Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 5, 1 Mei 2017 — CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS: Promoting Pono for 25 Years [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS: Promoting Pono for 25 Years

By Aliee Malepeai Silbanuz The Celebration of the Arts is a showcase of all things Hawai-

ian hosted by The Ritz Carlton Kapalua >

in Maui. But you might be surprised to hear of its origins. The hotel's Cultural Advisor Clifford Nae'ole shared the event was "inspired by a

need to move out of the blackness and into pono."

In the late 1980s during the construction of the hotel, a mass burial site of 900 iwi kūpuna was unearthed. Following demonstrations by the Hawaiian community, the site of the hotel was moved and the burial ground was turned into the Honokahua Preservation site.

Nae'ole is deeply committed to his kuleana to take care of the iwi kūpuna and promote pono. The three-day event Nae'ole

and his team have |k created is very pur-

posetul īn its design to build under1 standing, promote I healing and build relationships that are pono. For the r last 25 years, the highly anticipated festival has brought together malihini and

kama'aina to experienee authentic Hawaiian

culture through various activities including hands-on art demonstrations, hula and mele. Hawaiian cultural practitioners from throughout the pae 'āina are

brought together to share the very best of Hawaiian culture. Celebration starts off by immersing participants in Hawaiian cultural traditions through the sunrise rituals of hi'uwai and chanting the sun up into the sky. It continues with the ceremonial calling and receiving of guests who ask for permission to enter into the space. The opening ceremony also included an 'awa

ceremony that set the intention to have a successful event and to make things pono. "This celebration is really important. We don't need more anger. We hurt ourselves," said Calvin Hoe, a musician and nose llute maker from Hakipu'u. "We need celebrations, so that we ean heal and move forward and continue on our journey with fresh appreciation that will carry us. This celebration is very necessary." Over the years the event has morphed into a safe haven for the

expression or iNative nawauan concerns, accomplishments and challenges all while eelebrating the eommon joy of art, food, music and dance. "I like that they are not afraid to tackle the tough questions," shared Kumu Hula Hokulani i Holt-Padilla. A component of the Celebration of the Arts are informative speaker panels discussing issues facing Hawaiians today and films on iwi kūpuna, the struggle for water rights and the repaI triation of Hawaiian treasures such as Kalani'ōpu'u's 'ahu ' 'ula (eloak) and mahiole

(helmet). The Celebration of the Arts gives malihini a taste of the complexities of being Native Hawaiian in the 21st century that goes beyond the stereotypes. Cultural practitioner Kalapana Kollars shares, "People always eome to Hawai'i for that special feeling. That feeling is us, our kūpuna. It is our relationship to the land and the sea that is a symbiotic relationship that makes this plaee awesome and makes us awesome too." ■

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We need celebrations, so that we ean heal and move forward and continue on our journey with fresh appreciation that will carry us. This celebration is very necessary.

— Calvin Hoe, musician and nose ffute maker from Hakipu 'u

The three-day Celebration of Arts on Maui brings together Hawaiian practitioners from across the pae 'ōina and offers malihini and kama'aina an opportunity to experience authentic Hawaiian culture. - Photos: KaiMarkell