January 3, 2005
MEDIA CONTACT: Caroline Witherspoon
or Jocelyn Collado
Becker Communications
(808) 533-4165
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BISHOP MUSEUM’S KUPUNA SERIES FEATURES THE MAKAHIKI SEASON
HONOLULU – Bishop Museum’s Kupuna Series celebrates the season of the Makahiki with two lectures on some of the celebrated games and the history and significance behind this time of year. These Kupuna presentations are offered in conjunction with the Museum’s newest exhibit in the Vestibule Gallery, Lono-I-Ka-Makahiki, which runs through February 2005.
On Tuesday, January 11, 2005, Tom Pohaku Stone will share the traditional art of Hawaiian sled building and riding during his lecture, “Riding the Fires of Pele: The Lost Art of He‘e Holua.” Holua, or he‘e holua (meaning to slide together or as one entity), is the ancient art of surfing mountain slopes and lava fields on a papa holua (Hawaiian sled). A featured sport of the Makahiki, holua sledding also was a traditional form of ritualized athleticism unique to the Hawaiian Islands as a means to honor Pele, Hawaiian goddess of the volcano. The art was nearly lost until Stone, a native Hawaiian surfer and waterman, revived the ancient craft and built the first authentic sled in well over a century. Today, he is credited with single-handedly revitalizing the sport of he‘e holua.
On Friday, February 4, 2005, Native Hawaiian educator and philosopher Manulani Aluli Meyer will present “The Makahiki: Hawaiian Philosophy in the Natural World.” A featured cultural practitioner in “Lono-I-Ka-Makahiki” for her maika and popopohaku (game stones), Meyer will discuss the importance of the Makahiki season. “Excellence in movement and mindfulness was an internal affair that was made public during this season … The Makahiki deepened this ideal of excellence in a ritualized and culturally uplifting arena,” said Meyer.
The January 11th presentation with Tom Pohaku Stone will take place in Atherton Halau from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, while the February 4th presentation with Manulani Aluli Meyer will be in Pākī Conference Room II from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The cost of both Kupuna Series presentations for the general public to attend is $5.00, and Bishop Museum members are free. This project is funded under the Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program.
A treasured resource of Hawaiian history and heritage, Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop as a tribute to his wife Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha dynasty. Located at 1525 Bernice Street, the Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14.95 for adults; $11.95 for youth 4-12 years; special rates for kama‘aina, seniors and military; children under 4 years and Bishop Museum Association members are free. For information, call 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.