UH Hilo’s Wailau seeks storyteller applications for Fall event

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo invites the public to be a part of Wailau, a storytelling event meant to build connections across the UH Hilo campus and with the wider community.

The third episode of Wailau will take place in Fall 2021 with the theme, “Getting from Point A to Point B.” Storyteller applications are being accepted through Friday, September 3.

Organizers for Wailau, which means “where water from diverse sources comes together to commingle and become a more powerful, unified whole,” aim to spotlight voices and stories that fit Wailau themes in interesting ways, showcasing five storytellers at each online event: a UH faculty member, UH staff member, UH student, UH alum and a community member. Submissions are also welcome from former faculty and staff and storytellers of all ages.

Between the application deadline (Friday, September 3) and the premiere (Saturday, November 27), storytellers will be recorded sharing their stories of “Getting from Point A to Point B” on UH Hilo’s Performing Arts stage. If storytellers are unable to attend on-stage taping, self-taped stories will be accepted.

Applicants have an opportunity to view earlier episodes before completing their storyteller applications at: https://hilo.hawaii.edu/wailau/archives/.

Wailau organizers include UH faculty, staff, students, alums, and community members, including UH Hilo's English Club. Students from the English Club determine Wailau themes, review applications, and select storytellers. Wailau episodes are hosted by students Kuʻuhiapo Jeong and Dayva Escobar and a topic expert to explore each episode’s theme.

“My hope is that Wailau becomes more than we initially intended and that it brings people in the community even closer together post pandemic — all through the power of stories,” Jeong said.