To encourage a deeper connection with the ocean and foster ocean stewardship across generations in Â鶹´«Ã½, the (Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant) and UH Mānoa , in collaboration with the Â鶹´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra (HSO), presented Symphony of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Seas at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall on October 23. The free concert captivated audiences by weaving together moʻolelo (storytelling), mele (music), hula and animations.
The performance featured HSO performing ocean-themed original compositions by celebrated local composers Michael-Thomas Foumai, Herb Mahelona, Takuma Itoh, Logyn Okuda and Justin Park. The music was paired with vibrant animations by Kari Noe, Janae Taclas, Dillon Valenzuela, Jewel Racasa, Sam St. John, Edward Ayano, Napua Rice, Huy Nguyen and Kieren McKee.
“We have the research at UH, and we have the finest musicians, world class orchestra, and when we combine those together, we have a powerful message to send to the world using music that goes straight to the heart,” said Foumai, the director of artistic engagement for HSO and also a lecturer at UH–West Oʻahu.
The program also included a mele composed by UH Professor Rosie Alegado and UH Indigenous Stewardship Specialist Aimee Sato accompanying a hula under the guidance of Kumu Hula, Kekuhi Kealiʻikanakaʻoleohaililani and Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College Professor of Hawaiian Studies Taupōuri Tangarō. Cultural narratives guided audiences through time alongside native sea life and ʻaumākua (family or personal gods), exploring the vital role humans play in protecting cherished waters.
School performances
Symphony of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Seas featured two morning performances for students in grades 4–12. These free school concerts were designed to support STEAM learning, cultural literacy and environmental awareness in classrooms.
“And so it’s exciting to bring all of this talent together to provide an opportunity for our 4th and 12th grade students to be in a symphony, to be in a concert hall, and to get to see all of it in such an immersive experience,” said Beth Lenz, PhD, Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant assistant director for strategic communications and engagement.
“It was my first time going to one of those kinds of events,” said Brad Park, Papahana O Kaiona Alternative Learning Program sophomore. “It was very peaceful, I had a peaceful feeling listening to the orchestra. And I liked how it kind of matched the vibe of the video, that’s what I liked.”
Continuing the education through music
This performance continued the successes of the Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds and Symphony of Â鶹´«Ã½ Forests. The Symphony of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Seas represented a new chapter in creative collaboration, bringing together UH, local experts and organizations, as well as federal, state, and county agencies to weave culture, science, and the arts into an inspiring shared experience.
“They’re not pre-written works written by someone from outside of Â鶹´«Ã½,” said Takuma Itoh, DMA, composer and professor of music at UH Mānoa Department of Music. “They’re all created here locally, just like the animation, just like the hula, just like everything in this project.”
The program was a collaborative effort supported by Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant and the UH Mānoa Strategic Investment Initiative, led by Lenz of Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant, with co-investigators Itoh, Kalilinoe Detwiler (UH Mānoa English Department), Anne Rosa (Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant), Melissa Price (Natural Resources and Environmental Management Department) and Kanesa Duncan Seraphin (Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant).