Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 3, 1 Malaki 1989 — Hawaiian, Indian Poetry In Forum [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian, Indian Poetry In Forum

The Hawaiian "renaissance" has brought with it a renewed interest among Hawaii's people to write, both in Hawaiian and in English, on loeal topics. A similar movement has occurred in the southwestern states of Arizona and New Mexico, where a contemporary literature based on traditional Indian cultures has emerged. These two traditions will meet for the first time ever in a public forum in Hawai'i on March 15 at 7 p.m. in room 306 of the University of Hawai'i at Hilo Campus Center. The forum is free and open to all interested in contemporary Hawaiian and Native Ameriean culture. Representing the southwest will be Luei Tapahonso, Navajo poet in English, from the University of New Mexico, Dr. Ofelia Zepeda, and Tohonno Oodham, poet in the Oodham language from the University of Arizona. Representing Hawai'i from the University of Hawai'i at Hilo will be Kalena Silva, Hawaiian poet and chanter and Miyoko Sugano, English instructor for the first UH systems course on loeal literature in English and pidgin. The main focus of the forum will be poetry/lyrics. In both Hawai'i and the southwest, a major form of ancient traditional literature is the chant or song. Contemporary poetry in both indigenous languages builds upon the ancient tradition. Introductory videotaped materials on southwest Indian cultures will be included in the forum. No registration is necessary. For information eall 933-3454.