Maui County officials held a blessing in Wailuku on Wednesday ahead of the construction of the state’s first government-funded hula center.

What You Need To Know

  • The $53 million facility, including $11 million in federal funds, will serve as a permanent place for hula and associated ‘ōiwi arts

  • Along with being a space for the study, practice and celebration of hula, the Hālau of ʻŌiwi Art will host indoor and outdoor events and gatherings, a shelter space, a resiliency and recovery center, and Kaunoa Senior Services classes

  • Construction is expected to begin April 28

The $53 million facility, including $11 million in federal funds, known as Hālau of ʻŌiwi Art, will serve as a permanent place for hula and associated ‘ōiwi arts. 

County of Maui Director of ʻŌiwi Resources and Kumu Hula Kap-onoʻai Molitau performed the blessing over County contractors F&H Construction, other project partners, and the site, according to a news release. 

“Where in all of Hawaii do we have a place for hula? Where?” Kumu Hula Hōkūlani Holt, who leads the HOA steering committee, asked during the ceremony. “Nowhere. What a shock that was. We have football fields, soccer fields, skate parks, pickleball, but where is hula? Hula is the one cultural practice that continues throughout all of Hawaiian history without break.”

Construction is expected to begin April 28.  

“The Hālau of ʻŌiwi Art will be a place where hula, mele, and hana noʻeau are not only practiced but nurtured as living, evolving traditions,” said Mayor Richard Bissen. “This space will nurture our keiki, uplift our kūpuna and inspire our kumu, ensuring knowledge is shared with intention and integrity and traditions are kept alive for future generations.”

Located at the corner of Church and Vineyard Streets, HOA will be two-stories tall and about 47,000-square feet. Along with being a space for the study, practice and celebration of hula, it will host indoor and outdoor events and gatherings, a shelter space, a resiliency and recovery center, and Kaunoa Senior Services classes. 

Bissen thanked former Mayor Michael Victorino, who was in attendance, and the Maui County Council for the work they did to set the project on its path forward. “We will do our very best to get this over the finish line,” he said. 

Bissen also highlighted kumu who have been key to the design process, including Holt, Molitau, Cody Pueo Pata, Hiʻilei Maxwell-Juan, ʻĀlika and Kehalani Guerrero, Mapuana Aʻarona, Kahulu Maluo-Pearson, Sissy Lake-Farm, Jamie Moanikeala Whittle-Wagner and Nāpua Silva.

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