Moanalua Gardens Foundation

Moanalua Gardens Foundation’s

Virtual 44^th Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival Will Premiere

Thursday, October 28 from 7 to 9 pm on KHON2

Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Moanalua Gardens Foundation (MGF) is proud to announce the premiere of the virtual 44^th Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival on Thursday, October 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. on KHON2.  The two-hour program, presented in part by Kamehameha Schools and Central Pacific Bank, will also be live streamed on https://www.khon2.com/prince-lot-hula-festival/ and KHON’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/KHONNewsHawaii. It will be rebroadcast on Sunday, October 31 from 8 to 10 p.m. on KHII; on Thursday, November 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. on KHON2; and Sunday, November 7 from 5 to 7 pm on CW.

     This year’s virtual festival, produced by Moanalua Gardens Foundation, was filmed at historic Hānaiakamalama (Queen Emma Summer Palace) and features nine hālau hula in an inspiring program of hula with messages of aloha from each kumu.  Highlights will include a solo performance of Ku’u Pua I Paoakalani by Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine with Robert Uluwehi Cazimero providing musical accompaniment for Kumu Takamine and Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang’s Hālau Hula Ka Noe’au.  Founded in 1978, the festival honors Prince Lot Kapuāiwa, who helped reprise hula in Moanalua and reigned as Kamehameha V from 1863 to 1872.

     “While we cannot safely gather together in person during the pandemic, we wanted to bring our program of hula with aloha to the families and kūpuna here in Hawai’i and beyond our shores so they can watch it in the security of their homes,” said Alika Jamile, Executive Director and President of Moanalua Gardens Foundation.

     The program will showcase a mixture of both kahiko and ‘auana dances with hālau performing at various locations at the Queen Emma Summer Palace in compliance with State and County COVID-19 guidelines.

     “At Kamehameha Schools, we believe in the importance of celebrating our culture to inspire our keiki, help them learn from the wisdom passed down through generations and strengthen the foundation of their identity as Native Hawaiians,” said Lauren Nahme, Kamehameha Schools Vice President of Strategy and Transformation.

      “Throughout the pandemic, Central Pacific Bank has been proud to help events like the Prince Lot Hula Festival adopt digital technology to showcase hula to the world. Our sponsorship, in partnership with Kamehameha Schools, will help Moanalua Gardens Foundation evolve in a digital-first world and reach new audiences,” explained Brandt Farias, Central Pacific Bank Senior Vice President of Marketing.

     Veteran producer and senior media producer of the Merrie Monarch Festival for 27 years, David Kalama of Kalama Productions is producing the show presented by Moanalua Gardens Foundation.

     The show will feature special performances by MGF’s Malia Kau Award recipient Kumu Hula Lilinoe Lindsey and Ka Pā Nani ‘O Lilinoe and Namakahelu Oli Award recipient Master Chanter Manu Boyd.

     The virtual festival will premiere on Moanalua Gardens Foundation’s Facebook site on Monday, November 15 and on their YouTube channel with additional vignettes on Saturday, December 11.  Links are shown below.

     “We are deeply grateful to our loyal sponsors who are helping to make this broadcast possible,” said Jamile.  They include Presenting Sponsors Kamehameha Schools and Central Pacific Bank, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Hawai’i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, The Queen’s Health Systems, Hawaiian Airlines, PA’I Foundation, Matson Navigation, Alexander and Baldwin, Hawaiian Electric, and PASHA Hawaii.