Lanai CHC Fundraiser - Lanai Culture & Heritage Center Keali'i Reichel Concert Mahalo
Mahalo Nui!
The Lanai Culture & Heritage Center's Fundraising Concert Featuring
Kealii Reichel Was An Overwhelming Success
September 12, 2009 — A sold out crowd of more than 450 people joined Keali'i Reichel, his musicians and Halau Hula Kealaokamaile under the moonlit night of Hulopoe Bay for a concert in celebration of Lanai's rich cultural heritage (see photos below taken by Lanai Photographer, Phillip Sowers). The concert, a fundraiser for the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center was organized to raise money to develop a detailed video-oral history program featuring Lanai's elders. The night, filled with music, hula, aloha nui, also hosted a performance by Lanai's students in the Na Pua Noeau-Papa Alakai program along with Lanai Aunties who offered traditional Lanai mele and hula to welcome Kealii and concert goers.
Prior to the concert beginning, attendees were treated to cultural programs sponsored by the Lanai CHC and Festivals of Aloha-Maui Nui Style with special events at Lanai's Four Seasons Manele Bay Resort, and adorned with lei offered by Halau Hula o Na Pua under the leadership of Napua Brown Kamelamela, with the support of Kumu Kawai Aona Ueoka. A live auction conducted by Joe Teipel also set the mood for an exciting evening, and KGMB's Grace Lee kept everyone informed as the mistress of ceremonies.
This special event was planned by Caron Green (Lanai CHC Board Member), Stu Marlowe (long time music promoter and friend of Lanai CHC), Four Seasons Resort Lanai, and many others who believed in the importance of documenting and passing on Lanai's history.
Donations to the live auction included resort packages at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, Four Seasons Resorts Hualalai, round trip tickets from Hawaiian Airlines, Sail & Snorkel Adventures from Trilogy Ocean Sports, a hand-crafted koa ukulele made by Warren Osako, an oil painting titled " Lanai Days" by artist, Mike Carroll, and a tour across Lanai Hale with Kepa Maly.
Photos taken by Lana'i Photographer, Phillip Sowers at the Keali'i Reichel Concert, September 12, 2009. View photos with more photos to be added from the day program at Lana'i CHC.
See short oral history video presentation produced by Anthony Kaauamo Pacheco and Kepa Maly for the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center, which was featured at the beginning of the fundraising concert. This program introduces viewers to several Lanai Elders, and provides you with examples of the stories to be recorded through the new oral history program being funded by the concert donations. Click to Play below!
Please note, web-viewing is at a lower resolution of video. Mahalo!