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Culture & Art

Rejuvenating Hawaiian Reading

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

Rejuvenating Hawaiian Reading

Two new Hawaiian language books written by Molokai’s Kumu `Opu`ulani Albino were celebrated at a book signing last Wednesday at the Molokai Public Library. The books fill what Hawaiian immersion teachers at Kualapu`u School identified as a gap in reading material for their students, and are quickly gaining popularity with teachers of `Olelo Hawaii around the state.

“This little school in the middle of the boonies is beginning to put something out there that there’s a need for,” said Kamalu Poepoe, who edited the books.

“Ka Wena”, illustrated by Molokai artist Brandon Hirashima, is filled with little vignettes of Hawaiian culture in the present-day, as seen through the eyes of a lively group of keiki characters.…

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Halau Prepares for Hula’s Biggest Stage

Thursday, February 26th, 2015

Halau Prepares for Hula’s Biggest Stage

 

Last week, residents and visitors at the Molokai Community Health Center got a sneak peek of the talents to come in this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival.

Moana’s Hula Halau, which was invited to participate in the storied hula festival in Hilo this year, held their annual dinner show last Saturday night. Dancers from keiki to kupuna entertained a crowd of hundreds in a fundraiser for festival-bound halau members. It’s been more than 10 years since the halau has performed at the festival.

“To be asked to come again is a privilege for us because we have a lot of new girls and [it’s] a good experience for them,” said halau Kumu Hula Valerie Dudoit-Temahaga.…

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Soup’ R Bowl

Friday, February 20th, 2015

MAC News Release

Molokai Arts Center (MAC) announces its fifth annual Soup’ R Bowl fundraising event, a fundraiser for the arts and art education on Molokai.

The MAC signature annual fundraising event is quickly coming up on March 7 from 5 to 9 p.m. Join us for an evening of delicious soups, artisan bread, fresh island green salad, a full lineup of live entertainment, a silent auction featuring a variety of art from local artists, and the many local artists, themselves, who make this event possible with their creative work!

The event will be featured once again at the historic location of Molokai’s old Pau Hana Inn site, now the Molokai Community Health Center. …

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Lono I Ka Makahiki

Friday, February 20th, 2015

Community Contributed

Editor’s note: Makahiki is celebrated by students island-wide annually, including students from Aka`ula School. Below, reprinted with permission from Aka`ula’s newsletter, are what students had to say about the experience.

Na`iwa

By Sydni Pawn, Sophomore

Lono I Ka Makahiki! It is the time of year when schools from all around Hawaii  come together to celebrate Makahiki. Makahiki is the season when ancient Hawaiians observed harvest by holding  strength and skill competitions. We play  games like  `ulu  maika, where you roll a circular stone between two stakes. Konane is often called Hawaiian checkers. Pa Uma, is stand up arm-­‐wrestling. Schools from around the state visit the sacred Makahiki grounds called Na’iwa.…

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Local Author Pens Hawaiian Language Books

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

Kualapu`u School News Release

Kumu Louella `Opu`ulani Albino has added one more accomplishment to her already significant list for revitalizing `olelo Hawaii on Molokai.  She has authored two new Hawaiian language books for children!

Sponsored by a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and in partnership with Kualapu`u Public Conversion Charter School, Kumu `Opu`ulani addressed a need for more text-based, easy reader chapter books in Hawaiian Language medium education.  “Ka Wena,” illustrated by Molokai artist Brandon Hirashima, is filled with short stories of Hawaiian culture in the present-day, as seen through the eyes of a lively group of keiki characters.  “Ka Moe`uhane,” illustrated by Molokai artist Jennette “Koki” Foster, is an exciting third grade level mystery novel filled with Hawaiian practices and perspectives that have endured up to our present day.…

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Reading Between the Lines to Freedom

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

For 19th century slaves in America, a hand-stitched quilt was more than just bedding; it was a map to freedom. As Black History Month kicked off at the Molokai Public Library last Wednesday, Molokai resident John Wordin shared the little-known story of the secret role quilts played in bringing enslaved African Americans to safety.

Wordin’s presentation was inspired by the book “Hidden in Plain View,” which details the history of the system of coded quilts.

“Slaves were deliberately kept from getting any education. They were illiterate,” said Wordin. “You couldn’t just give them a handout and say, ‘Well, these are directions as to where to go and who to talk to.’”…

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Giving Tree

Friday, January 30th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Kumu Maile Naehu

In early January, a special performance of The Giving Tree was offered at Kaunakakai School Cafeteria by a talented group of performers from Molokai. This group was comprised of 12 keiki ages 5 to 12 who participated in a Winter Hana Keaka (performing arts) class with me, a mini-camp in collaboration with the Molokai Arts Center (MAC).

The Giving Tree was a rich performance that reflected a four-day class with me carefully studying the art of performance. We explored voice, movement and acting and ended in a small culminating performance. The most amazing part of all this was how the deep underlying lessons held in the story were revealed by the performers in a poetic reflection done at the end of the play.…

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Honoring Dr. King

Wednesday, January 28th, 2015

Honoring Dr. King

On Jan. 17, Molokai paid tribute to a man who left a legacy of equality and social justice. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was not just observed as a holiday, but as a Day of Service on Molokai, with students gathering on the Public Library grounds to remember the true meaning of the occasion.

Interval House Molokai joined with Aka`ula School and the Molokai Public Library to put on a program that included portions of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in more than half a dozen languages, while Aka`ula School students opened the event with “Music of the Movement,” a civil rights musical celebration.…

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Support Art Education

Friday, January 9th, 2015

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) announces a special opportunity for you to help support art education in in our community.

Each year, the State of Hawaii and its schools are faced with increasing budget cuts that impact how much art education our youth are exposed to in school. This importance of culture and the arts, and the fact that it is sometimes not readily tangible, even though it impacts our quality of life significantly, is priceless and irretrievable once lost.

This same principle holds true for all artists of all ages and walks of life.

Here is a special way for you to help contribute to increasing access to art education and opportunities on our island of Molokai:  help the Molokai Arts Center through it’s Partnership with the Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc.…

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Library of Local Talent

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Library of Local Talent

Molokai artists ushered in the holidays last week, gathering to share their work at the Public Library in the third annual art show of Molokai Arts Center (MAC) members.

“To me, it’s a chance for the organization to thank individual artists and for them to get some exposure – and to see themselves as professional artists,” said potter Dan Bennett, MAC Treasurer and founding member. “We have to push some to enter because they don’t think their art is good enough, which to me is absurd.”

Art in all colors, shapes and sizes – ranging from the useful to the whimsical – made an appearance at the show, representing at least 30 member artists, Bennett said.…

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