Ho'ā Wailoa: A Tribute to Pi'opi'o Talk Story
Thu, Apr 30
|Resources are Listed Below
A Talk Story with Lokelani Brandt, Dr. Keahi Warfield, and Leslie Lang to share mo'olelo about Piʻopiʻo, connect to place, and imagine what the future holds.
Time & Location
Apr 30, 2026, 5:30 PM
Resources are Listed Below
About the event
We are humbled by the outpouring of support and presence at the opening of our Ho‘ā Wailoa series, made possible by KS Kaiāulu.
The Tribute to Pi‘opi‘o panel discussion – featuring Lokelani Brandt, Dr. Keahi Warfield, and Leslie Lang – was a deep and thought provoking conversation that went beyond the history of the area to explore the significance of place and the role each of us plays today: to acknowledge and honor the past so that it may guide how we steward this 'āina and shape the future. The energy in the room reminded us why we do this work. Bringing people together through story and then art is one of the most powerful ways we know to strengthen our connection to one another and this place we call home.
Please see the following resources from the event here:
Insights from the Talk Story will inform and inspire a free ‘Ohana Art Day on Saturday, May 16 from 10:00AM–1:00PM, featuring local artist and block printer Mālie Moana. This event was made possible by Kamehameha Schools Kaiāulu.
Born in Kailua, Oʻahu but raised in Hilo and Puna on Hawaiʻi Island, Lokelani has dedicated the past fourteen years advocating for the protection and celebration of Hawaiʻi's cultural heritage. After graduating from Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, she went on to earn her B.A. in Anthropology and Hawaiian Studies. During a short hiatus from academia, she worked as an educator teaching Hawaiian language and culture courses at I Ola Hāloa Center for Hawaiʻi Life Styles at Hawaiʻi Community College and mentored aspiring cultural stewards through the Wahi Kūpuna Internship Program. She subsequently earned her M.A. in Heritage Management from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
She has held various roles in Cultural Resource Management, from conducting fieldwork as a Field Technician, documenting oral histories as an Ethnographer, to organizing and leading several community-based cultural stewardship programs. As a Senior Archaeologist & Ethnographer with ASM Affiliates, Lokelani's leadership and expertise contributed to numerous projects before founding Hoaʻāina Heritage Services in 2024, where she continues to advocate for the perpetuation and celebration of Hawaiian culture.
She conducted well over 500 ethnographic interviews, coauthored peer-reviewed journal articles, and authored over 100 technical reports and studies.
Dr. Keahi Warfield is a Native Hawaiian educator, cultural practitioner, and community leader committed to advancing Indigenous education and youth development in Hawaiʻi. He earned his Ph.D. in Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
Dr. Warfield is the co-founder and Executive Director of Keaukaha One Youth Development (KOYD), where he has led culturally grounded programs since 2006 that integrate Hawaiian language, voyaging, STEM, and workforce pathways for youth in Hilo.
Dr. Warfield also serves as President of the Keaukaha Canoe Club and has extensive experience in Hawaiian immersion education and curriculum development. Through his work as a certified captain and mentor, he continues to guide the next generation through place-based learning rooted in Hawaiian values.
Leslie Lang lives in Pepe’ekeo, and has a small business helping companies with content marketing strategy and writing. She’s always been interested in family history, and loves knowing some of her family’s stories from previous generations, including in Pi’opi’o.