The beat of the drum and dancing feet and sounds of chanting will again be heard on Wednesday afternoons in Kapa‘a as hula and related Hawaiian cultural lessons begin again under the Ka ‘Imi Na‘auao O Hawai‘i Nei Institute, according
The beat of the drum and dancing feet and sounds of chanting will again be heard on Wednesday afternoons in Kapa‘a as hula and related Hawaiian cultural lessons begin again under the Ka ‘Imi Na‘auao O Hawai‘i Nei Institute, according to a press release.
Lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced students are held in the church hall of First Hawaiian Church located at 4-1325 Kuhio Hwy, Kapa‘a.
Kumu Hula Keahi Manea invites new and reviewing students to arrive at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and intermediate to advanced students at 4:45 p.m.
Kumu Manea’s classes, and all classes offered by the institute, stress the memorization and understanding of chants being performed, and students are invited to participate in an annual ho‘ike (recital) and various hula programs the group presents at hospitals, care homes and community events.
Members also cooperate in outdoor workdays several times a year. During these workdays they weed and maintain an important site of ancient hula here on Kaua‘i, Ke Ahu a Laka in Ha‘ena, and a “forest classroom” of native plants in Koke‘e. This is in addition to the annual commitment to present a showcase of hula, chant and music at Kaua‘i‘s mountain festival in honor of Queen Emma, held in Koke‘e each October.
“Eo, E Emalani I Alaka‘i” was begun by Ka ‘Imi’s founder, Kumu Hula Bailey, in the early 1980s in cooperation with Hui O Laka and the Koke‘e Natural History Museum. This October’s celebration will mark the 23rd anniversary of this Kaua‘i festival.
On May 28, Ka ‘Imi performers and their various Kumu will come from Maui, O‘ahu and California and join in presenting the multi-media program first performed in Europe in June, 2010. The program builds a bridge between the past accomplishments and leadership of Hawai‘i’s ali‘i, with their legacy brought forward into modern-day Hawai‘i. For more information, visit kaimi.org or write to Ka ‘Imi Na‘auao O Hawai‘i Nei Institute, P. O. Box 1686, Kapa‘a, 96746. Call 822-9447 to register for classes.
