August 2006

Celebrates 20 years of Hula

Press Release July 26, 2006

KAUA`I MOKIHANA FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 2006 CONTEMPORARY HAWAIIAN CULTURAL EVENTS

2006 THEME: Year of Kaua`i Sacred Sites

September 17-23, 2006, Island Wide --Varied Admission & Free Events
Festival Contact: Nathan Kalama; PH: (808)- 822-2166 email: KMFKauai@hawaii.rr.com
Media Contact: Carol Bain, bain@kauai.net Promotional Photos available

Kaua`i Mokihana Festival Celebrates 20 Years of Hula
Many Hula Halau Confirmed for 2006

Halau from Japan, Oahu and Kaua`i have confirmed to participate in the 20th anniversary Kauai Mokihana Festival's three-day hula event. “A key to any successful event is consistency, both in quality and reliability,” said Nathan Kalama, founder of the Kaua`i Mokihana Festival. Focusing on contemporary Hawaiian culture, this year's festival features the following halau:

Other halau are just now getting their paperwork and time commitments submitted, so there may be more confirmed before the week-long September 17-23 festival. These hula performers will compete September 21 through 23, at the Grant Hyatt Kaua`i Resort & Spa ballroom.

In 1986, the hula competition was only kane, male, dancers. There was no sole male hula event in the state, so the festival developed this unique event. After several years, the public demand to see wahine, women, hula was strong, so the festival adapted. “Events should be allowed to grow and change. If something does not work, change `em,” Kalama said.

This year's theme, Kaua`i Sacred Sites, also features three workshops focusing on the ancient processes that shaped Kauai's sacred hula traditions, and other places historically important to the Hawaiian culture. These occur September 20 and 21, and reservations are recommended.

There is still time to get your application in for Kaua`i Composer's Contest or for the hula competition. To find out more about the Kaua`i Mokihana Festival, email KMFKauai@hawaii.rr.com or visit http://mokihana.kauai.net

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