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SONS OF HALAWA SHOWING AT 21ST ANNUAL ASIAN AMERICAN SHOWCASE IN CHICAGO ON APRIL 9TH
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| | Pilipo Solatorio and Jason Iakona Poole |
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A wonderful way to feel the energy of Hawaii, strengthen the mind-body connection, gently tone your body and your core, and enjoy dancing to beautiful Hawaiian music. No experience necessary. Men, Women age 16 years and older welcome! Tuesdays 11 am - 12 noon Saturdays 8:30 - 9:30 am
Kahiko or classical hula is dance to Hawaiian chanting. It's a deeper dive into the stories of the dance, the translations and application to life. Prerequisite -
2 months Beginning Hula Classes or permission of Kumu.
Age 16 years and older
Men and Women welcome Wednesdays 8 - 9 pm
Dance to the melodic melodies of Hawaii.
Men, Women aged 16 years and older
2 months experience or
Wednesdays
7 - 8 pm
All classes are held at our
sister organization:
38 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL.
For more information call 708-297-6321
or email
Check our
for the current schedule of classes
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SAVE THE DATES!
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Yellow Lehua by Keoki Apokolani Carter
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Halau i Ka Pono Performance
on May 28 and 29, 2016
at
Madison Street Theatre
1010 Madison Street
Oak Park, IL
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Keiki (Children's) Hula Class CONTINUES APRIL & MAY
3:15 - 4:15 pm
8 Weeks Only
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Kumu June Kaililani Tanoue is happy to announce an 7-Week
Beginning Children's Hula Classto learn basics of hands and feet movements, stories and culture Ages 5 - 11 April 11, 18, 25May 2, 9, 16, 233:15 - 4:15 pm Zen Life & Meditation Center 38 Lake Street Oak Park, IL 60302 Cost: $15/class or $90 for 7 classes Contact Kumu June if interested
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MAHALO NUI LOA !!!
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| | Nara Plum Blossoms by Julie Kase |
Mahalo nui (thank you very much) for March Kokua (Generosity) to:
Lori Murphy, Nicole Sumida, Tasha Fouts, Sarah Evans, Czerina Salud, Yvette Wynn, Michael Cicchetti, Julie Kase, Aloha Eats, Matt Yamashita, Tim Hugh, Hoda Boyer, Jason Poole, Keoki Apokolani Carter.
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| | June Tanoue, Takeshi Hasegawa, Julie Kase, Hiroshima Peace Museum |
Going to Japan has been a deeply personal goal for a long time now. It's the land of my ancestors - Kumamoto on Kyushu is where my father's side of the family comes from and Hiroshima is the home of my mother's side. I finally got to realize my dream.
Upon arriving I felt at home in Japan because I look like 99% of the people there, but I only speak a few words of Japanese. Mostly I relied on the generosity of the Japanese people who spoke English. I loved their custom of bowing. I think that you have to be humble to bow with the right spirit. Bowing is good practice for building humility.
We traveled to seven cities and small towns in seven days. There was a lot to take in. Among my favorites: beautiful rice fields; Japanese Soto, Rinzai and Shingon temples; bamboo forests; o-musubi (rice balls) and tamago meshi (raw egg on hot rice); Torii Gates and Shinto shrines; stores dedicated to Japanese pickles; and even being packed like sardines in the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) during rush hour.
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| | Tori'i Gate, Miyajima Island |
The main reason I went to Japan was to reconnect with my relatives in Hiroshima. My parents had made the trek many years before and I relished the stories they told us about it. I wanted to meet my great-aunt, the youngest sister of my maternal grandfather. In the midst of preparing for my trip, I found out that she had died last summer aged 107. It was a big disappointment but I pressed on.
The best way to travel around Japan is via the Shinkansen - the Bullet train. The trains are fast averaging 150 - 200 mph! I could hardly believe that I had finally arrived in Hiroshima. I wondered what it would be like to walk in this city that had been utterly destroyed during World War II.
Hiroshima was the first city to be bombed with a nuclear weapon. On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 am, the nuclear bomb "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima by an American B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, directly killing 80,000 children, women and men. By the end of the year injury and radiation killed double that number. To add insult to injury news of the terrible consequences of the bomb was withheld from the Japanese public until 1951.
Even as I write this, tears are streaming from my eyes. I hadn't realized how intense it would be there, but at the same time I felt so lucky to bear witness to what had happened.
