Pākaʻa Lanakila! was composed to bring the sounds of live concert music and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi to generations young and old. It has been performed for families and school children by Chamber Music Hawaiʻi’s Spring Wind Quintet, on all of the major Hawaiian islands.
When students jump into the waʻa (canoe) with their new friend Pākaʻa, they experience Pākaʻa’s victories over adversity. They learn that challenging conventional thinking can sometimes yield interesting and valuable results. And they are reminded in numerous ways that patience is often necessary in any worthwhile undertaking.
To deepen the learning, a free Teacher Resource Guide supported by Chamber Music Hawaiʻi is available in English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Palapala Kumu Haʻawina) to support learners – especially learners in 3rd to 5th grades – and provide ideas of incorporating this new musical retelling of an old ‘coming of age’ moʻolelo (story) into classroom curricula. With teachers’ help and encouragement, a new generation of learners will be able to access the rich tradition of Hawaiian story-telling through the dramatic musical work, Pākaʻa Lanakila!
Free Downloads:
Palapala Kumu Haʻawina here
Teacher Resource Guide here