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Begun forty
years ago by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce and continued
by the private Merrie Monarch Festival community organization,
the major purpose of the festival is the perpetuation,
preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian
culture through education. The festival is considered the
world's premier forum for people of all ages to display their
skills and knowledge of the art of ancient and modern hula.
The annual
presentation of the Merrie Monarch Festival has led to a
renaissance of the Hawaiian culture that is being passed on from
generation to generation. The week-long festival includes art
exhibits, craft fairs, demonstrations, performances, a parade
that emphasizes the cultures of Hawaii, and a three-day hula
competition that has received worldwide recognition for its
historic and cultural significance.
Through the
celebration of the Merrie Monarch Festival, thousands of people
in Hawaii and throughout the world are learning about the
history and culture of Hawaii.
The Merrie
Monarch Festival is committed to: 1) Perpetuating the
traditional culture of the Hawaiian people; 2) Developing and
augmenting a living knowledge of Hawaiian arts and crafts
through workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and performances
of the highest quality and authenticity; 3) Reaching those who
might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate; and, 4)
Enriching the future lives of all of Hawaii's children.
In
preparation of the Merrie Monarch Festival, hula studios and
instructors in Hawaii and on the U.S. Mainland hold classes,
workshops, and seminars throughout the year to teach the art of
hula, the meaning of Hawaiian chants and songs, the Hawaiian
language, the making of Hawaiian clothing and crafts, and the
history of the Hawaiian people.
Through this
ongoing year-round learning process, students also gain a
knowledge and appreciation of the unique harmony and balance the
ancient Hawaiian people maintained with their island
environment. The chants, songs and dance tell stories of the
Hawaiians' relationship with nature-the birds and fish, trees
and flowers, mountains, oceans, rivers, wind, rain and Hawaii's
active volcanoes.
Proceeds
from the Merrie Monarch Festival support educational
scholarships, workshops, seminars, symposiums and the
continuation of the festival.
The Merrie
Monarch Festival is the focal point and catalyst that supports
and draws together an extensive network of instructional hula
studios, hula masters, instructors, researchers, professors of
Hawaiian studies and students of all ages who are committed to
the perpetuation and advancement of the Hawaiian history and
culture.
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