The heart and soul of Hawaiian culture.They may be young, but they certainly know how to dance. And on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, you can experience the talent and grace of Maui’s keiki hula dancers at the 10th Annual Keiki Hula Festival at the Lahaina Cannery Mall.
Taking the stage in colorful lei, shells and grass skirts, these gifted young performers have delighted audiences for 10 years. There is so much to see and experience at this year’s festival, with live entertainment, musical performances and cultural activities, including several Hawaiian artisans and crafters demonstrating lei making, wood carving, weaving and other traditional skills. The free, two-day event will feature seven halau (dance troupes) from across the island presenting richly choreographed kahiko (ancient hula) and ‘auana (modern) hula that express the traditional values, rich culture and epic history of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands.
“We’re very excited about this year’s festival,” said festival organizers.
“It’s our 10th annual event, with more halau and crafters than ever before. We’ve hosted free weekly hula performances for years, but this special weekend really gives us an opportunity to showcase these talented halau and honor the host culture.”
Keiki Hula Festival dancers are typically five to 13-years-old, with several opio, or dancers who are older than 13. The young dancers are presented in groups, often divided into groups of all-girl or all-boy performers. During the event, the hula may be performed solo, or in small groups of two or three dancers. While these young performers dazzle audiences with their artful grace and talent, they are also representing the heart and soul of the Native Hawaiian culture. Through the hula, these tiny dancers learn about the historic and cultural significance of the Hawaiian tradition. In addition, the stunning costumes and floral lei worn by each of the dancers are also culturally significant.
Each of the seven halau will take the stage every other hour beginning at 11 a.m., with the final performance scheduled for 5 p.m. The festival will conclude with a free concert featuring the unforgettable sounds of Na Hoku Award-winning singer, slack-key and steel guitarist Owana Salazar, who will
take the stage on Sunday, July 27, at 5 p.m.
This unique event has delighted audiences for more than a decade with the soulful sounds of chanting and drumming accompanying the fluid movements of keiki dancers, as they share the history and culture of the Hawaiian Islands through the magical storytelling of hula.
The 10th Annual Keiki Hula Festival is a treasured island event that is guaranteed to make you smile.
The Lahaina Cannery Mall is located at 1221 Honoapi‘ilani Highway in Lahaina. Each week, the mall hosts hula performances on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 7 p.m., in addition to free keiki hula shows at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
For more information, call (808) 661-5304 or visit www.lahainacannery.com.