Executive Director’s WELCOME MESSAGE Kalihi-Pālama Culture & Arts Society, Inc.
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n this 49th year of the Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition, Kalihi-Pālama Culture & Arts Society is all about new beginnings. With our return to the Neal S. Blaisdell Center after
keiki hula dancers to keep danc- ing; our sponsors who share their support in money and in-kind contributions to keep our lights on and our doors open; and to all of you dreamers out there who see the world as a better place with everyone paddling the waʻa together! This next generation of keiki hula dancers that you see on stage ensures that the cul- ture, language, and music of the
a five-year absence, we threw out all of our earlier plans and returned with a fresh look at our event. We hope you are enjoying our “Keiki Hula Summer Festival,” which now includes Pop-Up Mākeke sponsored by our partner, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), a Helumoa Hōʻike Stage sponsored by the Royal Hawaiian Center, and the Hawaiʻi State Archives Museum sponsored by our partner, the Hawaiʻi State Archives. While we revel in the grace, beauty, and traditions of hula within the arena, we also embrace our wider community with these fun and educational activities ongoing within the Exhibition Hall. More importantly, we at Kalihi-Pālama Culture & Arts Society are indebted to our tireless and generous Kumu Hula who confront daily, the task of teaching our children not only culture but community; the parents, uncles & aunties, brothers & sisters, cousins & calabash relatives, and friends who support and encourage our
Hawaiian people thrive. This was the intent of our founders, and we at Kalihi-Pālama Culture & Arts Society are forever thankful to you all for partnering with us in this legacy adventure. On behalf of the President of the Kalihi-Pāla- ma Culture & Arts Society, Inc. and all of the members of the Board of Directors, we extend our warmest ALOHA! and MAHALO! to all of this year’s participating Kumu Hula, Keiki Hula dancers, and the family and friends who cheer them on. With each passing year, we are hon- ored to play our part in maintaining the contin- ued vitality of our keiki hula community.
Guy Murashige Sibilla Executive Director Kalihi-Pālama Culture & Arts Society, Inc.
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49 YEARS OF CELEBRATING KEIKI AND THE ART OF HULA
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