The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center is joining the 2023 Merrie Monarch festivities with special enrichment workshops and presentations from Wednesday through Friday.
The cultural programs will include hula, music, the art of pahu making, and lauhala and lei workshops.
“We’re delighted to host another year of Merrie Monarch programs at our center for the Hawaii community and for those who are visiting Hilo for this internationally acclaimed festival,” said ‘Imiloa Executive Director Ka‘iu Kimura. “We have a diverse offering of programs this year in the mornings and afternoons that we’re sure will be of interest to all ages.”
From 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, artisan Kana‘e Keawe and British Museum curator Dr. Alice Christophe will explore the legacy and future of Hawaiian drums with a pahu presentation and hula pahu performance.
Keawe is a cultural practitioner based in Hilo and has dedicated his life to learning and perpetuating a wide range of Hawaiian cultural practices such as kapa and pahu carving. Christophe is a curator in the Oceania section of the British Museum in London, where she leads the Benioff Oceania Programme.
Following the pahu presentation will be a special hula pahu performance by kumu hula and oli expert Dr. Kalena Silva and kumu hula Pele Harman.
Following the program will be a presentation from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. called “Lovely Hula Girl: The Hapa Haole Hula Era” with kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine and Halau Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima.
The halau hula was founded by Holt Takamine in 1977. The halau participates in cultural festivals and events throughout Hawaii, nationally and internationally.
Holt Takamine is one of the judges for this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition and will be leading the intimate hula workshop, so people can gain a better understanding of the role that the Hapa Haole Hula genre has played in the history of hula.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own water and pa‘u or pareu to dance with for this workshop.
Thursday will begin with a lei wili workshop from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. hosted by Lehua Hauani‘o. Participants can explore their creativity by lei-making in the wili-style.
Hauani‘o is a well-known cultural specialist who has been sharing her familial artistry and expertise in indigenous foliage and lei techniques with the community for over a decade.
Participants will learn best practices for gathering and preparing foliage to make the lei, but will be provided with all necessary materials at the workshop.
From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Project Kuleana will give a “talk story” and musical presentation to encourage people to rediscover, reconnect and reinstill what Hawaiian music and performers of Hawaiian music represent.
Participants will get an exclusive look at the newest Project Kuleana music video and listen in on some “behind the scenes” stories from Project Kuleana aspiring youth. There will then be a kanikapila session with co-founder and lead Kihei Nahale-a and friends.
On Friday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., artisan Duncan Ka‘ohu Seto will give a lauhala presentation and conduct a workshop to help participants create their own lauhala bracelet.
Ka‘ohu Seto has been practicing the art of lauhala weaving for many decades with products varying from bracelets, mats and baskets, to papale and other very intricate items.
Ka‘ohu Seto will teach best practices for gathering and preparing lauhala and help participants make their own lauhala bracelet and fish ornament. Participants will be provided with all necessary materials and instruction on-site.
The last event will be a presentation and performance from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday by Halau Unulau under the direction of kumu hula Pele Kaio.
Anchored in the philosophy and fire traditions of the hula ‘aiha‘a, Unulau continues to promote and perpetuate knowledge and education through hula as the platform by which people can engage, inspire and inform their relationships to the environment and the spirit.
Unulau members will share their intimate journeys in hula through talk-story, sharing of mele and hula, and a deep dive into how they are evolving their relationships to hula and growing because of it.
Interested visitors can view the full list of Merrie Monarch Cultural Enrichment Program offerings at imiloahawaii.org. ‘Imiloa members can take advantage of a reduced special programming fee.
Purchased tickets for any enrichment program event includes same-day general admission access to ‘Imiloa’s Exhibit Hall and Planetarium.
Due to the popular demand for cultural programming, visitors are encouraged to reserve their admission by online reservation prior to visiting ‘Imiloa. Walk-ups will be accommodated based on first-come, first-served availability.
In addition to Merrie Monarch Cultural Enrichment programming, ‘Imiloa will host “The Science of Kapa” traveling exhibit in the exhibit hall, which is available to visitors from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. now through June 4.
‘Imiloa is closed to the general public today but is reopening for general admission on Wednesday.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com