In celebration of 100 years of Summer Sessions at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, the , an initiative of UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Community Programs, presents (“To Be As One Lei Adorned”), a special restaging of this year’s Merrie Monarch Hōʻike by the EO LEI ʻILIAHI Foundation. The performance will take place on Friday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. at John F. Kennedy Theatre.
“He Lei Hoʻokahi” serves as a stirring tribute to the late Kumu Hula Darrell Lupenui and celebrates a significant milestone—50 years of kāne hula at Merrie Monarch. The evening invites the community to experience the strength and artistry of kāne hula and the richness of moʻolelo (stories) that define Hawaiian cultural practice.
A legacy of culture and education
This concert represents more than a performance. It honors the enduring legacy carried forward by kumu, dancers and h¨¡lau, while celebrating a century of educational excellence at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹. UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ embraces its kuleana—its responsibility and duty—to honor the host culture by serving as a vital space where Hawaiian cultural knowledge and practices are showcased, uplifted and perpetuated.
Through Outreach College¡¯s Community Programs, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ welcomes the broader community onto campus and extends its educational mission beyond traditional academic settings. Within this distinctive role, programs such as the Asia Pacific Dance Festival create spaces where cultural knowledge, artistic practice and community engagement come together in meaningful ways.
The event marks a significant convergence of institutional and cultural milestones, recognizing UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹’s commitment as a place of Hawaiian learning and its unique role in preserving and celebrating Hawaiian cultural heritage through extended education, community partnerships and outreach initiatives.
For more information and to view performance details, visit: .