Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2006 — Schoolhouse rock [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Schoolhouse rock

By Sterling Kini Weng Publicatiūns Editur

Keola Nakanishi, the administrator of the Mānoa-based Hālau Kū Māna Puhlie Charter School, encountered an unusual predicament while he was trying to coordinate the musical lineup for the Aug. 26 Mana Maoli eoncert, a fundraiser for the Native Hawaiian charter school movement. He had too many musicians that wanted to perform. "There's so many artists that sympathize with our struggles, and they see the successes of the charter school movement and they want to help," Nakanishi said. "We could've easily got another 20 bands and turned this into a two-day festival. It's awesome." But the organizers settled on a one-day event, and the resulting

hill is packed with some of the best loeal talent you'll ever see in one concert: Henry Kapono, lohn Cruz, Natural Vibrations, Fiji, Robi Kahakalau, Oshen, Ooklah the Moe, Ieff Rasmussen, Paula Fuga, Willie K and Eric Oilliom, as well as members from Kupa'āina, Inner Session, The Girlas and more. The concert will also serve as the CD launeh for Mana Maoli volumes II, "InnoNative," and III, "Change is Coming," a collaboration of over 200 artists, including music from well-known loeal reggae and contemporary Hawaiian musicians, "backyard" players, and Hālau Kū Māna students and staff. One especially noteworthy track is the smooth acoustic duet Country Road, with laek Iohnson and Paula Fuga. The proceeds from the concert and CD will support Hālau Kū Māna and Nā Lei Na'auao, an

allianee of 12 charter schools across the state whose curricula embrace Hawaiian culture and values. Nā Lei Na'auao schools, like all puhlie charter schools, aren't provided facilities or equitable funding from the state to operate. As a result, many of the schools laek pennanent facilities. Hālau Kū Māna in particular will be facing a possible housing crisis in December, when they'll need to find a new primary eampus. With about a third of its students coming from Papakōlea and Maunalaha, the school has operated out of Mānoa since its creation in 2000. The school changed locations several times before finding a home at Paradise Park in the back of Mānoa for the last two years. "We hope that the concert will be a rallying point to gather support and raise awareness about our housing situation," Nakanishi said. "We still have to find a new home, and there's not mueh time left." S

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NĀ HANANA • EVENTS

EūIūu Kū Mōnū, whieh is currently looking for ū new home, is one of 1 2 Howoiion chorter schools thot will benefit from fhe Mono Mooli concerf ond CD (helow). - Photo: KW0 Archive