HANAPEPE — A summer concert, “Na Himeni: Hawaiian Hymns in Story and Song,” will be presented at the Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church on Aug. 22. Pupus will be served at 5 p.m. with the show beginning at 6 p.m. Special
HANAPEPE — A summer concert, “Na Himeni: Hawaiian Hymns in Story and Song,” will be presented at the Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church on Aug. 22. Pupus will be served at 5 p.m. with the show beginning at 6 p.m.
Special guests will be Kenneth Makuakane, Samuel Kaauwai and Naomi Yokotake. They will be sharing Hawaiian hymns and their stories about the hymns. The audience will be encouraged to sing along with some of the songs. Ka’auwai will appear with members of the Kapaa First Hawaiian Church Choir.
Makuakane was inducted into the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Hall of Fame in May as its Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. He is the acting papa makua (spiritual leader) for the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches’ Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ and the Commissioned Minister for Church Vitality.
Makuakane has received a total of 14 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. He has more than 100 albums to his producing credits and has worked with artists such as Na Leo, Hapa, Amy Hanaialii Gilliom and Raiatea Helm.
Kahu (minister) Kaauwai is the po’o kula (principal) of Kawaikini School. Kaauwai has been a past choir director at his church for over 25 years and is also a board member at the Kapaa First Hawaiian Church. Kaauwai was honored in March as the 2014 Educator of the Year by the Native Hawaiian Education Association. He has taught in Hawaiian language immersion at Kapaa Elementary since 1995 and Kawaikini since 2008.
Yokotake is a lifelong member of Waioli Huiia Church in Hanalei. Her grandfather was Jacob Maka and Helena Santos was her aunt. She is a kumu hula and active in the Kauai schools’ Kupuna Program and serves on the Board of Directors for Hale Halawai Ohana O Hanalei, Hanalei’s Community Family Center.
During the evening, lucky number drawings will be held for a two-night stay at Waineke Cabin in Kokee and an ukulele donated by Scotty’s Music.
Tickets are $25 and available at the church, from church members or by calling 335-3505 and leaving your name and number. Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church is located at 3815 Hanapepe Rd., Hanapepe.
