LIHU‘E — Na Lima Hana means “many hands working together,” which is exactly the focus of the upcoming festival in Po‘ipu. The Na Lima Hana Festival brings a series of cultural activities, demonstrations and events to the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — Na Lima Hana means “many hands working together,” which is exactly the focus of the upcoming festival in Po‘ipu.
The Na Lima Hana Festival brings a series of cultural activities, demonstrations and events to the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa Oct. 17 to 20.
As in past years, participants will have opportunities to learn about lei making, weaving with endemic plants, uses of medicinal plants, salt making, drum making, lomi lomi (traditional massage), ancient chants, stone carving and much more, as well as enjoy Hawaiian food, entertainment and dance.
“I watch local folks and visitors walk away from the Na Lima Hana demonstrations amazed by the depth of knowledge that’s given by the cultural artists and practitioners,” Margaret Parker wrote in an email. “Events like this do so much to undo the stereotypes developed over the past about Native Hawaiians. Their culture is just so rich.”
New to this year’s event are two cultural workshops and a “chop box” food competition, during which four amateur and four professional chefs will compete to prepare the tastiest entrée.
The festival kicks off Oct. 17 with a two-day workshop by the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), designed to assist nonprofit organizations associated with the Native Hawaiian culture in applying for funding for programs or projects. The workshop is free but limited to 40 participants.
The Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA) of Kaua‘i will host a conference Oct. 19 that includes a cultural tour of the island’s South Shore, as well as hands-on workshops on gathering, cleaning and creating native Hawaiian arts from indigenous plants.
Stella Burgess, Director of Hawaiian Culture and Community Affairs at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, said the event is a wonderful opportunity to learn about a “wide variety of Hawaiian culture and history.”
The Na Lima Hana Festival is part of the greater Kaua‘i Aloha Festivals, which take place in September and October, a time when Hawaiian cultural traditions are honored and celebrated around the state.
For more information and a complete event schedule visit http://nalimahana.net.
• Chris D’Angelo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or lifestyle@thegardenisland.com.
