira, from the OHA, told BBC News NI that his organisation appreciates the museum’s commitment to locating and returning their ancestors.

He said they are “elated” that the other missing iwi kupuna have been found after the museum were unable to locate them in 2021.

“We look forward to returning to Northern Ireland in late April to retrieve our ancestors and laying them to rest upon our return to Hawaii,” he added.

‘Consent’

William Blair, from the National Museum Northern Ireland Director of Collections, (NMNI) said that the museum was “fully committed to the rightful repatriation of collections to source communities, to address historic wrongs and implement the decolonisation of collections.”

“We welcome the opportunity to work with and learn from partners such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and Hui Iwi Kuamo’o to undertake this vital work and, as we do so, to build strong relationships based on ethics, respect and empathy.”

Pacemaker A large grey building with blocks and horizontal straps A swirly grey metal sculpture is outside on top of steps. Some people are going inside. — Representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs visited the Ulster Museum in 2022 for a ceremony in which two ancestral human remains (iwi kūpuna) were returned to Hawaii

He said the remains and sacred objects had been taken from Hawaii in 1840 “without free, prior and informed consent from families.”

He also said that “given the 19th Century provenance of the iwi kῡpuna being brought to Belfast and the lack of professional collection management standards at the time,” they had been unable to locate three sets of remains in 2022.

“Through our ongoing processes of collections reviews and documentation projects, in alignment with formal professional standards, National Museums NI was able to locate the missing iwi kῡpuna in November 2024.”

“We immediately notified Kamakana Ferreira, Lead Compliance Specialist at OHA, as he was involved with the original claim.”

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Hawaii

Meet Miss Aloha Hula 2026: Faith Kealohapauole Paredes

Published

11 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Meet Miss Aloha Hula 2026: Faith Kealohapauole Paredes

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Faith Kealohapau‘ole Paredes of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi (Nā Kumu Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes) was crowned Miss Aloha Hula Thursday night at the Merrie Monarch Festival, topping a field of 13 competitors in the festival’s first night of competition.

The contest features performances in hula kahiko, hula ʻauana and oli, showcasing both technical precision and artistic interpretation.

Judges scored competitors on a range of elements, including kaʻi; interpretation and expression; posture and precision; hand gestures; foot and body movement; hoʻi; authenticity of costume and adornments; grooming; and overall performance.

The 21-year-old from Maui received 1,161 points.

“It’s surreal,” she said. “I’m just so honored and blessed to be able to show and share my lineage and share the hula from my hello with all of Hawaii and all of the world.”

Paredes also won the Hawaiian Language Award.

“Hula will forever live,” she said. “It is through us speaking out in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. It is through us (to) not be ashamed of who we are and to hula on. Dance with your heart out.”

Paredes is a Kamehameha Schools graduate and attends Dartmouth College. She won the title of Miss Keiki Hula in 2015.

The rest of the finalists were as follows:

1st runner up: Keoe Momilani Michiko Hoe (1,156)

2nd runner up: Lahela Hoʻokela Medina Maio (1,134 points)

3rd runner up: Leimana Kaleinamanu Purdy (1,115 points)

4th runner up: Jelacia Naomi Waiauokalaniākea Peralta (1,098 points)

The festival continues Friday night with group hula kahiko.

View our Merrie Monarch Festival online hub here.

Samantha Makanani Aguon Newman

Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker & Michael Lanakila Casupang

Haily Kamakahukilani Nawahine Nascimento

Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera

Kēhaulani Kaleikaumakamaeʻiʻomakamae Rubonal

Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire

Mālie Kapuaonaonaikamauʻuuaolalokoikealohaokalaniākea Moe

Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe

Lilia Kaleialohaokealohalani Ka’ōnohi’ula Keohokapuakeakua Iokepa-Guerrero

Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine

Jovian Kauanoeokalaulani Range-Semisi

Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o

Keoe Momilani Michiko Hoe

Kumu Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV

Lahela Hoʻokela Medina Maio

Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes

Faith Lynn Kealohapauʻole Paredes

Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes

Jelacia Naomi Waiauokalaniākea Peralta

Kumu Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao

Hiʻileilanikauakapukapuokeānuenue Puchalski

Kumu Hula Keli‘iho‘omalu Puchalski

Leimana Kaleinamanu Purdy

Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva

Līlianani Maya Rae Pi

Kumu Hula Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor

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Hawaii

Hawaii lawmakers push for continued tax relief for most families

Published

23 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Hawaii lawmakers push for continued tax relief for most families

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii State Legislature is entering the final weeks of the 2025 session with at least one point of agreement: income taxes will continue to decline for most families.

Both the House and Senate rejected the governor’s plan to cancel some tax relief, despite earlier uncertainty about the state’s financial situation.

“So what the Senate’s position is, is we want to make sure that the promises that were made are kept, especially with those families that make $350,000 a year or less,” said Senate Ways and Means chair Donovan Dela Cruz.

House Finance chair Rep. Chris Todd agreed the priority is ensuring ongoing tax relief.

Energy tax credits targeted to offset revenue loss

Continuing to reduce taxes means nearly $2 billion has to come from somewhere else. The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to eliminate state energy tax credits for things like solar power and electric cars in 2029.

The credits could be saved if the economy improves.

“So this becomes a shared approach. Government cuts, business tax credits, get sunset, and then we’re still charging some of the higher end income brackets,” Dela Cruz said. “Their tax breaks are going to get repealed.”

House proposes tax increase on high earners

The House moved along a redesigned tax package that makes tax credits for spending on child care and food more generous and raises income taxes on families with incomes over $350,000.

“It would provide some ongoing tax relief to low to middle income families, but in return, we would request a 1% tax increase on very high income families,” Todd said.

The financial picture is clearer now, even with flood disaster costs, because of the federal disaster declaration.

“Now the state’s eligible to get reimbursed for a lot of these funds. We’re not sure what it’s going to look like, but that’s going to be positive for us,” Dela Cruz said.

Todd said the state is sitting on a solid reserve, a luxury not many states have right now.

All the proposals from the House and the Senate are now going into conference committee, where the final details will be worked out over the next month.

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