Dance

We revisit the opening of the exhibit featuring Queen Lili‘uokalani, a kumu hula who shares his reaction to being named an innovator in his field by a national foundation, a woman on a mission to raise awareness about global warming who brings a polar bear puppet to O‘ahu, and a trailblazing Hawaiʻi rap group's impact on local culture.

Each year, the MacArthur Foundation awards fellowships to a handful of people at the top of their fields from science to the arts. This year's recipients included Patrick Makuakāne, a kumu hula based in San Francisco, for "uplifting Hawaiian culture and history." The Conversation's Catherine Cruz spoke with him about the surprise achievement.

Stunning costumes, modern dance, and environmental issues come together this Friday at “Oh My Goddess!,” the IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre's new production. It showcases modern representations of four powerful Hawaiʻi goddesses: Pele, Hi’iaka, Namaka, and Poli’ahu.

In Hawai’i most are familiar with the title of Kumu Hula, a master of hula who leads students in the protocol, poetry and practice of hula, and who guards and teaches the wisdom of Hawaiian culture.

Hawaiʻi Fire Relief Housing Program places Maui fire victims in permanent housing; HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi talks about efforts to bring Lāhainā's goddess Kihawahine back home; Maelia Lobenstein Carter of Ka Pā Hula o Kauanoe o Waʻahila on women's leadership and paths to knowledge

Dancers with Ballet Hawaiʻi will take to the stage to perform “Urashima Taro” this weekend. The piece is inspired by a Japanese fairy tale about a fisherman who, after rescuing a small turtle, is rewarded with a special visit to the Dragon King’s undersea palace.

HPR's Sabrina Bodon reports on Gov. Green's emergency housing proclamation; DLNR director works to protect limited natural resources; and Ballet Hawaiʻi's summer program includes a Japanese fairytale and Gershwin

Jasmin ʻIolani Hakes’ new novel, "Hula," tells the coming-of-age story of a young woman aspiring to compete in the Merrie Monarch Festival's Miss Aloha Hula competition. It also grapples with the way one comes to understand their identity in the context of their family and its history.

The Prince Lot Hula Festival is making its return in-person for the first time in four years. For its 46th anniversary, the Festival will take place at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds, Skygate.

In the last several decades, tango has broken through stereotypes of who leads and who follows. Tango instructor Gaby Mataloni hosted workshops in Hawaiʻi earlier this year. She hopes to flip the script on gender roles in dance. Read and listen to the full story from HPR's Cassie Ordonio.