30th Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 21

Moanalua Gardens

Presented by the Moanalua Gardens Foundation

The annual Prince Lot Hula Festival will turn 30 this year, and Moanalua Gardens Foundation has a line-up of special festivities to celebrate the event taking place on July 21.

"Our theme, ' 'Olelo mai na kupuna mai...the legacy lives on'," represents the evolution of the festival over the past three decades, as it has grown into the state's largest non-competitive hula festival," said Moanalua Gardens Foundation president Alika Jamile, in a statement.

The grassroots event will feature halau from the Leeward area, from which Prince Lot once invited his dancers from, as well as halau from other parts of O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands.

"This year marks a very special occasion for Moanalua Gardens Foundation and for the community who have helped us make the event what it is today," stated executive director Mahealani Merryman. "We are excited about bringing back some of the halau who participated in the early days of the festival. When we looked back over the past 30 years, we discovered some incredible dances and chants that were rarely performed in public. We will be reprising some of them."

The event celebrates hula kahiko, ancient hula and chant. A'uana (contemporary) hula performances will also be featured.

Anniversary activities include cultural workshops, July 16 through July 18. Conducted by respected Hawaiian artists, kupuna and crafters, these workshops will include kapa, Hawaiian dyes, lei hulu (featherwork), lei-making, Hawaiian saddle making as well as a special workshop on the geneologies of Moanalua by Analu Josephides. Moanalua Gardens Foundation staff will lead an educational walk through Moanalua Gardens, pointing out the park's exceptional trees, cultural sites and historic buildings.

Workshops are free, however, there is a nominal fee for the lei hulu session to pay for supplies. Pre-registration is required for the geneology and lei hulu workshops; all others are open to the public.On the day of the festival, there will be demonstrations of Hawaiian arts and crafts and the Queen Emma Hawaiian Civic Club will teach ancient Hawaiian games.

There is no cost to attend the festival, however, a $5 button donation to MGF is requested to help defray festival costs.

Festival sponsors and supporters include the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawai'i State Legislature and National Endowment for the Arts. A new supporter this year is Kaimana Ventures, Ltd. whose president, John Philip Damon, owner of Moanalua Gardens, has provided the use of the gardens for the festival.

A non-profit organization founded in 1970, Moanalua Gardens Foundation is committed to preserving and perpetuating the native culture, environment, and people of Hawai'i through education. Named in memory of Prince Lot Kapu'iwa, who reigned as Kamehameha V, the festival was founded in 1978 and now attracts up to 8,000 residents and visitors each year.

For more information and a complete schedule of performances, go to www.mgf-hawaii.org.

For vendor and registration information, call 839-5334.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Monday, July 16, 2007

i Geneologies of Moanalua, Analu Josephides: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Chinese Hall. Limit: 16. Registration required.

i The Art of the Hawaiian Saddle, David Fuertes: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Kamehameha V Cottage Lawn. Open to public.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

i The Art of Kapa, Kawai Aona-Ueoka: 9-11:30 a.m., Kamehameha V Cottage Lawn. Open to public.

i The Art of Hawaiian Dyes, Lani Yamasaki: 12:30-3 p.m., Kamehameha V Cottage Lawn. Open to public.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

i The Art of Featherwork (Lei Hulu), Aunty Mary Lou Kekuewa and Aunty Paulette Kahalepuna: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Chinese Hall. Limit: 16; $25 fee for supplies. Registration required.

i The Art of Lei Making, Marie McDonald: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Kamehameha V Cottage Lawn. Open to the public.