{"id":198107,"date":"2024-05-21T15:40:31","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T01:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=198107"},"modified":"2024-05-21T15:41:34","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T01:41:34","slug":"confest-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/05\/21\/confest-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"ConFest 2024: K\u0101naka Maoli, Asian American theatre take spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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UH<\/abbr> Mānoa hana keaka (play), Glitter in the Paʻakai, will be among the productions performed. (Photo Credit: Hezekiah Kapuaʻala<\/span>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This spring, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa Hawaiian theatre program<\/a> is gearing up for an exhilarating showcase of cultural richness with ConFest 2024. From May 24 to 28, the campus will be alive with the vibrant performances and discussions of Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), Pacific Islander and Asian American theatrical artists.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s highly anticipated conference, Kuʻu<\/span> ʻĀina,<\/span> Kuʻu<\/span> Piko, Kuʻu<\/span> Kahua — Reconnecting, Recentering, Rebuilding<\/a> will call attention to issues impacting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. <\/p>\n

In collaboration with the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists<\/a> (CAATA<\/abbr>), ConFest 2024 promises five days of immersive experiences featuring a play festival, three full-length productions, one-on-one training sessions, keynote speeches, breakout discussion groups and more.<\/p>\n

\"Ikaika
Ikaika Mendez is one of more than a dozen UH<\/abbr> student actors who will be showcased at ConFest. (Photo Credit: Hezekiah Kapuaʻala<\/span>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“ Although the conference theme was selected in 2019, it resonates even stronger today,” said Tammy Hailiʻōpua<\/span> Baker, director and founder of the UH<\/abbr> Mānoa Hawaiian Theatre program. “Kuʻu<\/span> ʻĀina,<\/span> K\u200buʻu<\/span> Piko, Kuʻu<\/span> Kahua grounds\u200b us in our practices and artistry. Here in Â鶹´«Ã½,<\/span> as it is for many Indigenous peoples, the ʻāina<\/span> or land is \u200bour foundation, it is our ancestor. This gathering is a time for us to reflect on the foundations on which we stand and the ancestors that inspire our creative endeavors. It is also a time to reconnect, recenter and rebuild for a thriving tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

In 2020, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa was scheduled to host the 7th annual ConFest, however the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to postpone.<\/p>\n

ConFest 2024 themes<\/h2>\n