The Garden Island Arts Council presents a benefit concert to support the vital activities of the Hawaiian Studies resource teachers’ program in local schools. The concert will feature Grammy-award-winning musicians David and Dennis Kamakahi, as well as emcee Mele Apana,
The Garden Island Arts Council presents a benefit concert to support the vital activities of the Hawaiian Studies resource teachers’ program in local schools.
The concert will feature Grammy-award-winning musicians David and Dennis Kamakahi, as well as emcee Mele Apana, Papa Laua‘e o Makana and O Keao a me Nawahine o Halaulani hula halau. The Kupuna Studies program is raising funds to host a statewide training conference at Wailua in June.
The preservation of Hawaiian culture is the main goal of this studies program which places knowledgeable kupuna in Kaua‘i’s classrooms to teach song, language, story, and traditional customs. Sabra Kauka, director of the Kaua‘i Kupuna program has 24 teachers placed in local schools. “The Department of Education is responsible for giving us a budget for salary and supplies, but the state has recently taken away much of this necessary funding,” said Kupuna Kon who teaches at Wilcox and several other local schools. “And what’s more disappointing, is that many of the schools have decided to discontinue the program.”
The program began 21 years ago on Kaua‘i and reaches out to both public and private schools. The yearly conference that brings all Kupuna teachers together is being hosted by the Kaua‘i chapter, Kon says: “It is our turn to host the other teachers and conduct workshops about Kaua‘i’s culture so they can take it back to their own islands.”
The benefit concert would greatly offset these costs and enable the kupuna to “make a showcase of our cultural traditions to the other members.”
The Kupuna Hawaiian Studies Program hopes to fill the seats at Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center Sunday. evening.
Ola Na Kupuna Fundraising concert
Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center
Sunday at 7 p.m.
Advance tickets $25, at the door $30
Tickets available at Scotty’s Music, Bounty Music, Island Soap and Candle Works, Kaua‘i Discount Activities in Nawiliwili, and Hawaiian Music
Kiosks in Princeville and Coconut Plantation.
Contact Sabra Kauka 246-8899 for more information.
