November 23, 2010 – WAIKOLOA, Hawaii

By Stephanie Salazar

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, OHA – awarded a $10,000 Community Event Grant to the Moku O Keawe Foundation. The foundation produces the annual Moku O Keawe International Festival which concluded November 7th at the Waikoloa Beach Resort. Foundation president Sherron Rosenberger said the OHA support helps to spread Hawaiian culture grow and expand around the world through hula and the arts of hula.

The following press release was issued by the foundation:

The Moku O Keawe Foundation has been awarded a $10,000 Community Event Grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). Funding will be used to continue their mission of Hawaiian cultural education, and present the 5th Annual Moku O Keawe Festival.

“We are extremely grateful to OHA for their support and the confidence they show in Moku O Keawe Foundation,” said President Sherron Rosenberger. “It is exciting and inspiring to see the living Hawaiian culture grow and expand around the world through hula and the arts of hula. And as that happens, it is even more important for organizations to work together—not only to reach a broader audience, but to share our messaging in the most respectful, authentic and meaningful way.”

The 5th Annual Moku O Keawe Festival concluded November 7 at Waikoloa Beach Resort, with 15 participating hālau from Hawaii and Japan competing in wahine hālau and pakahi (solo) hula kahiko, ‘auana and kupuna divisions. The hula competition was coordinated by Kumu Hula Nani Lim Yap. Other events included a made-in-Hawaii marketplace and closing night Hō‘ike starring workshop students and special appearance by Kumu Hula O’Brian Eselu and the men of Ke Kai O Kahiki, Merrie Monarch Winners. An intensive workshop series, organized by Hawaii designer Sig Zane, featured classes in Ipu Heke (double gourd drum), Lauhala Weaving,‘Il‘ili and an excursion to the historic site at Mahukona for a workshop with Nā Kumu Hula Howard and Olana A‘i. Workshops in hula were taught by Nā Kumu Hula Nalani Kanaka‘ole, Kaleo Trinidad and Uluwehi Guerrero

Other Moku O Keawe sponsors include Waikoloa Beach Resort, Louis Vuitton, Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, Creative Arts, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Waimea Music Company, Big Island Candies, Sushi Shiono, County of Hawaii, KAPA, Vitamin Water and Kintetsu International Hawaii.

The Moku O Keawe International Festival is an annual celebration of the rich Hawaiian culture, produced by the Moku O Keawe Foundation, a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing, enriching and educating the practice and development of hula and its associated arts to build, strengthen and inspire the living cultural traditions of Hawai‘i. For more information, visit www.MOKIF.com

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