Volcano ‘Hula Voices’ Series to Feature Kainani Kahaunaele

Kainani Kahaunaele. Photo courtesy of Kainani Kahaunaele.

Volcano Art Center’s (VAC) 2018 Hula Voices series will continue on Thursday, Mar. 1, featuring an interview with Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award recipient Kainani Kahaunaele. Moderated by Desiree Moana Cruz, the intimate talk-story session will explore Kahaunaele’s passion for Hawaiian culture and revitalizing Hawaiian language and music.

Kahaunaele’s solo albums Naʻu ʻOe (2003) and ʻŌhai ʻUla (2010) feature mostly original compositions of Hawaiian poetry have garnered 5 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards and international attention. She is a teacher of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, music, and haku mele (composing) at Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language and Literature at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, a wife and mother of three blossoming musicians.

VAC’s Hula Voices event happens every first Thursday of the month from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees may apply.

The series is structured as an engaging talk-story with Hawai‘i Island hula practitioners sharing their hula genealogy, traditions, protocols, experiences and inspirations for songs, chants and choreography. For more information, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Hula Voices is supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawai‘i, Department of Research and Development and the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.