| Halau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai travels to North Carolina to appear in FESTIVAL OF NATIVE PEOPLES July 17 - 19, 2008 |
For the first time ever, Hawai`i has been invited to showcase its classical dances,
chants and cultural traditions at the Festival of Native Peoples in North Carolina this
summer. Hosted by the Eastern Band of Cherokee, the 3-day festival features casts of
native performers from throughout the Americas in an exposition of non-competitive
dance, storytelling and song performers expressing the collected history, culture,
tradition and wisdom of indigenous peoples.
Organizers were not just interested in any dance group from Hawai`i. Specifically,
they were seeking a performing group that was continuing the practices of ancient
hula and drum dances that were once the mainstay of Hawai`i's archaic temples.
Their inquiries eventually led them to Këhaulani Kekua -- a native Hawaiian kumu
hula and cultural expert born and raised in Kaua`i hula traditions.
Kumu Hula, Këhaulani Kekua has assembled a performing company of chanters and
dancers from Hälau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai -- the traditional hula school founded on
Kaua`i in 1945 by her grandmother, hula master. Helen Kaipuwai Kekua Waiau.
They will be appearing on the main stage for three evening performances at the
Festival of Native Peoples. In addition, members are looking forward to cultural
exchange opportunities with other attending native peoples, taking in the historic and
cultural sites of Cherokee country, learning of other indigenous customs and practices
and more!
This year, native Hawaiians, Sioux, Cherokee, Hopi, Apache and Aztec indigenous
performing groups have been invited.
chants and cultural traditions at the Festival of Native Peoples in North Carolina this
summer. Hosted by the Eastern Band of Cherokee, the 3-day festival features casts of
native performers from throughout the Americas in an exposition of non-competitive
dance, storytelling and song performers expressing the collected history, culture,
tradition and wisdom of indigenous peoples.
Organizers were not just interested in any dance group from Hawai`i. Specifically,
they were seeking a performing group that was continuing the practices of ancient
hula and drum dances that were once the mainstay of Hawai`i's archaic temples.
Their inquiries eventually led them to Këhaulani Kekua -- a native Hawaiian kumu
hula and cultural expert born and raised in Kaua`i hula traditions.
Kumu Hula, Këhaulani Kekua has assembled a performing company of chanters and
dancers from Hälau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai -- the traditional hula school founded on
Kaua`i in 1945 by her grandmother, hula master. Helen Kaipuwai Kekua Waiau.
They will be appearing on the main stage for three evening performances at the
Festival of Native Peoples. In addition, members are looking forward to cultural
exchange opportunities with other attending native peoples, taking in the historic and
cultural sites of Cherokee country, learning of other indigenous customs and practices
and more!
This year, native Hawaiians, Sioux, Cherokee, Hopi, Apache and Aztec indigenous
performing groups have been invited.
The Juegos de Voladores have been “flying” for more than 2,000 years and have
been a steadfast part of the cultural and spiritual landscape of Central Mexico
since the time of the Aztec and Mayan Empires. The origin of the Voladores comes
from the Gulf Coast of Mexico, where it is said that warriors killed in battle or
sacrifice go after their death. As a sacred rite to the Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl, the
flyers were originally adorned with great plumage from exotic birds representing
each of several deities to whom the voladores dedicate their art. In the ceremony,
the massive pole represents Tlazoleotl, the goddess of fertility. The flyers each
make 13 revolutions around Tlazoleotl, one revolution for each week in the Mayan
calendar of 52. As the sun set behind the hills to the west, the Tezcatlipoca
Voladores Flyers gathered around the 150-foot pole they would ascend.
The Aztec Pole Flyers will be one of the indigenous performing groups at this years
FESTIVAL OF NATIVE PEOPLES 2008.
been a steadfast part of the cultural and spiritual landscape of Central Mexico
since the time of the Aztec and Mayan Empires. The origin of the Voladores comes
from the Gulf Coast of Mexico, where it is said that warriors killed in battle or
sacrifice go after their death. As a sacred rite to the Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl, the
flyers were originally adorned with great plumage from exotic birds representing
each of several deities to whom the voladores dedicate their art. In the ceremony,
the massive pole represents Tlazoleotl, the goddess of fertility. The flyers each
make 13 revolutions around Tlazoleotl, one revolution for each week in the Mayan
calendar of 52. As the sun set behind the hills to the west, the Tezcatlipoca
Voladores Flyers gathered around the 150-foot pole they would ascend.
The Aztec Pole Flyers will be one of the indigenous performing groups at this years
FESTIVAL OF NATIVE PEOPLES 2008.
Call 346-7575 for further information or email to info@hawaiianeventplanners.com Festival of Native Peoples July 15 - July 20, 2008 Cherokee, North Carolina Featuring Indigenous Performing Groups including NATIVE HAWAIIANS SIOUX CHEROKEE HOPI AZTEC APACHE And so much more! 3 full days & evenings of native culture! |
Hawaiian Event Planners & Design 808-346-7575 info@hawaiianeventplanners.com www.hawaiianeventplanners.com |