What we are doing
Following the authoring of our Action Plan [see the letter from June 22, 2020 below], we created and adopted a land acknowledgement in the summer of 2020. The reading of this land acknowledgement at our events and the inclusion of it on all of our course syllabi recognizes the complex history of Ko Hawai‘i Pae ‘Āina and the systemic issues perpetuated by settler colonialism. Aligning with our Action Plan and ongoing efforts across the UHM campus to restore Kanaka Maoli narratives and center Kanaka Maoli practices and ways of knowing, we invited Kanaka Maoli scholars to educate our faculty on the political history of Ko Hawai‘i Pae ‘Āina, the development of the University of Hawai‘i, and the ahupua‘a of Waikīkī. Since the establishment of our Action Plan faculty members have led area specific initiatives to engage Hawaiian practices and hana no‘eau (visual and performing arts) in their classrooms, productions, and projects. In the area of design, we organized a series of guest lectures and workshops featuring Lei Hulu with Kumu Mele Kahalepuna Chun and Lauhala with Kumu Keoua Nelsen. As a part of the Hula Ki‘i (Hawaiian Image Dancing and Puppetry) class, we created Ka Unulau o Halāli‘i, a series of guest kumu hula to support the study and practice of Hula Ki‘i. Ka Unulau o Halāli‘i featured Kumu Mauliola Cook, Kumu Hula Kaumakaiwa Kanaka‘ole Kanahele, Kumu Aulia Austin, Kumu Hula Elsie Ryder, Kumu Meleanna Meyer, Kumu Hula ‘Auli‘i Mitchell, and Kumu Hula Snowbird Bento. Most noteworthy is the further development of Hana Keaka: The Hawaiian Theatre Program, which organized three installments of Ka Pō Le‘a o Halāli‘i, that featured original student and faculty plays, and produced two original productions that bookended our 2021-22 mainstage season; He Leo Aloha (written and directed by Kaipulaumakaniolono) and Ho‘oilina (written and directed by Ākea Kahikina). Projects have continued, developed and multiplied through current day.
In addition to Kanaka Maoli specific projects, we also feature the plays of Hawai‘i playwrights.
What we are doing
In line with our commitment to diversifying our department beyond a western focus, we have organized numerous guest lecturers in Theatre including Dr. Anita Gonzalez, Abimbola Adelakun, Maseeh Ganjali, and guest directors like Reiko Ho and Alvin Chan. We have offered new dance courses like Indigenous Dance Studies and Global Hip-Hop, Race, and Indigeneity, and implemented re-imagined design curriculum like Historic Costume and Decor to de-center a western, linear, dominant narrative, and re-center place-based learning through the lens of makers and making. We continue to reevaluate the requirements for our undergrad and graduate curricula in all areas of study. For example, we have revamped the dance curriculum such that BA majors can take 3 credits from any of the Asian and Pacific dance forms and 3 credits from Ballet or Contemporary or Hip-Hop. Patricia Halagao (COE, UHM) and Cheryl Lupenui (The Kohala Center) facilitated a faculty workshop on Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander focus curricular development. We continue to collect, disseminate, and assign more materials by and for people of color for use in all of our classes.
What we are doing
We continue to build stronger bridges between our department and artists, scholars, and students of color both locally and internationally. In 2021, we invited guest instructors Moses Goods, Sammy Choi, and Alvin Chan and organized a Dance Media Now Community Dialogue Project which featured virtual panel conversations with artists in Hawaiʻi who have been incorporating video in their dance performances and creations over the past decade including Sami L.A. Akuna*, Angela Sebastian*, Kumu Vicky Holt Takamine, Kumu Michael Lanakila Casupang, Peter Rockford Espiritu, Larry Asakawa, and more. Following the March 2021 rise in Anti-Asian Hate, we released a statement denouncing the hate crimes, affirmed our promise to advance racial equity and economic inclusion for people of all races and ethnicities, and held a panel on “Social Justice and Connectivities: Dance in/beyond Contemporary Asia”.
We have hosted a series of graduate Professional Development Workshops facilitated by Dr. Melissa Blanco-Borelli, Dr. Karyn Recollet, Dr. Rosemary Candelario, Dr. Adanna Kai Jones, and Dr. Mana Hayakawa. We also produced Hawai‘i nō ka ‘Oi: A Sakamoto Celebration, which highlighted the works of playwright Edward Sakamoto and featured Hawai‘i community actors. A symposium was coordinated in conjunction that featured three panels on Asian American Theatre Artists: Representation, Social Change and Community Building, The Contributions and Impact of Playwright Edward Sakamoto, and Directing Sakamoto: Directors’ Perspectives and Production Processes with Leslie Ishii (President, Consortium of Asian American Theater Artists), kt shorb (Vice President, Consortium of Asian American Theater Artists), Taurie Kinoshita (Director/Playwright and Lecturer, Windward Community College), and Harry Wong III (Artistic Director, Kumu Kahua Theatre), and more. We continue to seek faculty of color to serve as T&D Cooperative Graduate Faculty or Affiliate Graduate Faculty and to intensify our efforts to attract a more diverse student body and faculty.
*T&D alumnx
What we are doing
As a department, we continue to work to create a more inclusive environment in our classes, rehearsal rooms, and performance spaces. Season selection has shifted towards a focus on centering Hawaiʻi. Our season planning process continues to evolve with our community values at the forefront of season selection. In working towards becoming better listeners and speakers, the department holds semesterly “Town Halls,” where students can discuss any points of concern that may need to be addressed. The Theatre & Dance Department faculty continues to work toward greater unification and integration of coursework, as well as offering new classes such as DNCE/THEA674 (Interdisciplinary Collaborations), DNCE 450 (Indigenous Dance Studies), and DNCE 459 (Topics in Dance: Queer Dance). As we continue forward, we commit to continuing to strive for a more inclusive departmental environment.
Seasonal Planning form – Link to form to come
Until the form is ready – please email your suggestions to onstage@hawaii.edu.
In order to improve our selection process such that it includes student input and reflects our community, we invite students, faculty, and staff to submit feedback and suggestions. In particular, we welcome suggestions that promote diversity, relevance, and contribute to our community. Suggestions will be considered during a season planning forum.
Climate Survey form – Link to form to come
Until the form is ready – please email your suggestions to onstage@hawaii.edu.
We welcome expressions of concerns, affirmations, and questions from students, faculty, and staff via the climate survey form. The feedback will help cultivate a departmental space of support and care. Please note that the form requires hawaii.edu login but your name and contact information will not be recorded unless selected.