Release – Council for Native Hawaiian Advancements Cultural Connections



HONOLULU – The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement’s Cultural Connections Program has grown in popularity as more and more visitors become engaged in learning about Hawaii’s culture, history, language and practices.

The Cultural Connections Program joins cultural practitioners and artisans to the visitor industry to create authentic interactions and allow practitioners to share their knowledge with guests. Since 2008, CNHA has coordinated more than 70 workshops with 47 cultural practitioners on Kauai, Maui, Hawaii Island and Oahu, and the program continues to expand.

Past workshops have included teaching oli, lauhala weaving, feather work, hula and more. In December 2009, for example, Na Pualei O Likolehua performed hula in front of more than 750 passengers and visitors at two shows on board the Golden Princess ship. Hilo-based practitioners Doreen Henderson and Mahina Hanawahine have taught more than 850 visitors about feather work and the ukulele, respectively. To date, more than 3,560 participants have attended and commented positively on the Cultural Connections workshops.

The success of the program is due to the time and efforts of cultural artisans and Princess Cruises’ commitment to perpetuating the Hawaiian culture, remarked Robin Puanani Danner, CNHA president and CEO. This type of programming should also be made more accessible to our local communities. “We would like to encourage hotels and local companies to contact us to be a partner and venue for practitioners to share their manao.”

To aid local communities, the Cultural Connections Program has been providing economic sustainability and promoting the concept of Buy Local-Buy Hawaiian since its inception. Practitioners have received more than $7,000 in revenue for sales of kits and Pupu O Niihau leis to date, and CNHA plans to increase numbers by including additional venues and partners.

Including local companies as partners will increase the number of kamaaina that participate in the Cultural Connections Program, said Rosalee Puaoi, CNHA community development specialist. “In addition to helping our local economies by getting consumers to Buy Local-Buy Hawaiian, we should also help perpetuate our culture by learning. … and supporting our artists.”

CNHA is a national network of Native Hawaiian organizations, providing assistance in accessing capital and technical resources, and is a policy voice on issues important to Native Hawaiian communities. Its mission is to enhance the well-being of Hawaii through the cultural, economic and community development of Native Hawaiians. For more information about CNHA call (808) 596-8155 or (800) 709-2642, by e-mail at info@hawaiiancouncil.org, or visit the Web site.