Hula Kahiko: VAC presents charter school dancers, Hawaiian practitioner

The Volcano Art Center’s 2018 Hula Kahiko series kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with a performance by na kumu hula Pelehonuamea Harman and Kekoa Harman with Halau I Ka Leo Ola O Na Mamo.

The students of Halau I Ka Leo Ola O Na Mamo come from the K-12 Ke Kula ‘o Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u Hawaiian language immersion public charter school. For the past seven years, their mission has been to perpetuate the Hawaiian language and culture through mele and hula.

This performance is part of a year-round series sponsored by the Volcano Art Center. For the series, hula halau from throughout Hawaii are invited to perform each month in a one-of-a-kind outdoor setting at the kahua hula (platform) in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. These performances are presented authentically in an outdoor setting, rain or shine without electronic amplification. Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats.

Taking place in conjunction with the Hula Kahiko performances, the public is invited to join Native Hawaiian practitioner Ka‘iulani Carvalho from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the lanai of the Volcano Art Gallery from for a Na Mea Hula (all things hula) demonstration.

Carvalho was born in Hilo, raised in Puna and is a 2012 graduate of Ke Kula ‘O Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u. She has a bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian studies and psychology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and is pursuing certification from Kahuawaiola, the indigenous teacher education graduate program. For her Na Mea Hula debut, Carvalho will be presenting a workshop on the art of ‘ohe kapala (bamboo stamping).

The free events are supported in part by a grant from the Hawaii County Department of Research and Development and the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and individual funding from members of the Volcano Art Center’s ‘ohana. National park entrance fees may apply.

For more information, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.