KAHOʻOLAWE

Currently, our work with Kahoʻolawe is divided into the following projects: 

ANIMATED STORY: Waves

​Michael K. Nāhoʻopiʻi has been involved with Kahoʻolawe from virtually every perspective in its recent history, from Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana member and former US Navy Officer-in-Charge of Kahoʻolawe during the conveyance of the island to the State of Hawaiʻi, to senior manager during the early Model Cleanup and - now - Executive Director of the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC). 

In June 2022, former KIRC staffer Kelly McHugh-White sat with Michael for an audio recorded talk-story rooted in a Kahoʻolawe sense of place. A segment of their conversation was interpreted by artist Taisiya Zaretskay as this animated short, which premiered at the historic ʻĪao Theater in December 2022 and exhibited at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College Pā‘ina Market from January - March 2023. 

POP-UP MUSICAL PERFORMANCES: Coming Soon!

Coming in May 2023, singer, songwriter, author and poet Tanama Colibri will perform a 30-minute public pop-up performance featuring original songs inspired by Kahoʻolawe. Following a 4-day trip to the island, which is only accessible through volunteer work accesses with either the ​Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission or the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana, Tanama will work closely with community members with special ties to this place to create music that celebrates its unique character and stories. A one-time-only/ pop-up performance will be scheduled in Wailuku Town as part of the SMALL TOWN * BIG ART initiative, which will additionally feature original music celebrating its distinctive sense of place, history and culture. Join our eNewsletter list for developing details. 
In June 2023, Nā Hōkū Hanohano finalist Anthony Pfluke will share music composed through his Kahoʻolawe volunteer access during a pop-up performance in Wailuku Town, free and open to the public. Through his experiences on Kahoʻolawe, community consultations and other opportunities to engage with the artist, Anthony will present a 30-minute set that reflects the stories and history of these special Maui places.  

"If I’m granted the opportunity to create a mele for Kahoʻolawe and Wailuku, I’m excited to discuss and receive mana‘o and ‘ike from nā kūpuna of these places, in order to properly weave together the mele. I intend to write most of the songs in ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i, if not all, but through the process of talking with kūpuna and all involved in the project, the identity of the songs will be found."