Sign Up Now For Space At Ho’olaulea

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Students, businesses, clubs and residents are working now to make the sixth annual Windward Ho’olaulea, Celebrating Hawaiian Culture, a showcase of the community and its college.

Coordinated by the Kaneohe Business Group, the grassroots celebration will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 16 on the Windward Community College campus offering top-name entertainers, a book sale, activities for the keiki, island crafters, ono ethnic food, and community booths.

Also, deadlines are fast approaching for vendors and community groups to sign on for the event. Those with food booths should apply by Aug. 15, after which the $400 fee will go up. Crafters and other vendors pay $120, if reserved by Aug. 31; fee for nonprofits is $25 by Aug. 31. (Vendors should call Linka Mullikin at 235-7422; for food booths, call Karen Quimoyog at 235-7355; for nonprofits, call Gordon Miyamoto at 235-7747.)

“We’re highlighting entertainment and programs spanning the whole Windward side - from Waimanalo to KahukuLaie,” said co-chair Janis Chun. “We also have new activities to focus on the richness of our Hawaiian culture and WCC programs in art, music, science, Hawaiian studies and other areas.”

New this year will be ukulele and hula workshops offered by WCC Hawaii Music Institute celebrity instructors Benny Chong, Herb Ohta Jr., Bruce Shimabukuro, Ron Loo and kumu hula Noenoe Zuttermeister and Holoua Stender. Workshops will run for one hour and 45 minutes each, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. For fees and student scholarship details, or to volunteer for the event, call 235-7433.

Demonstrations of woodcarving, poi pounding, canoe building and plant identification are planned, along with food booths, crafts and keiki games.

On the stage at the Great Lawn, non-stop entertainment includes Kapena, Melveen Leed, Eddie Kamae, Holunape, Windward hula halau and more. Vaihi kicks off the music at 9:15 a.m., followed by Na Kupuna O Ko`olau at 10:15, Na Mele Manu Aloha at 11:15, Melveen Leed at 12:15 p.m., `Ohana Nui at 1:15, Pila Nahenahe at 2:15, Kupa`aina at 3:15, Halau Hula O Napunaheleonapua at 4:15, Holunape at 5:15, Hawaii Loa at 6:15, Eddie Kamae and Friends at 7:15 and Kapena at 8:15.

For more information on the ho`olaulea, visit www.wcc.hawaii.edu/hoolaulea