Aloha kakou!

It is time to tell you all my top secret plans for my ukulele posse!

The Project :

HO‘OKIPA This is the value of Hawaiian-style hospitality, in which guests and strangers alike are welcomed with your spirit of Aloha. There is complete generosity in Ho‘okipa: We call it lokomaika‘i, “the generosity of good heart.” Those who aspire to the best practice of this value are highly empathetic, and very perceptive in anticipating the needs of others: We call them Mea Ho‘okipa (host, or hostess) and it is one of the highest compliments a person of Aloha can receive from another.

Calgary's Western Hospitality - Like Hawaii, Calgary is a melting pot of people of all colours, languages and backgrounds. Many of our local traditions are rooted in cultural customs from around the world. Like Hawaii we are also big on ranching, rodeos and cowboys, however the one thing that can only be found in Calgary is our Western Hospitality. Although we don't have a flower lei to give you when you step down off the airplane, there may be pancakes, sausages, coffee and a white cowboy hat waiting for you.

Our project objective is to bring these two values together from across the sea to create something bold and beautiful. To accomplish this we will bring 21 ukulele players and hula dancers from Calgary to Kaua'i to record two songs about these values of Ho'okipa and Western Hospitality, a music video and behind the scenes documentary about the making of the project. We will film and record the songs in the town of Kapa'a on the island of Kaua'i from February 3-12, 2018. The ho'okipa scenes we create in these videos and songs will incorporate not only our group of 21 performers from Calgary, but other music lovers and performers from around the world that will be attending the 2018 Aloha Music Camp (maybe a few of the world famous teachers at camp too if we are lucky).

Not only are we travelling to Kaua'i to do the recording for this project, but all 21 of us will be attending the Aloha Music Camp (See the Aloha Music Camp promo video below for more information on the camp). The Aloha Music Camp is a week-long immersion into the music, dance, language and culture of Hawai‘i. Hosted by the Beamer family — famed slack-key pioneer Keola, kumu hula Moanalani Beamer and Hawaiian language specialist Kaliko Beamer-Trapp — along with some of the most respected musicians, performers, and instructors in the islands to learn how to play Hawaiian music and experience Hawaiian culture. Having our ukulele, hula and oli (Hawaiian chant) club members attend this camp while creating this artistic project is an opportunity of a life time. It will reward them in ways they may never discover for years to come.

For more information:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/piratejim/the-hookipa-project