Hālau Makana

CULTURE KEEPERS:

HĀLAU MAKANA

Muralist, Joanna Ruckman

Medium: Photo-digital print, wheat paste, and acrylic paints

 

The mural documents and amplifies the incredibly important work of those who protect and propel traditional arts into the future. These “culture keepers” are at the forefront of contemporary innovation, as they embody and enliven their traditional art forms through dedication, creativity and personal vision. To be a “culture keeper” is an act of resistance in a world that continues to threaten the survival and wisdom of traditional art forms.

The mural, "Culture Keepers: Hālau Makana", illuminates a matrilineage of dancers including: Lillian Cid, Lani Cid-Iulio & Jade Makana Iulio, who runs the Hālau Makana Polynesian Cultural Arts Center in Alameda, CA. These three generations of Kumus teach traditions, rhythms and stories from times far before their ancestors used written language to record their histories. Hālau Makana’s mission is “preserving the Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Maori cultures through dance, art and music, and to share these cultural art forms with anyone who has a desire to learn.”