On Sunday, February 19, 2006, Bishop Museum will hold its sixth annual Mary Kawena Pukui Storytelling and Performance Festival. From 10-5, enjoy a multitude of performers from Hawaii and throughout the US engaged in interactive storytelling, workshops, songs, and dance. Children especially will enjoy our newest traveling exhibit, “Sesame Street: The Body” and will “get up and move” at our Children’s storytelling tent.

At the centerpiece of the festival is a multi-cultural performance piece featuring natives from Hawaii, Alaska, and Massachusetts. Native Hawaiians, a member of the Wampanoag tribe of Massachusetts, Yup’ik storytellers and singers, and Inupiat performers have come together under the direction of Peter Rockford-Espiritu of Tau Dance Theatre to share their creation stories. This 35-minute exciting, interactive performance will speak to all ages about our beginnings and our connections to the world around us. For additional information and related storytelling curriculum, go to www.echospace.org or call 848-4191.

Performers throughout the day will include:

From Hawaii:


• Kealoha Kelekolio (cultural educator and performer)
• Brenda Freitas-Obregon (well-known children’s storyteller)
• "Uncle Wayne" Watkins (early childhood educator and storyteller)
• Tom Cummings: (storyteller sharing Hawaiian myths and legends)
• Emil Wolfgramm: (well-known Pacific storyteller)
• Makia Malo (nationally renowned storyteller from Kalaupapa)
• Tau Dance Theatre (representatives from this professional dance company, which creates modern works with Pacific rim roots)

From Alaska:


• Jack Dalton (professional Yup’ik storyteller, author, and teacher)
• Stephen Blanchett (Yup’ik singer, songwriter, dancer, and member of the internationally renowned native band, Pamyua)
• James Patkotak (Inupiat storyteller from Barrow, Alaska)

From Massachusetts:


• Tobias J. Vanderhoop (Wampanoag educator and tribal council memeber, singer and drummer)