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rossasaurus
Lokahi
USA
306 Posts |
 Posted - 04/28/2004 : 04:34:03 AM
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Aloha kakou,
Sibyl and I went over for the Maui Celebration of the Arts at the Ritz in Kapalua April 8-11, then on to Merrie Monarch.
Just wanted to mention the Celebration to others; we really enjoyed it, especially the after hours shows in the lobby (Free).
Here's the website for this years, 2004.
http://www.celebrationofthearts.org/history2004.html
and the general website:
http://www.celebrationofthearts.org/
We started-out with George Kahumoku and Ledward on Thursday night, then got up REAL early for the Hiuwai, cleansing in the ocean to purify for the celebration(it was POURING with big swells). Then we greeted the sun(it was out there somewhere's).
There were some wonderful panels throughout the event. One was with Richard Ho`opi`i and others on male composers of Hawai`i; Richard spoke of John Pi`ilani Watkins, another presenter spoke about Johnny K. Almeida's music, with demos of course!
Another was the Kupuna panel with Nona Beamer, George Naope and George Ho`okahi, all speaking about their beginnings in hula, and male influences in hula(the theme of the celebration; last year was wahine).
There was a fabulous, humorous presentation on Hawai`ian sexuality, with am excellent presenter. Website has their names.
Sibyl had a great time making one ili`ili(?) necklace, then one bracelet at one of the craft tables. Kid in a candy store, I swear! Instruction was free, but you'd buy the kit if you wanna make.
The house band(lobby) had one member from Na Palapalai; don't know his name. They played for hours and hours straight Friday night, and finally they take a break Saturday night in the middle, but still play hours and hours! They were really tight with good harmonies. They might have repeated one song in the two nights, maybe. We loved seeing the kupuna aunties and uncles get up and dance.
We got to hear alot of Falsetto award winner Kamaka (Naole?). A hanae son adopted young from Tennessee or one of those sutthun states :) raised in Hawai`i, who went through Kamehameha schools and now sings-up a storm. Go hear him if he's singing, you won't regret it! He had Richard Ho`opi`i nodding approval in the lounge Saturday night, when he sang some of the Ho`opi`i standards.
We both felt enriched and grateful we were able to be there.
I do hope they re-think their main Saturday night show...maybe that's all I should say With so much talent on Maui alone, we were surprised that so many acts were from Oahu.
Ross
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