Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 6, 1 June 1988 — Star-Studded Lineup Announced for Punana Leo Benefit Concert [ARTICLE]

Star-Studded Lineup Announced for Punana Leo Benefit Concert

"Ho'omau 1988," a benefit concert for the Hawaiian Language Freschool Punana Leo o Honolulu, will feature some of Hawai'i's top entertainers at 5:30 p. m., Sunday, June 12, in the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. Ho'omau literally means to continue and so it is that money raised from this concert will be used for the continuance of this Hawaiian language immersion school for youngsters 2 to 5 to perpetuate the Hawaiian language, primary objective of Punana Leo centers on O'ahu, Hawai'i, Kaua'i and Mau'i. The children of Punana Leo o Honolulu themselves will headline a star-studded entertainment lineup. Also featured is one of the most outstanding halau in the state whieh has a widely acclaimed keiki group. Howard and Olana A'i and their Hula Halau Olana will be on stage to onee more thrill its audience. Other featured entertainers are Dennis Pavao; Jerry Santos, Haunani Apoliona and Wally Suenaga as Olomana; Frank Hewett and his halau; Kuhai Halau o Kawaikapuokalani Pa 'Olapa Kahiko; Robert Cazimero; The King's Guard; Ledward Kaapana and Ikona; Frank Palani Kahala; Gentlemen of Maluikeao and Ladies of Kahanakealoha; Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau. Ka'iponohea Hale of the Kamehameha Schools Hawaiian Studies Institute will be master of ceremonies with Jacqueline Leilani Lindsey, the Honolulu Skylark, as mistress of ceremonies. All seats are reserved at $12.50 presale and $15 at the door. They became available at the Blaisdell box office May 31 and at all Funway Outlets. Punana Leo began in 1985 with three centers in Honolulu, Hilo and Kekaha, Kaua'i. A center opened on Mau'i last year. Currently, there is a total of 70 childreruattending these centers whieh use the immersion method of teaching in whieh

only the Hawaiian language is spoken. Within a few months, the Punana Leo child speaks fluent Hawaiian. In September, 1987, the Department of Education began a combined kindergarten and first grade class taught exclusively in the Hawaiian language, at Waiau Elementary School on O'ahu and also at Keaukaha Elementary School in Hilo. This has provided continuity in the use of Hawaiian for the Punana Leo graduates.