Maui Public Art Corps Announces Pua Liʻiliʻi (small flowers): A suite of short solo dance performances inspired by Hui Mo’olelo Lei Pua ‘Ala

Maui Public Art Corps, in partnership with Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House/Maui Historical Society, the County of Maui, and the Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi project of the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities, is proud to announce the upcoming premiere of a powerful new pop-up performance by acclaimed Native Hawaiian choreographer Christopher Kaui Morgan.

Set to premiere in Wailuku on June 14 and 19, 2025, Christopher’s work is inspired by moʻolelo of Hōkū Pavao, Francis Taua, Sean-Joseph Takeo Kahāokalani Choo, and William Haʻo; each shared through the Hui Mo‘olelo: Lei Pua ʻAla initiative. Blending hula, contemporary dance, and original music by TJ Keanu Tario, the performance is an intimate, site-responsive reflection on resilience, presence, and the nuances of being seen. A custom garment by renowned fiber artist Marques Hanalei Marzan features as a living metaphor of concealment and revelation.

“This work is about making space—for ourselves, for our stories, and for each other. These performances are love letters to the moʻolelo and the people who trusted me with them,” shares Christopher Kaui Morgan. “It invites us to see each other more clearly—and to honor the courage it takes to be visible."

The Hui Mo‘olelo: Lei Pua ʻAla cohort included 11 storytellers who completed immersive training in storytelling under the guidance of Sissy Lake-Farm, Executive Director of Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society and Kumu Hula, Hālau Makana Aloha O Ka Lauaʻe. Their recordings – each with a partner of their own choosing – are now publicly accessible at mauipublicart.org/hui-moolelo, archived at the Maui Historical Society, and housed at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center. These moʻolelo formed the foundation for a call for artist proposals, with Christopher selected by a community panel for his powerful concept and demonstrated commitment to community engagement.

“Many voices create a more honest and complex history,” shares Aiko Yamashiro, Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities. “The Hui Moʻolelo Lei Pua ʻAla project helps us honor important community stories that have not been shared, and invites our community to actively create a safer and more vibrant future for all of us.”

Following his selection, Christopher met with storytellers, consulted with partners and cultural experts, and worked closely with Maui Public Art Corps to conduct extensive site research. This process led to two organically chosen performance sites:

• June 14, 2025 (7 pm) – Market Street, Wailuku Town: Presented in partnership with Aloha Maui Pride, this performance reflects ongoing community collaboration.
  
• June 19, 2025 (5 pm) – at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Wailuku: Set against the backdrop of Eric Okdeh’s vibrant mural Ma kāhi o ka hana he ola malaila (where work is, there is life), the pairing of Christopher’s garment-centered dance with the kimono motif of the mural creates a poignant dialogue across mediums.
  

“Not being able to see oneself reflected in one’s own family or community or one’s cultural history means you can never see yourself as a person of any value. Therefore, your chances at life become very problematic. That is what we have seen over the years; people of differing gender and sexuality live on the margins and don’t have a chance of success in an educational or work environment, and in forming healthy relationships, etc. So I think this project is aimed at looking historically at what some of those challenges have been, but more importantly at what resilience has looked like. How do we lift up and make ourselves and these experiences across the various cultures of Hawaii more visible?” – Joe Wilson, co-director of the Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawai‘i Project

Join us in the process. Talk story. Walk the land. Witness the performance. Let’s celebrate the vibrant stories that make our community whole.

Free Community Events:

• Wailuku Mural Tour & Talk Story | June 13, 2025
  
• Talk Story on the Land with the HILT's Scott Fisher | June 16, 2025, Waiheʻe Coastal Lands and Wetlands Refuge
  
• Pop-Up Performances | June 14 & June 19, 2025, Wailuku
  
• All events are free and open to the public. The community is warmly invited to witness these moving celebrations of identity, story, and place.
  

Event details and RSVP information available at: www.mauipublicart.org/seen

About Hui Mo‘olelo
A partnership amongst Maui Public Art Corps, the County of Maui and the Maui Historical Society, the Hui Mo‘olelo program cultivates community stories that highlight Maui County history, culture, and sense of place. Stories are shared through public artworks, workshops, online archives, and institutions including the Maui Historical Society and the Library of Congress. Each story captures intergenerational connections and authentic moments of insight, helping ensure cultural heritage is preserved and passed down.