The Hawaii Performing Arts Festival is returning for its first full season since 2019.
Today through July 24, HPAF will host the 2022 Festival, “A Season of Self-Discovery,” which incudes a diverse offering of chamber music concerts and fully staged musical theater and operatic productions at venues across the island.
“We are all incredibly excited to be able to mount a full season again this year. The workload has been immense as we have had much to rebuild after a few years of reduced programming,” said Executive Director Justin John Moniz. “But, we are back and arguably bigger and better than ever before.”
Each season, HPAF assembles an exceptional roster of faculty artists who provide instruction and appear in a series of public concerts for the Big Island community.
The first show, “The Spirit of Hawaii,” will open the festival by celebrating the rich culture of Hawaii at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Plantation Estate at the Fairmont Orchid.
The show will feature music and dance performances from Hawane Rios, Blayne Asing, Kaulu Amaral with Pomai Brown & Friends, and Halau Ka‘eaikahelelani. All proceeds will support the HPAF Scholarship Fund for local high school students.
“We are absolutely overjoyed to present this remarkable lineup of artists,” Moniz said. “Traditionally, the primary focus has been to cultivate the talents of young artists who study our world-class faculty each season. This season, however, we also elevate many long-admired and established artists in celebration of the rich culture of Hawaii.”
Along with musical performances, HPAF will feature the shows, “Hair,” “Orpheus in the Underworld” and “As One.” The teams behind the shows will also offer free, in-depth discussions before some performances.
“The artists are simply thrilled to be able to present their work for live audiences this season,” Moniz said. “For many of them, this will be one of their first engagements following the pandemic.”
While HPAF is ready to return for in-person performances, it has been challenging to come back seamlessly after two years.
“Inflation and the rising costs of airfare, gas, lodging, vehicles, production equipment has made this season particularly costly,” Moniz said. “We have really spent a lot of time exploring possible partnerships, sponsorships and grant support to make this season possible.”
Since the summer of 2005, the nonprofit has offered world-class music training and performances in Hawaii while improving the education and elevating the spirit of the local community.
A full calendar of events and tickets are available at https://hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org/.
Tickets for Kahilu Theatre events may be purchased at https://kahilutheatre.org/ or by phone at (808) 885-6868.
“The energy is high and the curtain is ready to rise,” Moniz said. “And audiences will undoubtedly feel that energy from the moment they arrive.”
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com