ANCIENT HAWAIIAN “HISTOGRAPHY” AND LION DANCE KEY FEATURES OF HAWAIIANA FESTIVAL'S EVENING UNDER THE STARS

Spectacular photographic portrayal on film of pre-contact Hawai`i combined with Native Hawaiian story-telling, titled “Ho`omana`o I Na Wa I Hulia”, plus a Lion Dance are part of the Evening Under the Stars during the Hawaiiana Festival's Harvest Moon celebration scheduled for October 3rd in Poi`pu.

POI`PU, KAUA`I, (September 24, 2009)- A film of highly detailed and intense images depicting pre-contact Hawaiian culture is in the line-up of events at the upcoming Hawaiiana Festival scheduled for October 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the Grand Hyatt Kaua`i Resort and Spa. Photographer and film maker, Shane Tegarden and cultural specialist, Kupuna Sam Kahai Kaai have teamed up to bring their film "Ho`omana`o I Na Wa Huliau." (recall the past before the turning) to Kaua`i. “The film depicts Hawaiian life as it might have been seen 500 years ago,” according to Tegarden. The program takes audiences on a historical panoramic journey into Hawai`i's past as Sam Kaai, known as a master story-teller, narrates a walk through time. These images and narration have excited audiences around Hawai`i, according to recent news reports, as they bring a highly detailed and visual sense of life in Hawai`i before the arrival of other cultures. Showings are scheduled for October 2nd at 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. On the night of October 3rd, at 7 p.m., the Hawaiiana festival has slated an “Evening Under the Stars” in celebration of the harvest moon, featuring both a Lion Dance and Tegard's “Ho`omana`o I Na Wa Huliau.” The Lion Dance will include 20 lion dancers from the Lion Dance Association with traditional lion dance pyrotechnics. October 3rd falls upon the Chinese mid-autumn festival when farmers in China would be celebrating the fall harvest. It is said that the full moon during this time period is the brightest of the year. A complete event list is available at http://hawaiianafestival.wetpaint.com.

The Hawaiiana Festival is part of a trio of events established to teach and perpetuate Native Hawaiian cultural practices and values as well as honor the mixed cultures that make up Hawai`i. The trio of events, all held at the Grand Hyatt Kaua`i Resort and Spa, encompasses the 17th annual Hawaiiana Festival, the 3rd annual Malama Ola Festival (to take care of life) and the 4th annual "Is the Hawaiian Culture Alive and Well" conference. Numerous activities are designed to involve visitors and residents in learning about different aspects of the culture.

All events are open to the public with most activities free of charge. Events are subject to change. There is a registration fee for the conference on Friday, October 2nd. The Hawaiiana and Malama Ola Festivals are partially sponsored by the Hawai`i Tourism Authority and Kaua`i County. Friday's conference is organized by the Kaua`i Chapter of the Hawai`i Hotel and Lodging Association. For more information, contact Stella Burgess, director of Hawaiian culture and community affairs, stella.burgess@hyatt.com, 808-240-6369 or go to http://hawaiianafestival.wetpaint.com.

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Written by: Margy Parker, mp@margyparker.com, 808-651-5394
Photos available upon request.