‘Music of Kalaupapa’ to air again online
A virtual concert, “The Music of Kalaupapa,” which celebrates the oft-forgotten musicians of Kalaupapa, will be rebroadcast from Dec. 19 through Jan. 3 on Facebook and YouTube.
The 90-minute concert, produced by Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, debuted in October to high praise and virtual applause from hundreds of viewers, according to a news release.
The concert will begin at 1 p.m Dec. 19 and will be available anytime through Jan. 3, the day Father Damien was born in Belgium in 1840.
The concert will air on facebook.com/kalau papaohana and youtube.com/user/palolosteve.
“This is Ka ‘Ohana’s holiday gift to those who are interested in the history of Kalaupapa or who simply enjoy music,” said Valerie Monson, executive director of Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa. “We decided to rebroadcast the concert over the holidays because we know so many people will be home more than they usually are this year and will be looking for some joy that we hope this music will provide.”
The concert is serving as a fundraiser for The Kalaupapa Memorial, which will list the names of every person who was sent to Kalaupapa under former Hawaii laws for the isolation of Hansen’s disease patients. The memorial was the idea of Kalaupapa residents, who asked Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa to make their dream a reality.
The virtual concert features songs composed by Kalaupapa musicians: the Boys of Kalawao,
the ‘Aikala Brothers, George McLane, Ernest Kala, Sammy Kuahine, Helen Keao and Bernard K. Punikai’a. The songs will be performed by Hawaii musicians Brother Noland, Melveen Leed, Kevin Brown, Stephen Inglis, Makana and Lopaka Ho‘opi‘i. The concert is narrated by radio and television personality Billy V and produced by musician/producer Chris Lau. Monson wrote the script and selected the photos.
For more information, visit kalaupapaohana .org