Educational sovereignty in action by a collective of artists and educators!!
Hoʻokupu presents a Hawaiian history curriculum for classroom use, using the medium of hip hop. The artists are haku mele, producers, mcs, rappers. The team is rounded out by educational consultants who shape lesson prompts for each track.
The entire projects consists of a book and a CD of 13 tracks. The book is available on Amazon.com, or you can support Hui O Kuapā by ordering it directly from them. While it is possible to purchase a hard copy of the CD directly from the Hui o Kuapā, all tracks are available on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Each track is the work of multiple contributors around a chosen cultural theme or historical episode. Lyrics in the book enable listeners to follow the raps, which blend Hawaiian and English languages. The lyrics engage students in the world that they inhabit, and give voice to maoli perspectives on the history of continuing capitalist-driven settler colonialism in Hawaiʻi.
The project is visually striking as well. Avatars of nine artists by Maui artist Kapiliʻula Naehu-Ramos appear on the bookʻs cover. Each track is laid out on two facing pages, and preceded by striking graphic dividers.
Hoʻokupu is produced by Hui Kuapā, a non-profit organization on Molokaʻi. Visit huiokuapa.org to learn more, and to support more projects like this one.
Hawaiian Music for Listening Pleasure 
Wanted to order this from the organization but it wouldn’t go through wotj the link. Looks really beautiful and can’t wait to share the music with my haumana.