April 4
Program Schedule
Questions about booking? Call us at 808-932-8901.
Lei Wili Workshop
Thursday, April 4
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
ʻImiloa’s Classroom
Admission: $40 members; $55 non-members
Explore your creativity and try your hand at lei-making in the wili-style with Hawaiian artist Lehua Hauaniʻo!
Lehua is a well-known cultural specialist who has been sharing her familial artistry and expertise in indigenous foliage and lei techniques with the Hawaiʻi community for over a decade.
Learn best practices for gathering and preparing foliage and make your own lei wili to take home or to gift to a special someone during Merrie Monarch week!
Participants will be provided with all necessary lei materials and get the option to choose the length of their lei while at the workshop (either kūpeʻe — great for wristband/anklet, or lei poʻo — a lei fit for your head).
Infusing the Ritual of Kuahu Hula into Everyday Life Practices with Unulau
Thursday, April 4
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
ʻImiloa’s Moanahōkū Hall
Admission: $15 members; $25 non-members
Kumu Hula Pele Kaio and the ʻōlapa of Unulau will lead you through the ritual of the kuahu hula (hula altar), shedding light on its intricate processes and ritualistic significance, including the plant kinolau associated with the kuahu hula.
This comprehensive presentation will offer a detailed look into the kuahu hula practice and its applications beyond the hālau, discussing how they integrate the kuahu into daily life.
Hula ʻAuana Workshop Thursday, April 4
1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
ʻImiloa’s Classroom
Admission: $15 members; $25 non-members
Learn hula ʻauana with Kumu Kaea Lyons-Yglesias of Halau Kaeaikahelelani, featuring the mele "Kaulana Na Kona", meaning Famous is Kona, from the eyes of Aunty Alice Aiu Ku.
This mele take us from the beauty of Hualalai to the breathtaking views looking north to Kawaihae, through Kailua and south to Hoopuloa.
"Kekuhikuhi" | Double Feature Film & Panel Discussion
Thursday, April 4
1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
ʻImiloa’s Moanahōkū Hall
Admission: $15 members; $25 non-members
Spanning visual art and documentary storytelling, the "Kekuhikuhi Mural Documentary" and "The Uluwehi Project" unite to honor Edith Kanakaʻole's enduring influence on Hawaiian culture and environmental stewardship.
"Kekuhikuhi," directed and produced by Zak Noyle, captures the creation of a mural by Kamea Hadar and Kūhaʻo Zane at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, celebrating Aunty Edith’s contributions to Hawaiian education and community initiatives.
"The Uluwehi Project," directed by Edith Kanakaʻole’s great granddaughter, Lanihuli Kanahele, delves into Edith's legacy as a hula practitioner, scientist, and steward of the land through the mele "Ka Uluwehi o ke Kai."
Together, these films weave a compelling narrative of cultural preservation and the interconnectedness of Hawaiian art forms with contemporary conservation efforts. Filmmakers will be present to engage in audience discussion.