Kalihi Palama Culture

About us

The Kalihi-Pālama Culture & Arts Society of Honolulu: Its Mission and History In 1972, Kumu Hula George Lanakilakekiahialiʻi Naʻope, and Kahu Wendell Silva created our organization to preserve authentic Hawaiian culture through dance and language. The Kalihi-Pālama Culture & Arts Society (“Kalihi-Pālama”) grew out of the political, social and cultural upheaval of America in the 1970’s. Hawaiian music, politics, Hawaiian language, the Polynesian Voyaging Society and of course, hula all created what is now seen as a Renaissance of Hawaiian Culture. With these humble beginnings, Kumu Hula George Naʻope and Kahu Wendell Silva charted the growth of Kalihi-Pālama such that its signature event, the Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition, is now recognized internationally as the most prestigious children’s hula competition in the world. In the nearly 50 years of our competition, we estimate that we have hosted over 25,000 children who have danced hula on our stage.