In the spirit of honoring Hawaiʻi's rich musical heritage, the Hawaiʻi State Archives and the University of Hawaiʻi Better Tomorrow Speaker Series have teamed up to present a free concert that promises to be both educational and entertaining. The event, slated for January 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Mae Zenke Orvis Auditorium, will feature Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning group Walea along with guest artists including Kuʻuipo Kumukahi, Alan Akaka, Bobby Ingano, ʻĀlewa, and Isaac Woodward. According to the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) release, they'll pay tribute to Queen Lydia Liliʻuokalani and Na Lani ʻEhā through their performances.
The concert, intriguingly titled "E Onipaʻa I Ka ʻImi Naʻauao" (Be Steadfast in the Seeking of Knowledge), marks the first musical integration into the Speaker Series. Among the notable aspects of the evening, Walea will perform on three kingdom-era instruments owned by the State Archives: an upright bass from the time of King Kamehameha III, an ʻukulele hand-crafted in the 1890s under King David Kalākaua’s reign by renowned luthier Manuel Nunes, and a Martin guitar from the era of Queen Liliuʻokalani, with an estimated value exceeding $50,000. "We hope to transport the audience to the monarchy-era. All the performers are Hawaiian, using instruments constructed during that time, playing music composed during that time," Hawaiʻi State Archives Administrator Adam Jansen told the official event announcement.
During the concert, attendees will also be treated to educational interludes as Jansen and Oʻahu luthier historian Kilin Reece share insights into the music, instruments, and the political context of the times. It's a rare opportunity to delve into the audible and tactile remnants of Hawaiian history, surrounded by the personal artifacts of Queen Liliʻuokalani herself, including letters and original handwritten music. In a nod to inclusivity and accessibility, the sold-out event will also be livestreamed on Facebook for those unable to secure a reservation for the 400-seat auditorium. Whether in-person or online, participants will be given a chance to view artifacts and instruments after the performances, inviting a deeper connection to the island's royal past.
The collaboration marks an innovative approach to engaging with Hawaiʻi's history by intertwining the educational mandate of the Hawaiʻi State Archives with the melodic storytelling of traditional Hawaiian music. For the fortunate attendees who snagged reservations, parking is complimentary in the Lower Campus Parking Structure nearby. For all others, the invitation to tune in from afar is open, with streaming details available on the Hawaiʻi State Archives Facebook page.