71 years later, Hiroshima is a very friendly town. There are volunteers at the train station who help you find where to go. There is a free Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus that takes you around the city from the train station. We hopped on that bus. Our first stop was at the Atomic Bomb Dome aka the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
This building used to be called the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall and was primarily used for arts and educational exhibition. This was the only structure left standing near the bomb's blast center. The site has since been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Because the bomb detonated above ground the buildings structure remained intact but everyone inside was killed instantly. The beautiful sunny and cool day seemed an odd juxtaposition to the the bleak skeleton of this surviving structure.
Next we walked through the peace park and saw multi-colored origami cranes standing silent in large glass boxes. There was a small rally for peace with youth carrying petitions for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons. I signed one.
And then we came upon the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. We asked for an English speaking guide and received a delightful elderly Japanese man, Takeshi Hasegawa. This museum with all of its horrors seemed to be Takeshi's home away from home. He'd introduce each section of the museum and leave us to walk slowly through the exhibits while he engaged with other visitors. He especially loved chatting with the children there with their parents. And the children loved him.
Here we were in the midst of scenes of devastation - where people's skin had melted off their bodies from bomb's heat - and there was Takeshi bubbling with aloha, helping the many visitors who walked silently through. His warmth and compassion in the midst of this grief and horror brought me some relief. I'm thankful for that.
To be continued. Malama pono (take care of your body, mind and heart),
June Kaililani Tanoue
Kumu Hula and Sensei
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| | Film maker Matt Yamashita |
Matt Yamashita was born and raised on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. He is of Japanese, Filipino, and Caucasian ancestry. Both his paternal grandparents (Japanese/Filipino) were born in Hawaii in the early 1900's.
His interest in filmmaking began in High School and was born out of a fascination with hearing stories told by his grandparents and other kupuna (elders).
After receiving a BFA in Film Production from Chapman University, Matt returned to Molokai to become the island's first professional filmmaker. He has been working in the Hawaii film industry since 2001. Matt has unique expertise working within Hawaii-based communities, cultures, and environments and has dedicated the focus of his work to telling Hawaii's stories through a local lens. He has held key roles in productions that have received statewide and national broadcast. He is well-known for his ability to deliver quality products while working with very limited resources and small production teams.
Halau i Ka Pono is very excited about the upcoming showing of Matt's Sons of Halawa at the Gene Siskel Film Center on Saturday, April 10th at 7:30 pm. I asked him to tell us about the process of making the film documentary Sons of Halawa.
Matt Yamashita: This documentary is very close to my heart. I've known Pilipo Solatorio most of my life. I grew up with his son, Greg. When I moved home after attending film school, Pilipo took me in and taught me Hawaiian language, hula, and history... things that I did not fully embrace while growing up on Molokai. This learning brought a profound sense of connection and meaning into my life.
I've wanted to tell Pilipo's story for many years. One day in 2012, I knew it was time. Pilipo had moved back to Halawa Valley and amazing things were happening in his life. A powerful story was unfolding. The content and threads of "Sons of Halawa" came together organically. There was very little concerted story development involved during production. It was as if the kupuna kahiko, the ancient ancestors of Halawa, were guiding the way forward.
"Sons of Halawa" is meant to be a gift to Pilipo, his ancestors, and his future generations. It has also been a gift for me. As a filmmaker, it has allowed me to expand my understanding of capturing human spirit within my storytelling. It has also given me precious opportunity to reciprocate aloha to a person and a place that has given much. I hope that the documentary will also be a gift to those who watch it, that it will move people to re-evaluate their own lives and inspire them to connect or re-connect with the places, people, and traditions that are important to them.
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About Us|
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Successful Halau Fundraiser with Hawaiians Kumu Michael Pili Pang, Keikilani Curnan, Davin, Al, Ryan
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Halau i Ka Pono means School that Cultivates the Goodness. We teach Hula which we define as the art of Hawaiian dance expressing all that we see, hear, taste, touch, and feel.
Hula and healing go hand in hand in our Halau. The dance connects us to the grounding energy of the earth and opens us to the warm spirit of Aloha (love).
Come join us! We have wonderful introductory classes for adult beginners! No experience necessary.
Contact Kumu June at june.tanoue@zlmc.org for more information. May your lives be full of aloha blessings!
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