Join Hālau Hoʻomau I ka Wai Ola O Hawaiʻi to commemorate the arrival of a sacred Hawaiian artifact at the National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian as part of Hoʻolauleʻa: Welcoming Kānepō Ka Lua on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Alexandria, Vir.-based Hawaiian cultural school will perform on at 12 noon, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on May 16.
Led by Kumu Hula Manu Ikaika, the musicians and dancers of Hālau Hoʻomau I ka Wai Ola O Hawaiʻi will demonstrate a variety of Hawaiian instruments and implements including the ulili (Hawaiian gourd yoyo), handmade by the dancers. Other implements demonstrated in the performance will include the pahu (large standing drum used for chant and hula accompaniment), the ipu and ipu heke (hollowed gourds used as handheld drums), ‘ohe hano ihu (bamboo nose flutes), ‘uli’uli (feathered gourd rattles), ‘ili’ili (hand-held river rocks), pū’ili (slit-ended bamboo sticks), kālā’au (tapping sticks), ukulele and more!