Imagine living your daily life as normal. You go to boil water, turn on the faucet, and instead of clean water, you smell something off. You take a closer look, and it has an oily sheen.
That was the reality for many residents on Oʻahu.
The Red Hill water contamination brought attention to a long-standing concern surrounding the U.S. Navy’s fuel storage facility located above a major aquifer that supplies drinking water to the island. Reports of fuel entering the water system affected thousands of people, both on and off base, and raised serious concerns about health, safety, and accountability.
For many in Hawaiʻi, this was not seen as an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of strain between military presence and the well-being of the land and its people.
Kapūkakī and Cultural Response
Kapūkakī is the traditional Hawaiian name for what is commonly referred to as Red Hill. During this time, Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and community members gathered near the site in response to what was happening.
A koʻa, or shrine, was built in front of the Naval Commander’s headquarters using traditional methods with stone and natural materials. The purpose was not protest in the conventional sense, but protection and intention. It was dedicated to the water source, the ʻāina, and the people who depend on it.
Ceremony followed.
Practitioners came together to offer hoʻokupu, chant, and perform hula. These were not symbolic gestures. They were expressions of responsibility, care, and connection to the land and water.
Being Present in That Space
Being part of a hālau allowed me to be present in a way I would not have otherwise experienced.
We gathered what we could from our own areas, brought offerings, and came together as a collective. It was not just one group. It was a wider community of people who shared a common purpose rooted in care for Hawaiʻi and its future.
Ka Wai Ke Kumu Ola
Water is the source of life
That idea was at the center of everything happening there. It was not just about a contamination event. It was about what water represents in Hawaiʻi, and how closely tied it is to the health of the land and the people.
We danced hula, chanted, gave our offerings and were on our way. It’s was short, sweet, and simple but the mana (energy) and purpose was powerful.
Mahalo for taking the time to read . If you are interested in cultural Hawai’i topics, consider reading more on my immersion into Hawaiian culture.
