Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 4, 1 April 2015 — Native topics to entertain, enlighten at Hawaiʻi Book and Music Festival [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native topics to entertain, enlighten at Hawaiʻi Book and Music Festival

OHA is a longtime supporter of the Hawaiian-focused Alana Pavilion

By Lurline McGregor 1 I his is the only venue * * I that gives Native I Hawaiian scholars I a forum to share I their academic work with a general audience," says Roger Jellinek, founder and Executive Director of the Hawai'i Book and Music Festival. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the festival that will take plaee on May 2 and 3 on the grounds of the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center in Honolulu. "I think of myself as a professional outsider," quips Jellinek, who, among other things, was a

journalist, literary agent and publisher in NewYorkCity before relocating to Hawai'i in 1992. "I like to look at a culture from a different perspective from those who live in it. When I

arrived here, the loeal publication strand was primarily the authors that Bamboo Ridge was publishing, who were writing about assimilation and the experience of ex-plantation people trying to fit into an alien eulture. That has shifted, and now the energy is in what Hawaiian authors are writing, whieh is not about assimilation at all." The number of Native Hawaiian authors has grown dramatically since the festival started. Jellinek attributes this to the rising number of students graduating from Hawaiian language immersion schools, the expansion of the Hawaiian Stud-

ies department at the University of Hawai'i, and the translation of Hawaiian language newspapers. "There are many young Native Hawaiian

scholars writing masters theses and dissertations that are fresh, high-energy and are contributing to the increasing body of work. Because of their academic nature, though, these books are not easy to read, so we have panel discussions. Our intention with these panels is to bring new scholarship to a general audience so the puhlie ean heeome aware of how rich this intellectual material is." For example, a recent book by James F. Haley titled Captive Paradise: A History ofHcnvaii, whieh depicts an oppressive and highly stratified precontact society, unified

by Kamehameha I through terror and bloodshed, is the inspiration for a panel discussion on how the understanding of Hawaiian history has been transformed. Hawaiian historians 'Umi Perkins, Davianna McGregor and Ronald Williams will talk about their perspectives on Hawaiian history, with Jonathan Osorio moderating. Another panel features educator, composer and musician Kaipono-

hea Hale joining authors discussing their new books that capture a sense of plaee from a Native Hawaiian perspective: Eeimomi Akana and Kiele Gonzales (Hānau ka Ua: Hawaiian Rain Names) and John R.K. Clark (North Shore Plaee Names: Kahuku to Ka'ena); Katrina-Ann R. Kapā'anaokalāokeola Nākoa 01iveira, author of Ancestral

Places: Understanding Kanaka Geographies, moderates. Moderator Melody MacKenzie, Susan Serrano and D. Kapua'ala Sproat will talk about their long awaited and definitive new encyclopedia of current Native Hawaiian law, Native Hawaiian Law: A Treatise. Puakea Nogelmeier will moderate a panel discussion featuring Kamana Beamer and Tiffany Ing on the impact of Hawaiian language newspapers on new scholarship and how that is changing perceptions of history and Hawaiian identity. "Twenty minutes of eaeh discussion must be given to audience questions," insists Jellinek. "We don't want lectures!" In addition to panel discussions, new books and author presentations, the Hawai'i Book andMusic Festival also features Hawaiian entertainment. Performances are by some of the best hula hālau and musicians in the state, and until this year, Marlene Sai was the driving force behind the Main Stage pro-

gramming, whieh is fully dedicated to Hawaiian performance. She is busy with Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs duties this year, but thanks to doors she has opened in the past, another impressive lineup of musicians and hālau is scheduled for this year. In addition, a series of four workshops will be presented on Saturday April 25 and May 2 by 'ukulele master Kimo Hussey, who is also the co-author of the Hawaiian music songbook He MeleAloha. Hussey has been called one of the most respected 'ukulele players in the world, who has taught more than 10,000 students around the world. His two-hour workshops will focus on different aspects of 'ukulele: Opening Up the Fretboard, Five Principles of Responsible Right Hand Technique, Combining Melody and Harmony, and Achieving Balance in 'Ukulele. The classes are limited to 15 students and cost $100 eaeh. The proceeds from the workshops will benefit the festival. Advance registration is required. Register online at hawaiibookand musicfestival.com or by contacting Jellinek, the festival executive director, at rgr.jellinek@gmail.com or 808-239-8451. Players who sign up for more than one session will receive a signed Kimo Hussey CD. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been a consistent supporter of the festival for the past eight years, sponsoring its Alana Pavilion, whieh is dedicated to Native Hawaiian presentations. The Hawai'i Book and Music Festival will feature more than 600 loeal, national and international authors, presenters and performers. Booksellers and publisher booths, the Bank of Hawai'i Book Swap and the multiethnic food court are also part of this annual celebration of story and song. Check out hawaiibookandmusic festival.comformoreinformation. ■ Lwline Wailana McGregor is a writei; television producer and author o/Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me.

There are many young Native Hawaiian scholars writing masters theses and dissertations that are fresh, high-energy and are contributing to the increasing body of work. — Roger Jellinek, founder and Executive Director ofthe Hawai'i Book and Music Festival

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: HAWAPI B00K AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

Ikaikū Hussey

Kopuo Sproot

'Umi Perkins

Keoo NeSmith

Melody MnrKpn7ĪP

John R.K. Clark

Ed Greevy

At left, panelists and moderators will discuss various topics relating to Hawaiians and the written word, including books like "A Nation Rising" and "Native Hawaiian Law." - Courtesyphotos