Innovative Choreography
Raise Hawaiki, Hōkūleʻa symphony by award-winning UH composer, Michael-Thomas Foumai premiere, March 28, 2019
“Bravo!” shouted the crowd in the Neal S. Blaisdell Centerʻs Concert Hall, as they applauded and rose to their feet.”
“The event featured a cast of a thousand, including 200 musicians and singers, hula choreographed by Lauren Kanoelani Chang Williams, with projection visuals from the Polynesian Voyaging Society and ʻŌiwiTV, historical photos by Sam Low and Ben Young, artwork by Herbert Kāne and voyager Hana Yoshihata, and a pre-show performance from IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre.”
![Hula Finale of Hōkūleʻa Symphony, Raise Hawaiki](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eee8b7a96e1960533480f21/1596686027357-BE0UDT8GVKK66WFJZKQQ/raise-hawaiki-concert.jpg)
![Nainoa Thompson, Michael-Thomas Foumai and David Lassner](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eee8b7a96e1960533480f21/1596685897704-FSHLZLEE3WZ87ZU8O69B/Foumai.jpg)
![Final bow of Raise Hawaiki](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eee8b7a96e1960533480f21/1596686010942-BT91HYDGWTZFA0BW5LSP/Hawaiki.jpg)
![Kumu Kanoe (Choreographer), Blythe Kelsey (Mezzo), Michael-Thomas Foumai (Composer), Mark Ah-Yo (Tenor), Nola Nāhulu (Choral Director), Malia Kāʻai-Barrett (Soprano)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eee8b7a96e1960533480f21/1596686011427-AOX0WGQR4UZL44UD36RK/56968251_10161597770665023_5528391515824455680_n.jpg)