The Asia Pacific Dance Festival is proud to present

HE LEI HOʻOKAHI - "To Be As One Lei Adorned"

Friday, May 22, 2026 • 7:30pm
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Kennedy Theatre

A landmark concert for a landmark year. To commemorate 100 years of UH Mānoa Summer Sessions, the Asia Pacific Dance Festival proudly presents HE LEI HOʻOKAHI, a special restaging of this year’s Merrie Monarch Hōʻike by the EO LEI ‘ILIAHI Foundation.

A stirring tribute to the late Kumu Hula Darrell Lupenui and celebration of 50 years of kāne hula at Merrie Monarch, we invite you to experience the strength of kāne hula and the richness of moʻolelo. Join us in honoring these milestones, and the legacy carried forward by kumu, dancers, and hālau.

EŌ LEI ʻILIAHI: A sandalwood lei that answers to its name – one of the many lei worn by the late Kumu Hula Darrell ‘Ihi’ihilauākea Lupenui. By honoring the image of this lei, we honor the Kumu Darrell Lupenui. It is the mission of the non-profit foundation, EŌ LEI ʻILIAHI, to perpetuate the unique tradition, teaching, and hula styling of the late Kumu Hula and his legacy for future generations. As former men of Waimāpuna and former Ladies of Ke Ala O Ka Lauaʻe, we are proud to share his life through our own achievements among kumu hula ourselves and our dedicated hālau hula (hula schools)! We are given the mission to cement his name and his mark of hula! We do so with presentations in Hula Kahiko (ancient dances), Hula Auana (modern dances), and Moʻolelo (the stories). This journey through hula expands 50 years! It will be an EPIC evening! One for all time!”
Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia