Hawai'iana LIVE!

“Hawai‘iana Live” is a 45 minute cultural tourism program hosted by Leilehua Yuen. It features live on stage presentations that share the history and traditions of the Hawaiian culture through storytelling, film, music, oli and hula. Topics and films change weekly as the program revolves around the Hawaiian lunar calendar, and surprise guests and musicians often appear. Also featured is Bob Alder at the newly restored Palace pipe organ.

March 4, Wednesday - Uncle Moses Kahumoku joins hostess Leilehua Yuen in a musical journey around the island of Hawai`i. A powerful improviser, gifted composer and interpreter, Moses "Moke" Kahumoku was born in Honolulu, on O`ahu, and was raised in Keaukaha on Hawai`i Isand. Moses began playing music around the age of five, and like most ki ho`alu (slack key) masters, he looked first to his family for his source.

March 11, Wednesday - Nā Leo Nahenahe Pohai ke Aloha. Stan Kaina and his lovely hula ladies join Leilehua, hostess of this weekly local's-eye-view of Hilo, on the Palace Theater stage. Learn about the ipu, the Hawaiian gourd, and how it came to Hawai`i, and about its many uses. Stan Kaina, a native of Maui, recognized his gift of leo ki'eki'e (falsetto) at an early age and debuted on stage at age l2. His singing style has been witnessed in collaborations with many musicians and kumu hula.

March 18, Wednesday - Manu Josiah joins his wife, Leilehua Yuen, onstage to tell about the unique birds of Hawai`i through chant, hula, and song, and the Hula Ki`i, a style of hula using puppets. Manu and Leilehua have performed together in Hawai`i and in Japan where they also taught hula ki`i.

March 25, Wednesday - Leina`ala Lassiter joins Leilehua Yuen onstage to tell stories of their beloved hometown, Hilo.