Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society

Programs

1. In 2022, the Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society (HMPS) advanced its mission to preserve, promote, and perpetuate mele Hawaii through educational programs, live performances, and community-centered cultural experiences. HMPS provided free and accessible opportunities for residents and visitors to engage directly with Native Hawaiian practitioners, musicians, and hula practitioners. Through programs such as Paina o Waikiki Hula, Na Kupuna Nights, and the Hookela Hawaiian Culture Center, HMPS fostered deeper cultural understanding, strengthened community connections, and created authentic experiences that celebrated Hawaiis people, traditions, and history.Paina o Waikiki HulaIn 2022, HMPS produced Paina o Waikiki Hula, a weekly all-Hawaiian hula show at Pualeilani. The program ran for seven weeks between July and August, presenting a 1.5-hour performance featuring world-class musicians and hula practitioners. Guests experienced Hawaiis history and culture through mele and moolelo, deepening their understanding of the people, place, and traditions of Hawaii.Attendance was tracked through direct reservations, with approximately 800 guests participating (90% visitors and 10%…

   $34,407 spent
   41% of program spending

2. Hookela Hawaiian Culture CenterIn 2022, HMPS operated the Hookela Hawaiian Culture Center at Pualeilani in Waikiki under the direction of Kuuipo Kumukahi, Director of Hawaiian Culture and Community Relations. The center served as a safe and welcoming place where visitors and residents could learn directly from Native Hawaiian practitioners.At its peak in 2022, the center offered up to three classes per day, four days per week, featuring cultural practices such as lei-making, ukulele, and hula. Participation grew to an estimated 3050 guests per week. All classes were free and open to the public, and the program was recognized twice during the year with the George Kanahele Hoowehiwehi Award for cultural education.The objective of the Hookela Hawaiian Culture Center was to preserve and promote Hawaiian cultural traditions by providing immersive, educational, and entertaining cultural experiences. Longer-term goals include expanding class offerings and hours of operation, with the vision of increasing access and engagement for residents and visitors alike.In SummaryThrough these three programs, HMPS directly engaged more than 3,000 participants in 2022, creating spaces where Hawaiian…

   $25,175 spent
   30% of program spending

3. Na Kupuna NightsNa Kupuna Nights was the first program produced by HMPS after COVID-19, with the mission of bringing the Hawaiian community back into Waikiki and celebrating the traditional Hawaiian music of generations past. The series ran once per month for five months in 2022, with four events at Pualeilani (May through August) and a final event in November on the rooftop of the Hawaii Convention Centerthe first event held there following its COVID-19 closure.The program was intentionally rooted in community, relying on Hawaiian networks such as civic clubs and kupuna groups for outreach and participation. Each pre-show featured three generations of musicians from one family, followed by performances from Ka Lei Papahi o Kakuhihewa, a kupuna group affiliated with the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The series reached capacity at 180 guests and averaged approximately 130 guests per event. Initially attended primarily by local residents, the program later expanded to include hotel guests as well. Local vendors deeply rooted in Hawaiian values were also invited to participate.When asked by visitors how the program compared to a luau, the response was: This is what you would…

   $24,337 spent
   29% of program spending

The 3 programs described on its FY2022 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $83,919.