East Maui Taro Festival # 5 April 4, 5 & 6, 1997
In July of 1996, The founders of the East Maui Taro Festival completed the legal steps necessary to incorporate the EMTF as a Non-Profit Organization. The Hana Cultural Center is pleased to have been the sponsoring agency for this exceptional cultural event during the past three years, and looks forward to their continued success in the future.
The Taro Festival was first organized by Maria Orr while she was a Trustee of the Center in 1992. Maria has been the Executive Director of the Taro Festival for the past five years.
As the photos indicate, this event has grown to be much more than a recognition of the Taro. In 1996, the event included an `awa ceremony to honor the lineage of Hana Coast families, and although the Hokule`a did not arrive for the festival this year, the Hana Community has been assured by Nainoa Thompson, Executive Director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society that only the weather could prevent the Hokule`a from attending the April 1997 event.
For additional information on the festival, please call John or Kanani Kahalehoe at 248-7781 or visit the Taro Festival website.
