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Indigenous Peoples' Month

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Hokupa`a

Who We Are

Hōkūpa`a is a student-led organization at Dartmouth greatly supported by the Native American Program (NAP). It was created by and for students who are from or are connected to the Pacific Islands.

"Hōkūpa`a," meaning "steadfast star," is the name of the North Star, Polaris, in the Hawaiian language. This particular star has great importance to traditional seafaring and navigation -- Indigenous Islanders throughout the Pacific relied on this star to find their way about the ocean. We bring light to the story behind the name Hōkūpa`a to reiterate our commitment to our pan-Pasifika family and our time-honored interconnectivity. Navigation, the ocean, and the stars are some of the main connecting forces of the Pacific Islands and its peoples. As an organization, Hōkūpaʻa aims to create a similar space for Pacific Islander students on Dartmouth's campus. 

Hōkūpa`a is committed to supporting and enriching the educational experiences of Pacific Islanders and Indigenous peoples. Hōkūpa`a provides a comfortable space for these students, and a vessel to share these cultures with Dartmouthʻs greater community. We are an inclusive group that welcomes people to celebrate our culture and our history.

Annual Lūʻau

The Dartmouth Lūʻau is an annual event that celebrates the existence and representation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander identity on the Dartmouth campus. Since its initiation, the Dartmouth Lūʻau has brought together communities from across campus, as well as regionally, to celebrate, honor, educate, and share their Native heritage. In 2018 and 2019, the Dartmouth Lūʻau has been voted the #1 student organized event by Dartmouth Office of Student Life for inviting the greater Dartmouth community to celebrate and learn through food, song, and dance.