Keali‘i Reichel will bring his legendary award-winning mele and hula to Blue Note Hawaii in a six-show, four-night engagement at Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki resort in November.
Reichel is a prolific and inspirational kumu hula, who also is a dancer, director, choreographer, singer and recording artist known for his exquisite storytelling music and his vast knowledge of Hawaiiana. His newest wrinkle is a link to the ‘aina and Halau Ke‘alaokamaile and Friends.
Performances will be at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Nov. 18 and 20 and 8 p.m. Nov. 19 and 21, and will include both traditional and contemporary mele and hula featuring Halau Ke‘alaokamaile and Friends.
The event will benefit the Maui-based hula halau, whose mission is to perpetuate the Hawaiian tradition, culture and heritage through its arts, beliefs, dance, language, and agriculture. The contention is that there is a strong connection to the ‘aina, an essential link to the hula tradition.
To that end, Halau Ke‘alaokamaile and Hokunui Farms LLC are establishing the Halau Ke‘alaokamaile Resource Center, the first halau facility permitted to operate on agricultural land on Maui.
Under the tutelage of kumu Reichel, the halau already conducts five hula classes each week and anticipates expanding the riches of cultural programming including music and language instruction.
Further, three grants have been awarded to Halau Ke‘alaokamaile to implement agroforestry programs as they relate to Hawaiian culture and hula:
- A two-year Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) grant of $250,000 to plant and maintain a six-acre native habitat which restores the endemic forest, enhances the watershed, perpetuates cultural practices and creates a template for sustainable agroforestry.
- A three-year USDA Beginner Farmers and Ranchers grant of $750,000 to enhance the success of Native Hawaiian agroforesters by increasing economic opportunity, food security and the cultural connection to the forest through traditional Hawaiian protocols.
- A three-year Administration for Native Americans grant of $850,000 to perpetuate Native Hawaiian cultural practices through native plants.
The enterprising partnership between cultural and historical practitioners with agencies providing funds to enable fulfill the vision of saving tradition with contemporary vision, appears to be a model for the future. …
Presale ticket sales begin today (Aug. 18), with general public reservations beginning Friday (Aug. 20). But it won’t be cheap; premium seats are $125, loge and bar seats are $85. Use pre-sale code PUNAHELE for ticket access. Details at www.bluenotehawaii.com
Ballet Hawaii moving the barre
Ballet Hawaii, which has been temporarily ensconced at the Hawaii Suites at Blaisdell Center, is relocating its offices and studio to Dole Cannery in Iwilei. It will be located at second floor facilities above the Regal movie theaters, at the mauka end of the film screens.
The move will still be temporary, as a search continues for more permanent quarters, but the relocation – no date has been announced – will be kind of a homecoming for the ballet pupils and teachers in a new partnership with Castle & Cooke. Several decades ago, however, Ballet Hawaii conducted dance classes in quarters in the old cannery facilities in Iwilei.
And that’s Show Biz. …
Good to hear that Keali’i will be doing so many shows at the Blue Note. Hope he gets a crowd even with the high prices. I remember when SOS was at the main showroom at the Outrigger years ago and the show was only $3.50 plus 2 drinks.