HR22

WHEREAS, the KALIHI PALAMA CULTURE AND ARTS SOCIETY (KPC&A) was first organized under the Model Cities Program and incorporated in 1972 for the purpose of providing education, training and services in the area of culture and the arts; and

WHEREAS, KPC&A sponsors two annual cultural events: The Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition and the Malia Craver Hula Kahiko Competition which recognizes and highlights our keiki in the cultural art of hula; and

WHEREAS, on September 11, 1976, the KPC&A organized a festival to honor Hawai’i’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliʻuokalani which was held at Aʻala Park and featured multi-ethnic dance performances, Hawaiian crafts, demonstrations, a pageant of Hawaiʻi’s mōʻī wāhine and the first keiki hula competition; and

WHEREAS, Kalihi-Pālama’s program coordinator, Kahu Wendell Silva, along with committee chairman and Kumu Hula legend, Uncle George Naʻope, envisioned a competition where children could share their achievements in hula while learning about Queen Lili’uokalani, her ‘ohana and Hawaiʻi’s historical past; and

WHEREAS, their mission was to create an organization to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture through dance and by doing so teach a new generation to carry on the traditions of hula into the future; and

WHEREAS, now entering its 45th year, the Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition has estimated that over the course of its illustrious history, over 20,000 keiki have participated in and benefited from the organization’s cultural events and programs; and

WHEREAS, in 1986, the KPC&A took over sponsorship and with Malia Craver and Earl Kawai, the Hawai'i Secondary Schools Hula Kahiko Competition was introduced; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the competition is to provide a venue for middle and high school students to learn about the Hawaiian Culture, receive hula training, share their skill and knowledge in ancient Hawaiian hula and compete among their peers; and

WHEREAS, following Malia Craver's retirement, the Hawai'i Secondary Schools Hula Kahiko Competition was renamed the Malia Craver Hula Kahiko Competition; and

WHEREAS, the KPC&A's support for our keiki and dedication to perpetuate the Hawaiian art of hula is still eminent as these two competitions still continue today; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that this body hereby honor and congratulates KALIHI PALAMA CULTURE AND ARTS SOCIETY and offers the warmest aloha and best wishes from the Hawai'i State Legislature Native Hawaiian Caucus.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

COMMENDING KALIHI PALAMA CULTURE AND ARTS SOCIETY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	22
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII