Film Synopsis
“Ma ka Hale Pule i Kalapana” (At Church in Kalapana) is a Hawaiian language conversation video concerning the history of the Mauna Kea Congregational Church in Kalapana village, filmed on the porch of the church hall in 1989. The conversation is led by Kalena Silva and features elders James Ahia, Frances Ahia, Helen Lee Hong, Maria Lindsey, and Louise Keliihoomalu. Three of the elders grew up in the Kalapana area and went to the church in their youth. They describe the nature of church and Sunday school services, the teaching of hymns, and district conferences (hōʻike ʻāpana) with competition between the various church congregations in singing hymns and reciting bible verses. They sing the song “Lei Ana ʻo Puna i ka Hīnano” and two hymns, “ʻŌ Akula ʻo Mose” and “Eia nō Mākou e Iesū.”
