Aloha! Building community and sharing have always resided in the Hawaiian/Polynesian culture. Ke Kukui Foundation continues this tradition through community events, education, music and the art of hula in Pacific Northwest communities throughout Washington and Oregon for future generations.
July 26, 27th and 28th, 2012
Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington
This annual event is our largest community program. With na kumu (teachers) flown in from the islands, they share their knowledge of hula, history and cultural craft with (haumana) students who come from as far away as Florida and Canada at the Hula & Arts Workshop. Friday night heats up with the Hapa Haole Hula Competition featuring both local and national competitors. Saturday is the all day festival where thousands gather to watch the haumana showcase what they learned, see the winners of the competition perform, and partake in the sights an smells of the craft and food vendors. More info COMING as we plan this exciting event: HAWAIIANFESTIVALPNW
2012 Ke Kukui Arts & Cultural Center Events & Activities
301 E McLoughlin Blvd Suite D, Vancouver, WA 98663
Hawaiian Traditional Tool and Kapa Workshop
Friday, May 18th, 2012
6:00pm – 9:00pm at the Ke Kukui Arts & Cultural Center
The first 10 students ($25 per person for the kit) can participate in actual making of the implements. More are welcome to come and observe and help as they will learn a lot. Please contact Kaina Barba to reserve a spot at: 360-852-6796.
Workshop Description:
Solomon Apio will work with participants to make niho `oki (sharktooth utility knife) and ie kuku (kapa beaters) Traditionally, niho`oki were used to carve and cut out lines on kapa cloth and to also cut the bark from the mulberry tree (kapa comes from this tree). The ie kuku were used to pound the kapa. Many hula halau in Hawai`i are making and wearing their own kapa designed costuming in performances now.
Solomon is a very humble master wood carver, implement maker, and a weaver of traditional Hawaiian helmets, baskets and fish traps. His work is highly valued and in many private and public collections reflecting his highly acclaimed level of artistry. He is retired now and works with hula halau in Hawai`i to teach them how to make the implements and tools for kapa-making. As a master carver, Apio’s work honors and continues the ancient traditions within a modern context.
`Olelo Hawai`i - Hawaiian Language
Evenings, May 14 - 18, 2012
Hawaiian language one-week course using the Silent Method will be offered May 14 to 18 for new and returning students. It will be held at the Ke Kukui Cultural and Arts Center from 7pm to 9pm. Cost is $100 (includes book); proceeds go to the Foundation. Scholarships are available - please inquire with Waialoha. For information or to sign up: waialoha@kekukuifoundation.com or call 503-349-0229.
Kanikapila Jam Session Night
Monday, May 27th 7pm
Bring your ukulele, guitar, voices, hula and your "Na Mele" puke for a night of singing and dance...FREE and open to the public.
Ke Kukui Foundation is very pleased to be a recipient of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation's 2012 Bridge Initiative Through Native Arts grant. The Native Arts & Cultures Foundation is a permanently endowed foundation supporting American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities by strengthening and supporting their diverse arts and cultures.
Funding will provide support for the annual 3 Days of Aloha which brings renown hula and craft instructors from Hawai'i to the Pacific Northwest every July. Ke Kukui Foundation appreciates the opportunity to serve our community and know that it is because of the generous support from institutions like the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.
Mahalo once again for a SOLD OUT show. We had a number of new performances taught by both visiting kumu local kumu (teacher) and laulau was on the menu and so ono. Because of the community support for programs like our Lu`au, we are able to continue to bring cultural programs to you through out the year at the Ke Kukui Arts & Cultural Center. To see photos of the lu`au connect through Miguel Mesa's Photography page HERE
Kaleinani o ke Kukui represented the hula community by dancing for ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The episode which airs on Friday, October 28th at 8pm, builds a home for an Oregon family of two children with autism.
Ke Kukui Foundation and members of the community returned to Fort Vancouver to film the second installment of the Kanaka Village Mobile App story that is being produced by Washington State University and Fort Vancouver National Park Service. This next topic is still in production but will explore the struggle of William "Kanaka Billy" Kaulehelehe during the 1840s fur trade to get the Hawaiian men to attend church on Sundays. The mobile app is available for both the Droid and the iPhone for free. More information on the production can be found here.
Online registration for the 3 Days of Aloha: Hula and Craft Workshop is up and ready to go. Click HERE to register.
Planning for the 2011 3 Days of Aloha Festival is underway and we have a number of ways YOU can be involved. As a workshop participant, a competitor, an advertiser in our program, a craft, food or business vendor, a festival sponsor OR as an audience member enjoying the Hapa Haole Hula Competition and Ho`ike Hawaiian Festival. For more information, visit the 3 Days of Aloha Festival Website to see which kumu hula and artisans will be coming to share their knowedgle and talents with us or to download competition, sponosehip and/or vendor packet information.
