Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 7, 1 July 2006 — George Nāʻope gains heritage award [ARTICLE]

George Nāʻope gains heritage award

On lune 15, Merrie Monarch Festival co-founder and kumu hula George Nā'ope was named one of 11 recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts' prestigious National Heritage Fellowship. Possible awardees are judged based on their artistic excellence, cultural authenticity and contributions to their field. The fellowship comes with a $20,000 award. Born on O'ahu and raised in Hilo, GeorgeLanakilakekiahiali'i

Nā'ope was taught hula from the age of three by his great-grand-mother, Mary Malia-puka-o-ka-lani Nā'ope. He would eventually go on to open the George Nā'ope Hula School in Honolulu and, in 1962, founded hula's premiere competition, the Merrie Monarch Festival. The governor and Hawai'i Legislature have recognized Nā'ope as a "Living Golden Treasure," and he has welcomed Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and lohn Kennedy to Hawai'i. In addition, Nā'ope was honored by the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts with a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for lifetime achievement this spring.