Schedule

A place to:

• Decompress between sessions

• Experience the living rhythm of Hawaiian plants

• Engage in quiet reflection, breathwork, or intention-setting

• Be held in a space of ea, beyond words

Presented by Kealaiwikuamoʻo at Kamehameha Schools

This interactive exhibit invites you into the world of Princess Ruth Keanolani Kanāhoahoa Keʻelikōlani—also known as Luka or Ruta—an aliʻi wahine who stood firm in her commitment to ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, cultural traditions, and the people of Hawaiʻi. Though educated in English and trained in Western ways, Ruta chose to speak only Hawaiian as an act of resistance, requiring others to speak her language if they wished to speak with her. She lived her values boldly: sleeping in front of an advancing lava flow to protect Hilo, supporting kūpuna on her ʻāina, and choosing to reside in a hale pili on the grounds of her own Victorian palace.

This space honors Ruta’s kūpaʻa stance in a way that mirrors her own actions. All content is presented in Hawaiian only—just as she insisted in her lifetime. English translations are available via QR codes for those who need them. Visitors are encouraged to engage with the materials through reading, listening, and personal reflection.

This is a space to explore, learn, and sit with the difficult, beautiful truths of a woman who never apologized for being Hawaiian, for being big, dark-skinned, or unwavering in her beliefs.

As we learn her story, we ask ourselves: He aha ka hana a Ruta? What would Princess Ruth do?

A place where indigenous stories are front and center. This will be a place to feature live film screenings, and panel discussions.