Kahilu Theatre has announced that its next exhibit features the wa’a. It is titled “Our Water, Our Canoe, Ka Moana Kakou Student Exhibit,” running Dec.5, 2020 to Jan. 23, 2021. They ask students to reflect and respond literally to the phrase “Our Water, Our Canoe, Ka Moana Kakou” by creating a 2D or 3D representation of a wa’a (canoe) or interpreting and responding to the metaphor. Please visit kahilutheatre.org to find out more information about the exhibit and how to get your keiki involved.
There will be a virtual exhibition and live wa’a (canoe) carving event at Kahilu Theatre with Alika Bumatay and Alexis Ching, in honor of Alika’s late father, Kahuna Kalai Wa’a (master canoe carver), Raymond Bumatay from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15. This event will be the completing process of carving a replica inspired by the outrigger canoe Queen Kapiolani gave to the Smithsonian in 1888. The process was started by a group of women canoe carvers led by Ray and Alika Bumatay at the 2019 Merrie Monarch festival. The event was organized in partnership with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and will be completed during these sessions at Kahilu Theatre.