Mele Wahi Kapu "Forbidden Places" a Night of Mele, Oli, and Hula

HONOLULU, HI (April 29, 2025) – Experience the profound cultural significance of sacred Hawaiian spaces at the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives' (HMH) acclaimed Mele Program. "Wahi Kapu – Forbidden Places" will transport guests through time and tradition on Saturday, May 17, 2025, revealing stories of Hawaiʻi's most revered and restricted locations through the powerful expressions of mele (song), oli (chant), and hula (dance).

EXPLORING THE SACRED AND FORBIDDEN

The concept of "kapu" – defined in the 1836 Lorrin Andrews Dictionary as prohibited, forbidden, sacred, or devoted to specific purposes – has shaped Hawaiian cultural practices for centuries. "Wahi Kapu" will illuminate places historically designated as kapu due to their connections to deities or aliʻi (royalty), such as the volcanic realm of Kīlauea or Pohukaina on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace. The program will also explore modern forbidden places like the privately-owned island of Niʻihau and Kahoʻolawe, which remains restricted due to unexploded ordnance.

WORLD-CLASS CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS

This captivating journey through Hawaiʻi's sacred geography will be brought to life by the renowned musicians and dancers of Hālau Mele, under the expert leadership of Kumu Sam ʻOhu Gon III and Kumu Mahealani Wong, alongside Hālau Hula Kamamolikolehua under the direction of Kumu Pohai Souza. Together, these cultural practitioners will weave traditional and contemporary understandings of "wahi kapu" through authentic performances.

EVENT DETAILS

● Date & Time: Saturday, May 17, 2025 | Seating opens at 5:30 p.m. | Performance begins at 6:30 p.m.

● Location: Kahua Hoʻokipa Stage at Hawaiian Mission Houses | 553 S. King St.

● Tickets: $40 per person – purchase at missionhouses.org/upcoming-events

● Culinary Experience: Gourmet charcuterie options available for purchase from Da'Cuterie by Oahu Premier Picnics

● Beverages: Cash bar featuring beer, wine, water, and soft drinks (available from 5:30 p.m. through intermission)

● Parking: Available at Civic Center Municipal Parking (346 Alapaʻi Street) or metered street parking on Kawaiahaʻo St., Mission Lane, or South Street

● Weather Contingency: In case of inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances, the event will be rescheduled to May 24, 2025

Press are invited for FREE. Please contact Amy Schwab to make arrangements for the media.

CULTURAL CONTEXT: UNDERSTANDING KAPU

While "Kapu" is commonly interpreted today as simply "Keep Out," its traditional significance runs far deeper. In ancient Hawaiian society, kapu represented spiritual restrictions based on mana (spiritual power). Places such as upland forests and mountain summits were considered "wao akua" – the realm of the gods – and entering these spaces required elaborate ceremony and sacrifice. Similarly, places associated with aliʻi carried perilous kapu restrictions that, if violated, often resulted in death. In modern contexts, these spiritual dangers have sometimes been replaced by physical hazards or legal restrictions.