Categorized | Entertainment, Featured

Puna Music Festival (April 20-May 2)

Aerialist Amma Hicks and the entire Wai Company, founded and directed by Wailana Simcock, will perform Kukaokoa No along with the Puna Men’s Chorus in the May 1 finale show at Kalani. The oli was written by Simcock, UHH Hawaiian Studies graduate, and arranged for chorus by Daron Scarborough. (Photo courtesy of Richard Koob)

MEDIA RELEASE

Kalani has announced the diverse array of artists contributing to the first annual Puna Music Festival.

The festival will celebrate home-grown culture, with two weeks of class activities, April 20-May 2, and two full days of cultural festivities on Saturday, April 23 and on Lei Day, Sunday, May 1.

A concurrent Earth Day to Lei Day art exhibit, with silent auction, will showcase local artists.

The Festival takes place primarily at Kalani Oceanside Retreat Village, with visitors and newcomers welcome to also join in on cultural excursions throughout the breathtaking backdrop of Puna.

Festival performances, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 23, begin with Kawika Kaawaloa, Princess Hanohano and Puna Keliihoomalu.

The Kalapana Ensemble will deliver highlights of its new show a week prior to a tour in Japan.

At 7:30 p.m., the art show will open in the Blue Moon Room, with Halau Hula Ka Makani Hali Ala O Puna, led by kumu Ehulani Stephany. Contemporary and tribal music will continue with the Joe Joppe Group, the HIP Jazz Band (featuring Michael Elam), and finishing with a dance to the live drums of Boaz and Barabajaba.

Lei Day festival activities are 10 a.m.-10 p.m Sunday, May 1.

The day will begin with ceremonies honoring Kalani’s halau and heiau sites, followed by Ecstatic Dance, the Big Island’s popular outpouring of community spirit.

The afternoon will focus on fun for families around the pool, with a variety of crafts and food vendors, cultural classes, volleyball, croquet and other activities.

Kua O Ka La alumni with Maluhia Konanui will present oli and crafts with kumu Lynda Tua.

The feature acts of the afternoon include Kawekiu, the eight-member Big Island Battle of the Bands winners. Soothing soulful appetites will be the Aha O Akua trio of guitar, violin and harpfeaturing Bolo and Steve Kindler. Opening for these two feature acts will be Alicia Bay Laurel, vocalist, slack key guitarist, and auana hula dancers Mana Koike, Robbie McGrath and Norma Bell.

The evening art exhibit finale will showcase Kalani’s modern aerial dance company and its hula halau, under the direction, respectively, of Wailana Simcock (Wai and Company) and Jonathan Kaleikaukeha Kimo Lopez.

Featured in the show will be the Puna Men’s Chorus, with solos by director Amy Yamasaki and past director Daron Scarborough. The chorus will also perform samplings from its upcoming country-themed show.

On Lei Day, festival attendees will be encouraged to make and wear a lei. Prizes will be awarded for best traditional and the most innovative.

During the entire two-week festival, on-campus activities at Kalani will include classes and kanikapila jam sessions focused on guitar (including slack key), ukulele, ohe hano ihu (bamboo nose flute), lauhala weaving, hula kahiko and auana, kahili feathered standards, lei making and more.

Mid-week activities range in price from free to $15.

Malihini visitors are invited to join music and hula focused cultural excursions to coastal Puna heritage sites, farmers’ markets, sustainable communities, Volcanoes National Park, and Hilo’s Merrie Monarch crafts shows and performances.

On the two main Festival days musicians and vocalists will be sharing their techniques in addition to performing. Food options will vary from vendor fare to Kalani’s Hawaiian dinners, for which advance reservation is required.

The Puna Music Festival is funded by the county Department of Research and Development, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, community donations and local businesses.

Admission for the April 23 and May 1 main festival activities is $25 per day, or $40 for both days. Admission is $10 for children age 12 and under.

Kalani Oceanside Retreat has been a soulful place of refuge and renewal for international guests, for more than 35 years. A 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization, Kalani celebrates Hawaii, nature, culture and wellness.

Kalani provides classes and workshops, healthy vegetarian-friendly cuisine, comfortable accommodations for every budget,rejuvenating bodywork treatments, recreational facilities, and educational adventures.

For more information, to reserve tickets or Kalani meals, lend support to programs, or to request an auxiliary aid or modification, call 808-965-7828 or visit www.kalani.com/pmf

White Eagle Medicine Woman, Director of the Whirling Rainbow Foundation and GrandMother Drum International Peace Project, launched the Puna Music Festival program. Five 3-foot diameter drums were assembled and dedicated to the four directions of the Island, with the fifth to be cared for at the center. (Photo courtesy of Suraj Holzwarth)

Jonathan Kaleikaukeha Kimo Lopez and Ehulani Stephany will lead some of the Hawaiian cultural classes and showcases, involving seasoned local performers and imparting knowledge to newcomers. The classes are rooted in Kalani’s heritage as a cultural ahupuaa land division with preserved halau and heiau sites. (Photo courtesy of Paul Squassoni)

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