Kalei'okalani, Hani by Eono

Māuruuru mai tō'u mafatu, mai tō'u ā'au to all at Te 'Ori Ora 2021 for creating such an incredible, immersive, connected experience that expanded nearly over an entire year of workshops, planning, and coordinating. I have grown so immensely in this time where the days are long but the years are short, and I am so very humbled.

my heartfelt thanks goes out to greatest of all, e tā'u Hani e tā'u here iti e tā'u tāne, Kitman. without whom nothing would be. to his cooking countless meals while I teach hours of classes; lifting me up whenever doubt, fear, or frustration set in; making sure I eat, drink, sleep, dance, teach, repeat; carrying our equipment and 'ahu for each show; rubbing down aching joints and muscles; designing our merch and reppin always; countless hours of conversations about my aspirations; countless more hours apart while I practice in solitude, in workshops, in competition mode, in tamari'i class; and always being there with open arms, a cup of fresh water, questions about how it went, and a look that says "I love you and I've missed you so" when I return; nourishing me mind heart body ā'au. this win was for you.

as I dance I give my all. my sacrifice, my love, my joy, my pain, my fears, my hopes, my dreams, my mana, my pride, my scars, my solidarity, my ancestry, my future, my heart, my all.

and he always gives even more.

dedicated to, my Hani.

Māuruuru to all who've provided a platform for me to offer my gratitude to so many with 'ori, with 'aparima. māuruuru for believing in me, for teaching me, for inspiring me, for dancing with me. Te 'Ori Ora competition, Isabel Perez, Hirohiti Tematahotoa, Tiana Liufau, Matatini Mou, Poemana, Moenau Rivera, Polylingual, Dance in Paradise, French Bee, Eono, all the dancers who graced the stage together, 'āmui, and of course all my Huraiti with whom these countless hours are shared. 'O VAI TĀTOU?! 

🏆Overall

Mele Kalikimaka e ka'u kākou 'ohana Huraiti! Wishing our Huraiti Mana family warm holiday cheer and fun. We met virtually for an evening of baking hosted by our very own Lubong 'ohana! We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and shared some sugar goodness. To you and yours, wishing you happiest of holidays. 

View the full exhibit now on display online at Five Oaks Museum!

Curator's Note

​We chose Matsui’s work because of her strong commitment to the Pasifika community and organizing here in the Pacific Northwest — one of the overarching themes of DISplace. Through her work with the Huraiti Mana Polynesian dance troupe, lei-making, and her work as a whole, Matsui’s dedication to keeping culture alive through authenticity and resilience is prevalent in her handiwork, language teaching, and building of community relationships. Leaders like Matsui and others are important pillars in the Pasifika network as we navigate the challenges of being away from our homelands.

Save our Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Washington State! So proud of our Huraiti who have worked so hard throughout quarantine, with 100% of practices unfortunately via zoom. We have had only virtual classes for the past 7 months since the loss of our studio due to COVID measures taken by building management as well as huraiti's joint efforts & conscious choice to minimize the spread of this deadly illness. Across Washington, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders continue to have the highest contraction and highest death rate due to COVID - more than any other ethnic group and by extremely high margins. Though we long to be together, myself side by side with my Tamari'i, we are proud to continue our part, in what little steps or big we can take, in saving our people.

We are proud to participate in an event advocating for the same, remaining socially distant but culturally close. Opportunities such as these throughout 2020 has been unprecedented and invaluable in keeping our spirits high, our goals aligned, our bodies moving, and our ā'au fulfilled. Māuruuru from the bottom of our hearts. E fa'aitoito!

​

Huraiti Mana is honored to have been invited to celebrate in the annual Duwamish Tribe Celebration and Gala, lifting up our Indigenous peoples on this, the second Monday in October, Indigenous Peoples' Day. We lift up our hands most especially to our Duwamish hoa hānau who, though they have lived in these lands known now as the Pacific Northwest since time immemorial, have and still continue to steward this land, and see the city named after Duwamish leader, Chief Seattle prosper and flourish - remain unacknowledged by federal, state, and local governments as a people and nation. The 1855 Treaty signed for healthcare, fishing rights, and education has still not been honored. Duwamish succeeded in receiving federal recognition in 2001 only to have it viciously revoked by the Bush Administration immediately following.

This is a history not taught in schools.

Erasure of Indigenous Peoples is still happening the world over.

It is our kuleana to end cultural genocide and erasure. It is our kuleana to pay Real Rent Duwamish and support the peoples of this land. It is our kuleana that "ethnic studies" be adopted as "American History" for our haumāna.

Sharing oli, hula, and mahalo in the beautiful Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, we make this pledge. As indigenous peoples, we stand in solidarity, we join Real Rent, we remember who we are.

"He Hawai'i Au" by Ho'okena. I am Hawaiian. 

Hula mele by Aunty Makalapua and the late Aunty Mili of Hālau Hula 'O Mililani of Wai'anae, O'ahu.

Video by: Kitman

In Hawai'i, in 1971, the second Monday of October was changed from Columbus Day to "Discoverer's Day" said to include Polynesian discoverers, navigators and vast sea voyagers - however, in its name, it honors "all" considered discoverers. The move for Indigenous People's day, backed by Native Hawaiians against the history of Hawaiian dispossession, exploitation and enslavement at the hands of Captain Cook, never made it to the ballot for the people to vote, its last attempt in 2014.

It is our kuleana. It is time.

Mahalo nui loa mai ko mākou mau pu'uwai e Ida Culver House 'ohana! Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts to Ida Culver House! We sincerely enjoyed this opportunity to perform and share our hula, ourselves, my Kaikua'ana, my sister and I while keeping our communities safe. This was as much a healing experience for ourselves as it was for our elders from the tops of their balconies or through glass windows. E mālama pono - take the utmost care our kūpuna!