The Volcano Art Center’s 2019 Hula Voices series continues March 6.
Next month’s installment will feature Na Kumu Hula Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Kahelelani Lyons of Halau Ka‘eaikahelelani, with moderator Desiree Moana Cruz. The program is slated for 5:30-7 p.m. at the VAC Gallery in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (park fees might apply).
Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Kahelelani Lyons are native residents of Kalaoa, Kona. They come from a family of hula dancers and musicians and are proud to have the opportunity to carry on the legacy that was gifted to them by their mother, Sally Alohikea-Toko. As students of Halau Na Lei ‘O Kaholoku, under the direction of kumu hula Nani Lim Yap and Leialoha Amina, they participated in the annual Merrie Monarch Festival and traveled to Japan, New Zealand, Tahiti, Taiwan and throughout the United States.
Ka‘ea Lyons has a passion for education and is dedicated to her community. She is a graduate of Kahaka‘ula o Ke‘elikolani University of Hawaii at Hilo and has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Concordia University. With more than 20 years of experience in Hawaiian language programs, she currently lectures at Hawaii Community College-Palamanui.
Lily Kahelelani Lyons has a passion for preservation of historic sites and sharing cultural knowledge through business development. She has been in the hospitality industry for 20 years, most recently as the director of culture and director of front office at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa.
Hula Voices is an oral history project, presenting an engaging, intimate “talk story” session with Hawaii Island’s hula practitioners as they share their hula genealogy, traditions, protocols and experiences. These programs are free and occur regularly on the first Wednesday of each month.
These programs are supported in part by a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development and individual funding from members of the Volcano Art Center’s ohana.
Volcano Art Center is a nonprofit organization created in 1974 with a mission to promote, develop and perpetuate the artistic, cultural and environmental heritage of Hawaii’s people through the arts and education.
For more information, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.