Ke Kukui Foundation is pleased to announce a grant from the Seventh Generation Fund to provide community programs of ‘Olelo Hawai`i: Hawaiian Language classes, and Kupuna Talk Story both of which takes place at the Ke Kukui Cultural Center in Vancouver, Washington.
Seventh Generation for Indian Development is dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native peoples and the sovereignty of tribal Nations. Ke Kukui Foundation appreciates the recognition of Seventh Generation and is excited for the opportunity to continue serving the community with our Hawaiian language and elder history sharing programs.
Ke Kukui Foundation is very pleased to announce a 2010 Mobilizing the Community Through the Arts grant has been awarded from Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. The Native Arts & Cultures Foundation is a permanently endowed foundation supporting American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities by strengthening and supporting their diverse arts and cultures.
Funding will provide support for the annual 3 Days of Aloha which brings renown hula and craft instructors from Hawai'i to the Pacific Northwest every July. Ke Kukui Foundation appreciates the opportunity to serve our community and know that it is because of the generous support from institutions like the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.
The last few weeks have been spent working on an interactive mobile device app which focuses on Fort Vancouver in Vancouver, Washington. What is it? See here.
The Mobile Vancouver Project is the brainchild of Brett Oppegaard and other media professors at Washington State University and rangers at Fort Vancouver. The first module of this project (so far there are three) focuses on the cultural aspect of the Fort in the early to mid 1800s; the Hawaiian laborers living in Kanaka Village and William Kaulehelehe.
Ke Kukui Foundation was contacted as a cultural reference to insure accuracy. Brett and his crew have been so maika`i and we are appreciative that they asked to help make it pono. Besides researching the history through reference books and countless hours online, we worked to get the accuracy of the scenes and the appropriate chants, music and verses, finding the actors, and managing Ke Kukui's part with Brett. Mahalo to our actors: Tommy Owens (who also provided the dinner), Kaloku Holt, Hono Yacapin, Virginia Hilina`i MacKenzie and Frank Van Waardenburg. Our singers and speakers, Bully Magsayo and Kaleinani o ke Kukui chorus.
For more information please download a pdf file below:
MEDIA SHEET for Ho'ike & Hawaiian Festival
SPONSORS of the 3 Days Event
ADVERTISERS of the 3 Days Event
HAPA HAOLE HULA COMPETITORS - DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 1st.
or contact info@kekukuifoundation.com
3 Days Hawaiian Festival website: www.hawaiianfestivalpnw.com
Help keep the Culture Alive.
Consider a donation or sponsorship to KE KUKUI FOUNDATION. click here
To get up to date Hawaiian/Polynesian Happenings:
For more information, please contact Pat Naeole at 503-330-4856Hula for Babies
Who: Boys and Girls ages 3 to 6
Hula for Beginning Keiki
Who: Boys and Girls ages 7 to 12
Hula for Advanced Keiki
Who: Boys and Girls ages 7 to 12 who have previous hula experience
Hula Beginning Adults
Who: Wahine (Women) & Kane (Men) ages 18 and up with limited or no hula experience
Hula Intermediate Adults
Who: Wahine (Women) & Kane (Men) ages 18 and up with some hula experience
Hula Advanced Adults
Who: Wahine (Women) & Kane (Men) ages 18 and up with extended hula experience
Gracious Ladies Hula
Who: Wahine (Women) ages 50 and up
Son of Deva Leinani Yamashiro, Pvt. David Keawenuiaumi Tsutomu Holt, Platoon 2173, Company H, has achieved his ambition to be the first person in his family to join the armed forces.
Hula brother and Hawaiian History teacher Pete Kepulekaneokealoha Fritsch returned safely from a year of service in Afghanistan. Welcome home, Kepule. Mahalo nui loa for your service!
of Ke Kukui Foundation Programs
High school sophomore Marissa Malia Hanabusa is a collecting funds to reproduce a copy of an original Barnfield 1886 watercolor painting to `Iolani Palace. `Iolani in Honolulu, O`ahu is the only royal palace on American soli and was outfitted with electricity even before the White House. Click here to download a pdf file and learn more about Malia's project and how you can help restore the royal palace to it's original splendor.
Each of our valued affiliates offers Ke Kukui Foundation a percentage of sales/proceeds if you purchase through these links.
Search for New, Used and Rare Books at Powell's. Hawaiian dictionaries, travel and keiki books can be found at Powell's, often at a discounted price.
Many of the photos you see on this site are taken by Miguel Mesa. Proceeds from a portion of sales of the Ke Kukui 3 Days Event will go back to Ke Kukui. Mahalo Miguel!
