My name is Kiliona Palauni. I am a Kanaka ʻōiwi educator and activist who returned home to Hawaiʻi 11 years ago after growing up far from these islands in remote Idaho and Utah. Though I wasn’t raised with Hawaiian language, my journey has been one of reclaiming and revitalizing our culture—especially through teaching Hawaiian history and ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge) to our keiki.
My kūpuna carried wounds from a time when speaking Hawaiian was forbidden in schools—my grandfather was even punished for speaking ʻÕlelo Hawai’i. Because of that, my mother didn’t grow up fluent, and for years, the language and traditions felt distant. But I’ve made it my life’s work to bring these treasures back—to mālama (care for), protect, and share them with future generations.
Through my teaching, I help our children learn our mo’olelo (stories), history, and snippets of our language, not just words, but the mana (power) and aloha embedded in our culture and language. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is a living breath of our ancestors—it carries our history, our values, and our connection to the ʻāina (land) and Moana (sea). Teaching as much of it as I can in modern classrooms is a way to honor those who fought to preserve it, and to heal the wounds of erasure.
On my Instagram, @kilionapalauni, I share stories, history, and reflections about what it means to be Kanaka today—often touching on painful truths, but always with hope and respect. I try to hold space for conversations that build understanding, even when people see things differently.
I would find it safe to say my mission is to serve the lāhui (community). I have dedicated my career and energy to the children of Hawaii who learn their ancestors’ language and stories, who grow stronger in their identity, and who will carry our culture forward for generations.
This kuleana is sacred. I teach to honor our past, nourish our present, and inspire our future.
My kūpuna carried wounds from a time when speaking Hawaiian was forbidden in schools—my grandfather was even punished for speaking ʻÕlelo Hawai’i. Because of that, my mother didn’t grow up fluent, and for years, the language and traditions felt distant. But I’ve made it my life’s work to bring these treasures back—to mālama (care for), protect, and share them with future generations.
Through my teaching, I help our children learn our mo’olelo (stories), history, and snippets of our language, not just words, but the mana (power) and aloha embedded in our culture and language. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is a living breath of our ancestors—it carries our history, our values, and our connection to the ʻāina (land) and Moana (sea). Teaching as much of it as I can in modern classrooms is a way to honor those who fought to preserve it, and to heal the wounds of erasure.
On my Instagram, @kilionapalauni, I share stories, history, and reflections about what it means to be Kanaka today—often touching on painful truths, but always with hope and respect. I try to hold space for conversations that build understanding, even when people see things differently.
I would find it safe to say my mission is to serve the lāhui (community). I have dedicated my career and energy to the children of Hawaii who learn their ancestors’ language and stories, who grow stronger in their identity, and who will carry our culture forward for generations.
This kuleana is sacred. I teach to honor our past, nourish our present, and inspire our future.
