Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 10, 1 Kekemapa 1984 — Maori Group Visits Tri-Isle [ARTICLE]

Maori Group Visits Tri-Isle

By Keith Kalani Akana Haere mai ! Haere mai! The traditional weleome of the New Zealand Maori will be turned around when 29 student/ performers of Te Whare Wananga o Waikalo of Hamikon visit Hawai'i this month. Underthetutelageofnoted Maori language instructor, author, composer. and traditionalist Sam Karetu. the group will visit O'ahu, Kaua'i and Hawai'i. Te Whare Wananga o Waikato will be on a forma! exchange with people of Puna and Kalapana. A few years ago, the people of Puna, under the direction of Everett Sonny Kinney, stayed with the Waikato people to study the impact of geothermal energy use on

tne environment ana cuiture. tariier tnis year, \arah Hauani'o, Willie and Minnie Ka'awaloa and Ivy Woo and a few others were again hosted in the Waikato region. Comprised mostly of University of Waikato students, their Honolulu visit is being coordinated by Kalani Akana of Ka Pa Hula Hawai'i. About two years ago, Sam Karetu spent a year in Hawai'i interviewing kumu hula about the roIeof the Hawaiian language in hula. He has recently published his treatise and is anxious to see many of these kumu again. The Maoris will be welcomed officially at Ka Pa Hula Hawai'i on Saturday, Dec. 8, by Kaha'iTopolinski and his halau. Later that evening, the two groups, along with Olana Ai's halau will stage a benefit concert for Ke 'Ala Ho'oheno ine. Proceeds will benefit this non-profit organization whose goals are directed toward the preservation of traditional Hawaiian chant and dance. The evening will highlight two dance traditions - Hawaiian and Maon. Their Honolulu stay will also include visits to Department of Education schools as well as performances forthe East-West Center. EWC's Richard Via is finalizing plans. From Honolulu the group will go to *^J2>See "Maori," Pg. 7