We partnered with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as part of their I Paʻa Ka Huewai Pawehe grant project which seeks to increase the overall health and well-being of Native Hawaiian youth through culturally relevant health education, physical education, and physical activity. In collaboration with Hawaiian musicians, artists, dancers and educators, we created an original album reflecting the history, mythology, and culture of Hawaiʻi; ten dance videos with choreography combining hula and hip hop moves; and Educator Toolkits with lesson materials for elementary and secondary levels.

“I Paʻa Ka Huewai Pawehe” means “so that our prized water gourds are made firm.” Brian Faria, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Instructor, University of Hawaiʻi, Windward Community College, gave this name to the grant, reflecting the project’s commitment to help children grow up strong physically, mentally and emotionally, with deep connections to their culture, family and land. HYPE Hawai‘i builds on Hip Hop Public Health’s prior HYPE (Helping Young People Energize) Breaks with this new collection grounded in Hawaiian music, storytelling and movement traditions to promote physical activity through songs and dances that can be used in school, in PE and dance classes, after-school and at home.

The album begins with Maka, a young child, turning his bedtime mo'olelo (story) into his own imaginative retelling of Hawaiian stories as he takes his grandfather—and the listener—on a trip through Hawaiʻi and the rich history and traditions of the Hawaiian people. The songs were written and produced by multi-platinum composer and producer Q. Worthy, who worked with BJ Gray and in collaboration with Hawaiian artists Kamuela Kahoano, Latai Soakai and Devin Cheff.

The accompanying dances reflect the dynamic choreography and fusion of hula and hip hop moves created by Marc Santa Maria and Enormvs (Norm) Muñoz. They were joined by Hawaiian dancers Jaemie Cadiente and Crystal Hafoka to film the dances on location in Mākaha Valley, in the ahupuaʻa of Mākaha, on the island of Oʻahu. The resulting HYPE Hawaiʻi videos offer people of all ages the opportunity to experience the joy of physical activity and expressive movement, whether during the school day or at home.

The Educator Toolkits include lessons, classroom resources and family materials based on Lava Surfing, a song and dance from the HYPE Hawai‘i collection. They were developed in collaboration with University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education faculty, and piloted by teachers in three schools participating in the I Paʻa Ka Huewai Pawehe project. The K–5 Toolkit helps elementary school teachers integrate physical activity into the classroom with five 15- to 20-minute sessions that can be taught over the course of a week or longer. The materials also include reflection questions to support the integration of health education. The secondary level Toolkit is designed to be taught over three class periods in a physical education, health education, or dance class, with students learning the dance moves and engaging in a daily health education reflection activity.

“It’s very contemporary,” said Dr. Kuʻulei Serna, of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, College of Education. “Kids can relate to music in general [and] the great part about this project is that it’s localized to incorporate native Hawaiian words, beats, ideas which…is very meaningful. Hopefully the children who hear it can relate and feel proud of their culture.” (timestamp around 4:50)

“The hope is that as children are hearing healthy messages and learning about physical activity, health, wellness and social-emotional tools, that they’ll take it back to their ʻohana (family) and teach their parents and grandparents and those living with them,” said Dr. Erin Centeio, also of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, College of Education.

HYPE Hawaiʻi is a part of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s I Paʻa Ka Huewai Pawehe grant project which seeks to increase the overall health and well-being of Native Hawaiian youth through culturally relevant health education, physical education, and physical activity, all made possible through a U.S. Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Education grant. This project is part of a larger project funded through the Native Hawaiian Education (NHE) program of the U.S. Department of Education. This project’s creators are responsible for its contents, which do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, the NHE program, the U.S. Department of Education, or the U.S. government. For more information, please visit www.ed.gov. The University of Hawaiʻi and the I Paʻa Ka Huewai Pawehe grant project do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in their programs and activities.