The Hawai‘i Arts Festival in Paris is planning its second edition from June 27 to July 6, 2014. The program will be even more ambitious and comprehensive than the first edition, held in 2012. 'The Hawai‘i Arts Festival' exemplifies the work of the 'France-Hawai‘i Association', a non-profit organization, working to safeguard and transmit the artistic and cultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands. Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in France and backed by the 'UNESCO label for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity', 'The Hawai‘i Arts Festival' offers a unique opportunity to discover Hawaiian arts and culture in Europe, brought together in prestigious and exceptional venues such as the 'Musée du Quai Branly', the 'Maison des Cultures du Monde' and the 'Petit Bain' barge on the Seine river. Participate by supporting this music-filled event of new and unfamiliar flavors, it will enliven your entire summer!

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The program

The Hawai‘i Arts Festival’s ambition is to showcase Hawaiian culture in all its forms: dance, music, arts, crafts, sports, and more. This intermingling of disciplines will be the highlight of the 2014 edition of the festival. Over twenty performers will participate: artists, dancers, musicians, chefs and craftspeople. A brief summary of the skills represented:

- Music: Two Hawaiian celebrities will participate in the second edition of the festival: TAIMANE an internationally renowned ‘Ukulele virtuoso and MAKANA an emblematic singer and slack key guitarist of the Hawaiian cultural renaissance.

Taimane

-Traditional dances (Hula): Various performances by Hawaiian dance schools: Kilohana Silve’s Haula Hula O Manoa and Halau Mele of Honolulu, Hawai'i will immerse the spectator in the fascinating world of Hula, the dance of the gods.

Ipu

- Contemporary dance: Ouli, (meaning: nature in Hawaiian) is a contemporary dance performance for younger audiences choreographed and performed by Anne-Laure Rouxel and Joël Jouanneau (compagnie du Cingle plongeur) illustrating a new contemporary reading of this choreographic heritage.

Ouli

-Storytelling: The storyteller Kilohana Silve will conduct several all-day sessions for children and adults with a selection of traditional Hawaiian stories.

Silve

- Gastronomy: Chef Eric D. Leters, a leading figure of Pacific Rim Cuisine, will travel especially from Hawai‘i to compose a menu with flavors chosen from the rich cultural mix of the islands.

Pacific_rim

-Arts and crafts: Introductory workshops in 'lei' making, Hawai'i's famous traditional flower garland necklaces and leafy crowns, will be offered during the festival.

Lei

-Sports: An initiation to Stand-Up Paddle, a sport derived from Surfing and practiced standing-up with a paddle, will be offered by the association le Grand Huit on the Seine river.

Standup

Well-being: A conference and discussion at the 'Maison des Cultures du Monde' will focus on 'Ho‘oponopono' as well as 'Lomilomi', ancestral Hawaiian techniques of well-being and relaxation in their Hawaiian interpretation, which is sometimes in contrast with the Western view of these techniques. Workshops in the Hawaiian massage 'Lomilomi Pa‘ola' that associates spirituality and physical contact will be proposed by Lomilomi practitioner Chris Kawika Brown.

Massage

Venues:

We will be proposing new events as well as new venues this year, the festival will take place in major Parisian cultural centers that focus on world culture such as:

- Le Musée du Quai Branly: Located along the Seine river, the 'musée des arts premier' is located in a verdant setting infused with cultural history. In conjunction with the Tiki Pop Exhibition on Polynesian Arts, it will host various events of 'The Hawai‘i Arts Festival', including concerts and presentations of traditional dance as well as storytelling.

- La Maison des Cultures du Monde: The Mecca for dialogue among cultures, the 'Maison des Cultures du Monde' and its stage will be the venue for artistic events of the Festival and a conference on the Art of Hula.

- La péniche du Petit Bain: Always ready to set sail for unknown cultures, the 'Petit Bain' barge is anchored at Quai de la Gare, it will be the scene for a performance by Taimane, the ‘Ukulele virtuoso.

- La Hall Pajol: A former industrial wasteland in the 18th district, now a youth hostel and performance space, the Hall Pajol will be the venue for a conference and discussion on 'Ho‘oponopono', the ancestral technique of Hawaiian well-being.

- The festival 'Squares en Fête' at the City Hall in the 18th district will be the venue for flower garland 'lei' making workshops and Hawaiian storytelling.

Festival des Arts d'Hawai'i