E Mālama I Ke Kai is a highly successful, free, ocean awareness festival benefiting the 501(c)(3) non-profit Hawaiian language immersion program, Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha‘o. The festival is slated for May 17, 2007 at Kapiolani Park in the area surrounding the bandstand. The festival will run from 10am-5pm, and features native Hawaiian informational booths, craft booths, food booths, musicians, keiki rides, surf and swim lessons, safety demonstrations, and much more as broken down below.
An important partnership between the community and Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha‘o, E Mālama I Ke Kai provides a unique platform in which to promote public awareness for the caring of the ocean, its surrounding environment and the perpetuation of the Hawaiian language and culture.
E Mālama I Ke Kai was specifically created and designed to help perpetuate the Hawaiian values and language not only amongst the haumāna of Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha‘o, but amongst our entire community including our visitors. In helping the community to understand our kuleana to protect and conserve both Hawai‘i’s cultural and natural resources, we know that E Mālama I Ke Kai directly contributes to Hawai‘i’s social, economic and physical well-being.
Each year, E Mālama I Ke Kai is produced by a knowledgeable and dedicated group of volunteers. The event is organized by several komike (committees) each led by and experienced Alaka’i and kāko‘o. Mei Jeanne Wagner, Joe Awong, and Sunshine Topping among many others will be providing leadership.
Mei Jeanne is a senior vice president at Starr Seigle Communications with many years of experience in producing major events. For more than a decade, she presented shows in the continental U.S. Having worked with such acts as the American Ballet Theatre, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, the Rolling Stones and the Washington Opera as well as having worked on the Tibetan Freedom Concert, The Capitol Jazz Fest and The Washington Post Shakespeare Festival, she is well versed in the intricacies of producing successful events that attract large crowds. Her expertise lies in marketing and promotions. She is going to be volunteering as our Volunteer Consulting Alaka’i on the project, and has been working as an Alaka’i on this event for several years.
Joe Awong, Alaka’i, is a Makua whose son is in his second year of attendance at Punana Leo o Kawaiaha’o. This is Joe’s second year heading up the project. Joe has 15 years of experience in event coordination, sound and lighting, and promotion for major events at the Waikiki Shell, Neil Blaisdell Arena, and other venues throughout the islands. He has proven relationships with a variety of vendors, and it is through those relationships that we are able to keep costs to a minimum, and in kind services exceed expectations every year.
Sunshine Topping, Kako’o, is the Makua of two daughters currently attending Punana Leo o Kawaiaha’o. She is a Manager with Sandwich Isles Communications, and has over 10 years of experience working with Event Coordination in the areas of fundraising, recruiting volunteer staff, and community relations. She is active in the Native Hawaiian Community, and sits on the Hawaiian Way Fund Board, the Hui Makua o Kawaiaha’o Planning Committee, and is a member of several non-profit organizations.
All of the Makua have a wealth of strengths to add to the planning and execution of the EMIKK festival. Duane DeSoto is a professional surfer who will be coordinating much of the ocean safety element. Malia Ka’aihue, and Lu’ukia Wong are both professors of Hawaiian History, and “History of Surfing” courses in the UH school system. They are coordinating the cultural activities, and beach clean up’s. BJ Peloso is a Hawaiian Historian, and Hawaiian Language Translator, who will be developing educational materials. There are many other Makua, and Kupuna who will be lending their expertise to this very important project, each with a unique area of specialization.
