Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 10, 1 October 2013 — ISLANDS' HISTORY PORTRAYED BY INTERNATIONAL CAST [ARTICLE]

ISLANDS' HISTORY PORTRAYED BY INTERNATIONAL CAST

By Katie Young Yamanaka Kumu Hula Roselle Keli'ihonipua Lindsey Bailey showcases her interpretation of the Islands' history - from the time of creation, or kumulipo, to the Hawaiian people today - for one night only, Saturday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m., at Hawai'i Theatre. This is no ordinary exhibition. Recalling Hawai 'i mixes traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music and hula, enhanced by projected images and the sounds of nature. The production features a cast of 60 dancers, chanters, actors and musicians from eight hālau hula from Maui, Kaua'i, O'ahu, California, Germany and Switzerland, who are woven together under the Ka 'Imi Na'auao O Hawai'i Nei Institute. The cast comes from all over the world with barely any time to rehearse together before putting on the show. They don't perform as separate hālau in the production, so dancers must learn changes to various numbers via videos uploaded to a private YouTube ehannel. The other kumu are also in eommunieation and eome together periodically on Kaua'i to work together in the spirit of laulima. "It's a value system that isn't limited to Hawaiians," says Bailey, who is regarded as one of the renaissance teachers of hula and Hawaiian culture, believing in authentic, hands-onlearning. "The function of a community is based on awareness. This is how our value system is passed on." Eaeh dance or oli is aeeompanied by images projected on a screen and nature sounds to help portray what is in the dance. In a fast-paced world, "people get bored very quickly," says Bailey. "So we thought about what would be the best way to present our culture and history to a community that needs to be in a fast paee? We use several different 'devices' to keep the audience's interest while we still

maintain the foundation of aloha." The song selection, says Bailey, are those that most people will recognize but might not know the history of. "The underlying message is aloha," explains Savitri Kumaran, the show's production coordinator. "It's designed to take viewers on a journey and show them how they are a part of what happens in the future." Adds Kumu Hula Hi'ipoi (Cheryl) Ho, the production's managing director on O'ahu: "At the end, Recalling Hawai'i leaves people feeling united. It celebrates who we all are as givers, recipients and perpetuators of aloha." Recalling Hawai'i has been met with high praise and sold-out venues in six locales, with one audience member commenting that it should be seen by school children across the state. That comment motivated Bailey to take her production one step further. She is now working with a few Department of Education teachers, school students and other members of the institute on supplementary written materials and a CD teaching tool inspired by lessons from the Recalling Hawai'i production. For more information on Ka 'Imi Na'auao O Hawai'i Nei Institute, visit kaimi.org. ■ Katie Young Yamanaka, a Hilohased freelance writer whose work appears i.n loeal, national and i.nternati.onal publi.cati.ons, i.s a former associate edi.tor and columnist for MidWeek

Recalling Hawai'i Where: Hawai'i Theatre, 1130 Bethel St. When: 7 p.m. Nov. 9 Cost: Advance: $25 general, $20 seniors and children. Day of show: $30 and $25 Tickets: 528-0506 or hawaiitheatre.com