Free eisa drum festival to be held at Kapiʻolani Community College
Kapiʻolani Community CollegeContact:
Posted: Apr 28, 2011
Hawaii Eisa Chimugukuru Daiko. Photo by Reid Shimabukuro.
Shisa (Lion Dog) which will be making an appearance at the Eisa Festival. Photo by Reid Shimabukuro.
Taiko Center of the Pacific.
Young Okinawans of Hawaii. Photo by Reid Shimabukuro.
A special commencement celebration featuring Okinawan drumming will be held on the Great Lawn of Kapiʻolani Community College on Saturday, May 14, 2011. The Hawai‘i Eisa Drum Festival starts at 6 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.
There will be food, drinks, a chance to catch some baby koi in a game and Okinawan items for sale. Bring your mats and chairs and relax under the stars. The event is free with ample parking.
Eisa is a form of dance and drumming unique to Okinawa. Participating eisa groups are Chinagu Eisa Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Eisa Chimugukuru Daiko and the Young Okinawans of Hawai‘i. Kenny Endo’s Taiko Center of the Pacific and the Paranku Club of Hawai‘i will be performing as special guests. The event will showcase the different styles of eisa (traditional and contemporary) with the contrast of Japanese taiko. It will also unite all four groups in an exciting finale!
The inspiration for the event comes from the Okinawan Festival held in Brazil for their Centennial Celebration. The finale included eisa drummers from all over the region playing together. “The ground shook, the energy level was so intoxicating that I was transported,” said Shari Tamashiro, cybrarian at Kapi‘olani CC. “I remember wanting to bring that same energy and joy in a performance for people back home. Hopefully, we will succeed with the grand finale of the Hawai‘i Eisa Drum Festival, which all four groups are working together to create.”
There will also be a gathering of the Shisa (Lion Dogs) and live music by Urizun Hawai‘i, Derek Fujio, Norman Kaneshiro, Derek Ichiro Shiroma and Richie Yamashiroya.
This free event is presented and sponsored by Kapi‘olani Community College's Office of Student Activities and is being organized by Shari Tamashiro with advisors Norman Kaneshiro and Derek Ichiro Shiroma. Eisa leaders include David Jones, Lisa Tamashiro and Van Shimabukuro. Event partners are the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association and Center for Okinawan Studies at UH Mānoa.
For up to date information on the festival, please visit http://tain.kcc.hawaii.edu or call 734-9576.
Want to participate in the largest paranku drum gathering in Hawaii? There will be a special surprise performance, so be a part of the fun and sign up to join the paranku brigade! Email pigsfromthesea@gmail.com to find out more.
For more information, visit: http://tain.kcc.hawaii.edu