june 16-18th
sheraton waikīkī
Kāhuli Leo Leʻa welcomes you to its inaugural Mele Conference – a gathering for mele Hawaiʻi and the community who stewards this celebrated cultural practice.
Download the full conference program here:
The Mele Hula Festival is a new take on the hula competition, where hālau are not only adjudicated on their hula – musicians and composers are also judged on their mele. Award-winning hālau and musicians will compete with 10 original compositions, each composed by a hālau representative. Emphasizing the intrinsic relationship between mele and hula, the Mele Hula Festival continues to promote the importance of cultural practice – especially, the dedication of cultural practitioners of mele and hula.
In its inaugural year, the Festival will feature five hālau and their musicians in competition, including:
In its inaugural year, the Festival will feature five hālau and their musicians in competition, including:
- Hālau i ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker and Michael Lanakila Casupang
- Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima, Kumu Hula Māpuana de Silva
- Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka o Uka, Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva
- Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona
- Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai o Haʻehaʻe, Nā Kumu Hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes
NOTICE OF FILMING
The area within and surrounding the Mele Conference and Mele Hula Festival are being used in the recording of video and photographs. Through your presence in these areas, you acknowledge that you have been informed that you may be recorded for use in any and all media products including, but not limited to, broadcast television, online content, social media, advertising, or publicity in perpetuity.
Further, by your presence in these areas, you grant your permission for your likeness and voice to be included therein without compensation, credit, or other consideration. If you do not wish to be photographed, recorded, or otherwise appear under these conditions, please speak to a staff member.
The area within and surrounding the Mele Conference and Mele Hula Festival are being used in the recording of video and photographs. Through your presence in these areas, you acknowledge that you have been informed that you may be recorded for use in any and all media products including, but not limited to, broadcast television, online content, social media, advertising, or publicity in perpetuity.
Further, by your presence in these areas, you grant your permission for your likeness and voice to be included therein without compensation, credit, or other consideration. If you do not wish to be photographed, recorded, or otherwise appear under these conditions, please speak to a staff member.