Hālau Nā Kīpuʻupuʻu
Hale Ao Hiwa Publishing
Hale Ao Hiwa meaning - "The house of sacred light” or “The house of inspired enlightenment" is an educational and cultural publishing company committed to preserving, perpetuating, and sharing Hawaiian ʻike through, teaching, research, curriculum, authentic storytelling, art, and community-rooted publications. Guided by cultural protocol and ʻike kupuna, Hale Ao Hiwa produces books and learning materials that honor genealogy, place, and the living traditions of our people. Our first publication, The Tale of The Shapeshifter of Puupeelua (First Edition, 2025), was written by Micah Kamohoalii and Kahaulahilahi Peelua-Vegas, bringing forward a cherished Molokaʻi moʻolelo for families, schools, and future generations.
Together, Hale Ao Hiwa describes a place—physical or spiritual—where knowledge is nurtured, culture is honored, and people are uplifted through learning, practice, and ʻike (wisdom). It implies a space of guidance, clarity, and purposeful growth, grounded in Hawaiian values and protocol.
The Tale of the Shapeshifter of Puupeelua is a Molokaʻi moʻolelo rooted in place, genealogy, and ancestral memory. When Kahea of Kalaʻe takes her familiar path to visit ʻohana in Hoʻolehua, a storm forces her to shelter in a cave—where she meets a handsome man who seems to appear out of nowhere. Their romance moves quickly, but as Kahea’s health begins to fade, her family seeks the guidance of a kahuna who senses something deeper at work. This story weaves love, mystery, and cultural wisdom into an unforgettable legend explaining the name and meaning of Puupeelua, passed through generations and carried by the ʻOhana Peelua.
This is a flip book, written both in English and Hawaiian in the same book.