Are you fond of Hawai‘i and the Aloha Spirit? Do you wish you could learn more about Hawaiian culture? Soothe your desire for all things Hawaiian by attending the 20th annual Ho‘ike [hula exhibition show] presented by Aloha ‘Āina o Hawai‘i and Hālau Hula Nāpuaokalei‘ilima offering authentic Hawaiian hula, culture and music.
We invite you to attend the show on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Phillip England Center for the Performing Arts located at 280 Camp Lincoln Road, at Camp Verde High School. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and the two-hour show starts at 1 p.m.
The event begins with a fascinating cultural presentation by Hawaiian culture scholar B. Ka‘imiloa Chrisman, Ph.D., delving deep into multiple aspects of old-time Hawaiian culture and history behind the recent AppleTV+ presentation called “Chief of War.” He will explore the weapons used, ancestral legacy, clothing, lifestyle and religion. This will be followed by the Haumāna [students] performing hula to music representing each of the Hawaiian Islands taught by Kumu Hula Kēhau Chrisman.
Before the show, take advantage of Hawaiian-themed items of all sorts for sale at our “Hālau Store.” In our Silent Auction, bid on various unique Hawaiian artifacts, illustrations, etc., such as a premier quality ‘ukulele and artwork by artist Lauren Trangmar. Proceeds benefit Aloha ‘Āina O Hawai‘i, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supporting activities that promote the education to the general public about the customs, values, language, arts and crafts of the Hawaiian Culture. For more information, visit hawaiian-culture.com.
Hālau Hula Nāpuaokalei‘ilima, based in Cottonwood, is under the direction of Kumu Hula — aka Hula master — Kēhau Chrisman. Formerly of Hawaii and a 22-year Cottonwood resident, she accumulated over 40 years in the field of hula, of which 17 were spent training in Hawaii to reach hula’s highest rank of Hula Master [similar to achieving a Ph.D.] by learning rigorous hula protocols taught by well-known and respected masters in Hawaii’s hula legacy. She started teaching hula in Hawaii in 1997 and has been teaching in Northern and Central Arizona since 2004. Since opening her Cottonwood hula school in 2004, Chrisman has also been teaching Hawaiian culture, including ‘ukulele music and Hawaiian language. Students travel from all over the Verde Valley, Flagstaff and Prescott for her expertise. For more information about this hula school, go to arizonahula.com.
Tickets are available at omella.com/wvkkp for $17 for adults, $8 for youth ages 7 to 17 and free for those younger.
Must be purchased by 11:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21. Tickets at the door are $20 for adults; $10 for youth; and under age 7 are free.
For more information about this event, email HulaIsAloha@gmail.com.