The Kamehameha Festival traditionally invites a number of recognized and respected cultural practitioners to the Festival. Invited practitioners share their mana‘o (thoughts and knowledge), skills, and crafts with Festival guests through hands on interactive presentations and demonstrations. Practitioners do not only perpetuate traditional cultural practices (behaviors) and create cultural material symbols, but also provide guest with the rare opportunity to interact with kupuna (wise and respected seniors of the Hawaiian community).
In years past invited practitionars have included presentations on: traditional Hawaiian canoe navigation, lua (Hawaiian martial arts), pahu (drum) carving, meakaua (Hawaiian warrior weapons), traditional weaving, ha’a koa (Hawaiian warrior dance), feather work, lomilomi (Hawaiian massage), and poi pounding to name a few.
If you would like to share and participate in the Festival as a cultural practitioner, please contact us.