Seniors of all ages and their families will find that Oahu offers an array of events from July 8 to August 16th, ranging from a dance festival to “sake tasting.” Mark your calendars today for one or all of these exciting events.
From July 8th to 21st, some of the world’s most acclaimed performers, teachers and critics from Hawai‘i and the Asia Pacific Region will converge in Honolulu for the second biennial Asia Pacific Dance Festival. One of Hawai‘i’s featured artists will be Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehuna with kumu hula Robert Cazimero. Other artists are from New Zealand’s Atamira Dance Company, Taiwan’s Taipei National University of the Arts, and Korea’s Samulgwangdae. The East-West Center Arts Program and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s Outreach College are co-producing these events. For information, call 808-958-8246 or visit www.outreach.hawaii.edu/community/asiapacific/.
“Living the Art of Hula”
July 11, Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Kennedy Theatre
This stunning performance will bring together three kumu hula who have been leaders in the hula community for the past three decades. An intimate conversation with kumu hula Robert Cazimero, Vicky Holt Takamine and Michael Pili Pang will open the concert with their personal journeys in hula, the traditions and the process they go through to create new choreography.
Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehuna (Cazimero), Halau Hula Ka No‘eau (Pang), and Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima (Takamine) will have performances showcasing the creative choreography of each of the featured kumu hula.
Samulgwangdae
July 14, Sunday, 2 p.m., Kennedy Theatre
This Sunday afternoon performance will be by the globally renowned samulnori group Samulgwangdae from Korea. The four core percussionists are masters of the changgo (hourglass-shaped drum), kkwaenggwari (small gong), buk (barrell drum) and ching (large gong). The musicians and dancers will create a captivating blend of Korea’s traditional farmers’ band music, acrobatic military exercises and shamanistic ceremonies with its own modern compositions and theatricality.
The Asia Pacific Dance Festival Welcome Ceremony
July 19, Friday, 6 p.m.
East-West Center Friendship Circle
FREE to the public. It will feature the artists from the Atamira Dance Company, Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), and Halau Na Kamalei
O Lililehuna. The TNUA is equated with excellence in Taiwan and around the world. Their alumni have gained respect and international acclaim as professional choreographers dancers, teachers and researchers.
“Journeys” Performances
Kennedy Theatre
July 20, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
July 21, Sunday, 2 p.m.
A different performance each day, one of which will be by the Atamira Dance Company who is the leading creator and presenter of Maori contemporary dance theater of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Festival Public Forum
July 21, Sunday, 4:45 p.m., East-West Center (Jefferson Hall Imin Conference Center)
Another FREE event. The Sunday’s “Journeys” performance will be followed by a discussion with the visiting artists and special guest dance critics Deborah Jowitt and Steve Villaruz. It will be moderated by UH Manoa Assistant Professer Tammy Baker.
Continuing with the “music theme,” young and old ukulele
performers from around the world will come together for Hawai‘i’s largest ukulele concert in Kapiolani park. This event is FREE to the public.
Tony Group Autoplex presents the 43rd Annual Ukulele Festival
July 21, Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Kapiolani Pk.
The first Ukulele Festival started in 1971 by ukulele master Roy Sakuma. Some of this year’s international lineup of performers will come from Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and Thailand, plus the Mainland, as well as many from Hawai‘i’s own, including Ohta-San and 11-year old Aidan James of YouTube Sensation. The Roy Sakuma Ukulele Band of some 800 keiki, teens and adults will also perform popular tunes. For the 42nd straight year in a row, Hawai‘i’s Ambassador of Aloha, Danny Keleikini, will serve as the emcee.
Free parking and shuttle service from Kapiolani Community College and back will be available from 8:30am–5:30pm. Ukulele displays and giveaways, food booths, inflatable bouncers for keiki, and Ukulele Festival souvenir t-shirts add to the lively, festive atmosphere. For more information, email info@ukulelefestivalhawaii.org or visit www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org.
“The Joy of Sake”
August 16th, Friday, 6:30 p.m.– 9 p.m.
Hawai‘i Convention Center
This event was founded in Honolulu in 2001 as a way to give sake enthusiasts an opportunity to experience and appreciate premium sakes from breweries all over Japan. The event will feature “competition sakes” from the U.S. National Sake Appraisal — each recently bottled and cold-stored to ensure maximum flavor.
The Appraisal is a blind tasting conducted by a team of ten judges from Japan and the U.S. All 300+ entries will be available for tasting. Tickets are available at www.joyofsake.com and are $85 per person ($95 at the door).
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