Congratulations to The Music of Kalaupapa Concert!
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation is thrilled to be presenting The Music of Kalaupapa concert an Achievement in Interpretive Media Preservation Honor Award. The Music of Kalaupapa was a virtual concert celebrating the often-forgotten musicians of Kalaupapa and the many songs they composed that premiered on October 17, 2020. Beautifully executed, the concert has created a perpetual space for these musicians, their lyrics, their artistry, and their spirits to live on. The concert was the idea of Valerie Monson, the recently retired executive director of the nonprofit Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, who oversaw the project from start to finish. “The history of Kalaupapa is often told in a manner solely focused on the sadness or sensational images. As a result, many aspects of Kalaupapa that contributed to life in the community -- music, arts, sports and hobbies -- have been left out," Monson explained. "Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa has always tried to show the history with more context and dignity, not rewriting history by ignoring the struggles, but by including the ways that the people of Kalaupapa overcame the adversities. Music was certainly one of these.” The Music of Kaluapapa highlighted these stories of triumph. This community was able to find beauty and joy in life amongst truly challenging times--something which is poignantly pertinent to current times. Monson shared her thoughts about the impact this concert had on the community and people of Kalaupapa: "I think it ended up being a really fun day at Kalaupapa, something different and engaging six months into the pandemic lockdown when there were no family or friends coming to visit or provide entertainment. The Franciscan Sisters at Bishop Home and the nurses at The Kalaupapa Care Home set [...]