La‘i‘ōpua 2020, a West Hawai‘i nonprofit organization with a mission to provide social, recreational, vocational, economic, educational and cultural opportunities and infrastructure to Native Hawaiians was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
The grant, part of OHA’s ‘Ahahui Grants Program, will allow the Big Island community to gather and celebrate the live launch of Laʻiʻōpua’s “Kona Mele” music video, honoring Kona and celebrated practitioners of mele and hula. The launch event is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. Sunday, July 3, at the Maka‘eo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport Park in Kailua-Kona.
The event will include interviews with the musicians and kumu who participated in the video, as well as performances by Keauhou and Kainani Kahaunaele.
“We have been deeply inspired by the works of Project Kuleana and Mana Maoli and realized a musical video which captured the many ‘gems’ Kona has to offer was a wonderful opportunity to create precious memories, living legacies and maintain pride in our community,” Laʻiʻōpua 2020 Executive Director Kawehi Inaba said in a press release.
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The musicians and hula practitioners who participated in “Kona Mele” were videotaped at historical and ʻohana ʻaina landmark locations throughout Kona as they performed a medley of two songs, “Kona Kai ʻŌpua” and “Kaulana Nā Kona”.
For more information about Laʻiʻōpua 2020, click here or call 808-327-1221.
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