Practitioners in Fourth Season with Cultural Connections Program


NAWILIWILI, HI – The Hawaiian Way Fund, a unified donor initiative that supports cultural and community practitioners, started its fourth season administering the Cultural Connections Program in partnership with Princess Cruises.  Administered by the nonprofit, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), Hawaiian Way Fund continues its work with cultural practitioners to provide interactive workshops in-port throughout the state.

“We completed six workshops and two shows in the past week with practitioners in Nawiliwili, Honolulu, Lahaina and Hilo,” said Rosalee Puaoi, CNHA Community Development Specialist.  “We expect to bring on additional practitioners as well as provide hula sessions in the Honolulu port during the 2010-2011 season.”

Since 2008, CNHA and the Hawaiian Way Fund, has coordinated over 80 workshops with 48 cultural practitioners and welcomes Jake Kaleo Kaohelaulii on Kauai presenting a workshop on wahi pana and cultural practices.  “Through contact with Kauai Museum, I was able to share my manao and stories in three workshops with passengers onboard the Regal Princess,” comments Kaleo Kaohelaulii.  “As a young man from Niihau, I am very glad I am able to participate in this unique program with CNHA.”

“We are ecstatic that a venue like Princess Cruises has allowed Hawaiian cultural practitioners the opportunity to provide hands-on and entertaining cultural experiences to over 3,600 participants on their fleet of ships, said Kara Chow, CNHA Development Officer and Manager of the Hawaiian Way Fund initiative.  “We need more practitioners to participate and partners to expand the program in hotels and local businesses, to malama our living culture.”

CNHA’s Hawaiian Way Fund is a donor giving initiative that supports cultural practitioners and emerging leaders through its Cultural Connections Program and Next Generation Leaders program to create internships and fellowships at Native Hawaiian organizations in community.  For more information, or to donate to the Hawaiian Way Fund, visit www.hawaiianwayfund.org or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..