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ʻŌlino Summer Program Engages Youth in the Performing Arts

In mid-June, Liliʻuokalani Trust hosted the ʻŌlino Summer Program, an exciting opportunity for youth ages 11-17 to explore pathways in visual and performing arts, sports, and creative media. It was held over three weeks in the Salvation Army Kroc Center in ʻEwa Beach, Oʻahu.

The Performing Arts pathway centered on the art of Hana Keaka (Hawaiian theater). Through moʻolelo (storytelling), mele (music), oli (chants), and dance, the youth deepened their connection to Hawaiian culture and values.

Beyond artistic expression, the program strengthened pilina (relationships) among peers and their kumu (teachers), creating a safe space for personal growth.

“There was a lot of joyful laughter in our learning spaces,” says Kaʻohinani Daniels, ʻŌlino Pathways Program Coordinator for the Trust, “especially during the creative process when kamaliʻi played together during acting games and improvisation activities to build their performance piece.”

While the atmosphere was playful, the activities instilled valuable lessons: Resilience (by overcoming performance anxiety), focus (memorizing lines, choreography, and cues), self-confidence (performing for an audience), and teamwork (supporting one another as members of an ensemble).

Daniels organized and led the three-week performing arts program and collaborated with partners of the Trust — Joshua “Baba” Tavares and Keoni Kailimai.

Both are respected Kanaka Maoli professionals specializing in acting, directing, and performing arts. They led the youth through workshops and writing sessions and encouraged them to embrace these Hawaiian values:

• Aloha (compassion, empathy, kindness)
• ʻImi Naʻauao (seeking knowledge)
• Kuleana, (responsible, accountable)
• Poʻokela (excellence)
• Pono (right time, place, people, tools)
• Wiwoʻole (courageous, brave, fearless)

The Kroc Center served as the primary learning space. However, one day the group participated in a huakaʻi (excursion) to Nā Mea Kūpono, which is an ʻāina (land) program in Waialua.

There, they took part in hehihehi (stamp, tread) in the loʻi, and learned moʻolelo (stories) and other ʻike kupuna (ancestral knowledge) of this wahi pana (legendary place). The lessons were inspired by Aunty Kuʻuipo and Uncle Steven, stewards of the ʻāina and leaders of the Nā Mea Kūpono program.

Nā Mea Kūpono was a first-time venture in the ʻāina for some of the youth. “My confidence really skyrocketed with this program,” one participant reflects on her experiences. 

At the end of the three weeks, the youth participants and their kumu (teachers) celebrated their learning with a Hōʻike (performance), featuring original work titled, EŌ. (The literal translation of the word eō, "yes, I am here,” is also used to call, or beckon others.)

EŌ was an oli and mele composed by “Baba” Tavares who also scripted, directed, and choreographed the piece. Inspiration for the title came after he repeatedly heard the youth say "eō!" whenever Aunty Kuʻuipo called out to them at the Nā Mea Kūpono excursion.

Additionally, the youth also performed a heartfelt mele to honor aliʻi, kūpuna, and Queen Liliʻuokalani, followed by a moʻolelo and a hula ʻauana set to the enchanting mele Pūpū Aʻo ʻEwa.

Many found deep significance in the performance piece as it also paid tribute to the moku of ʻEwa. It is where both the Kroc Center and the ʻŌlino Summer Program are located — and where the youth created happy memories over the summer.

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