Maui Arts & Cultural Center is pleased to announce that Kahulu Maluo has been appointed Cultural Programs Director. Ms. Maluo succeeds Hōkūlani Holt who joined the University of Hawai‘i Maui College as its Hawai‘i Papa o ke Ao Program Cultural Director.
“As the MACC moves forward, we’re in very good hands with Kahulu taking the reins of our cultural program, “said MACC President and CEO Art Vento. “Hōkū’s contributions and dedication to the MACC are deeply valued.”
In 2001 Maui Arts & Cultural Center established a cultural programs initiative entitled Liliko Ka Pua which resulted in the creation of the position of Cultural Programs Director. Hōkūlani Holt joined MACC and launched the position which is unique among arts presenters in Hawai`i. The goals of the initiative were to expand and enrich the nature of MACC’s Hawaiian programming and provide Maui’s diverse cultural communities with greater access to The Center’s programs. The initiative also stimulates the MACC’s daily operations to reflect values and heightened sensitivity to cultural issues and to internalize The Center’s respect for and connection with Hawaiian culture.
The respected kumu hula of Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu, Ms. Maluo has been serving as MACC Programs Manager, which includes facilitating The Center’s Artists in the Community program. This program takes touring season artists into the communities of Hāna, Moloka’i and Lana’i, and Central Maui to share their talents and skills. She has also served on Maui County’s Cultural Resource Commission. Ms. Maluo joined the MACC as campaign assistant in 2003 during its second phase of construction.
A student of hula since the age of three, she studied with esteemed Maui Kumu Hula such as Emma Farden Sharpe, Hokulani Holt and Hawai`i Island’s Rae Fonseca. In June 2004, she completed her traditional ʻūniki ceremony under Kumu Hula Hōkūlani Holt, along with Rae Fonseca on the Pā at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Kahulu and her sister, Napua Greig co-founded Hālau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka in 1996. She established Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu in 2013.
A lifetime Maui resident and Maui High School graduate, Ms. Maluo attended University of Hawai`i at Hilo and later completed her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration at Regis University in Colorado.
ABOUT THE MAUI ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER
Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC) opened in 1994, the culmination of a longstanding dream of Maui’s residents to build a world-class gathering place for the arts. Maui Arts & Cultural Center is the most comprehensive, multi-disciplinary arts facility in Hawai‘i. MACC supports 6,000 artists through 1,700 events and activities annually. Its diverse facilities include the state-of-the-art 1,200-seat Castle Theater; multi-purpose 300-seat McCoy Studio Theater; the 4,100-square foot museum-quality Schaefer International Gallery; a 5,000-seat capacity outdoor Alexander & Baldwin Amphitheater; a 3,000-seat capacity Events Lawn, the Pā, dedicated to hula, the Yokouchi Family Pavilion and Courtyard, as well as a mix of dance studios, classrooms, and meeting room spaces. MACC is a private 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation governed by a volunteer board of directors. For more information, call 808-242-ARTS (2787) or visit mauiarts.org.