Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 9, 1 September 2023 — Perpetuating Hawaiian Music [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Perpetuating Hawaiian Music

V LAMAKU HO'OKIPA V ^ A BEACON OF HOSPITALITY "

NaHHA would like to share afeature from ]eninne Heleloa, one ofour "Lamakū Ho'okipa" (beacons of hospitality) who is making a positive impact through the perpetuation of Hawaiian music and cultural activities, and as a contributing member ofthe Native Hawaiian community.

By Jeninne Heleloa The Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society (HMPS) is a community-based nonprofit organization founded in 2020. Our mission is to preserve, promote, and perpetuate mele Hawai'i (Hawaiian music) - its traditions, history, and wahi pana (storied places). Ku'uipo Kumukahi is at the helm of the organization as the president of HMPS and serves as the director of Hawaiian Culture and Community Relations at the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa. Her mother kindled her love of music at a young age, nurturing her gift and buying her an 'ukulele and guitar while encouraging her to "sing, not just play." Over the years, Kumukahi and her friends had ongoing conversations focused on not just Hawaiian music and how to preserve it, but more importantly, how it could be perpetuated. Feeling the need to do something for the community and, in their first of many such activities, they took a drive out to Waimānalo, rolled up into the homestead on the back of a piek-up truck, parade style, with several musician friends. The response from the community was overwhelming. Not only did hun-

dreds eome out to the roadside to enjoy, but many others began following them on Facebook. They knew they were on to something after this first "Mele on the Move" event, they eonducted several others in other homestead communities, eventually paving the way to turn their passion for mele Hawai'i into a nonprofit organization. Today, HMPS has partnerships with the Department of Education, Partners In Development Foundation, 1 NaHHA, and a growing number of Ha- : waiian music talent. "Our hope is that ' we will encourage our young people l to write more songs about the lands l of their special places so that they ean [ connect back to the history of plaee. As we sing, we find connection to eaeh [ other and our connection to Hawai'i and aina," shared Kumukahi. p HMPS provides the working hands at Ho'okela Hawaiian Heritage and ī Culture Center a space on the former estate of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanir ana'ole in the wahi pana (storied plaee) of famous Pualeilani, a royal residence long remembered in mele Hawai'i. ■ • For more information and a list of current activities visit www.hawaiian1 musicperpetuationsociety.com/hookela Jeninne Heleloa is the executive director < of the Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society. She leads a team thatfocuses on \ Hawaiian cultural activities, keiki edu- ( cation, kūpuna, community and artist engagement. For more information and ways to participate, support or kōkua, contact jeninne.heleloa@hmpshawaii. eom.

HūWūiian Music Perpetuution Society President Ku'uipo Kumukuhi (pictured for right) is ulso the director of Howoiion Culture ond Community Relotions ot the Hyott Regency Woikīkī Resort ond Spo. - Phoio: Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Peaeh Resoit and Spa