The videos below feature SFCA Folk and Traditional grant recipients, past and present.
Videos by and featuring work by State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Folk & Traditional Arts grantees.
“Our Arts, Our Land” and the “Pacific Visions” radio program were produced in 2000 by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Folk & Traditional Arts program, and feature interviews recorded from 1992 through 1997 of selected Apprenticeship Grant cultural practitioners.
John Keahialoa Auna (1930-2007) was interviewed on March 9, 1996 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. He trained two apprentices between 1995 and 1997 through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program.
“Papa” Henry Allen Auwae (1918-2000) was interviewed on January 9, 1992 at his home in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Papa was a noted and well-respected Hawaiian healer. He trained two apprentices in 1991 and 1993 through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program. He was recognized in 1997 as a Living Treasure of Hawaiʻi as a practitioner of laʻau lapaʻau.
Winona Kapuailohia Desha Beamer (1923-2008) was interviewed on June 26, 1994 at her home in Pahoa, Hawai`i with her apprentice Mauliola Cook. She trained three apprentices between 1993 and 2000 in hula, hula kiʻi or moʻolelo through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program. Mauliola continues to teach and perform hula kiʻi.
Wanda Lai Yuk Kwan Chun (1940-2015) was interviewed with her apprentice Agnes Chan in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi with her apprentice Agnes Chan. She trained Agnes in 1994 and 1995 in Cantonese Opera through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program. Agnes continues to teach and perform Cantonese Opera when possible.
Alvin Kalanikau “Barney” Isaacs Jr. (1924-1996) was interviewed on February 14, 1992 in Honolulu, Oʻahu. Barney, a master steel guitarist of Hawaiian music, trained three apprentices between 1991 and 1994 through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program.
Minnie Halekulani Elderts Kaʻawaloa (1922-2014) was interviewed on January 11, 1992 at her home in Nanawale, Hawaiʻi. Minnie was an ordained minister and a master lauhala weaver. She trained eight apprentices between 1987 and 1999 through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program.
William Kaʻawaloa (1917-1999) was interviewed on July 14, 1996 in Pahoa, Hawaiʻi. William was both a woodworker and a net maker. He trained three apprentices between 1995 and 1997 through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program.
Raymond Kaleoalohapoinaoleohelemanu Kane (1925-2008) was interviewed on February 15, 1992 at his home in Waiʻanae, Oʻahu. Ray, a master Hawaiian slack key guitarist, trained five apprentices between 1988 and 1993 through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program. In 1987, he received the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Seisho “Harry” Nakasone (1912-2011) was interviewed on May 10, 1994 in Honolulu, Oʻahu with his apprentice Norman Kaneshiro. A master musician of the Okinawa sanshin, he trained five apprentices between 1992 and 2004 through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program. He was honored with the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1991, and the 1992 Living Treasure of Hawaii. Norman continues to teach and perform Okinawan music.
Elizabeth Maluihi Ako Lee (1929-2016) was interviewed on November 14, 1995 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. She trained five apprentices between 1989 and 1995 through SFCA’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Program.