Remembering Uncle Keoki Manu

Uncle Keoki Manu reminds us that so much of kuleana is about feeling—putting aside the modern-day distractions, listening to our na‘au, and letting it guide us. How can we gather a lifetime of his mo‘olelo (stories) into just a few words? We can’t, but we will try, because of all that he has given and shared with us.

In addition to being the first Board President of Nā Kālai Wa‘a, Uncle Keoki was also a father, kalai wa‘a (canoe carver), artist, storyteller, lifelong basketball player—and much more. For more than 30 years, his artwork has shaped our voyaging stories, the voices of our kūpuna, and the unseen pilina (connections) that continues to weave us together.

We were fortunate to spend time with him before his passing, listening to his stories and learning about his life and artwork. His words carried laughter and light, and his eyes shone with excitement as he remembered standing with Uncle Parley Kanaka‘ole at the birth of Nā Kālai Wa’a’s canoe Mauloa in Hōnaunau Bay—each of them holding one side of the wa‘a as she touched the sea for the very first time.

He spoke of Puʻukoholā Heiau, completed in 1791, and of standing there two hundred years later on August 17, 1991, at the first Hoʻokuʻikahi ceremony. This gathering was a reenactment of unity and a call to restore balance. That day, he stood alongside Nā Koa, pololū spears in hand, as Hōkūleʻa rested just beyond the shore. Every gesture, every presence, carried deep intention to weave the people together as one. The ceremony has continued year after year, most recently this past August. With quiet respect he told us, “That heiau holds so much mana.”

As we look through photos filled with memories, we see him again and again—at ceremonies, fully present in each moment. Every image shows his deep respect for our traditions. His artwork carries that same spirit, a gift to remind us of who we are and where we come from, guiding us toward where we are going. 

Through his son, Mike Manu, Uncle Keoki’s example lives on. We remember his heARTfelt laugh, his “unreal, but real” stories, and his unwavering belief that our traditions are a living guide for us today. We will miss him deeply, but we carry his light forward.

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