A Conversation with Keola & Moana Beamer

This interview with Keola and Moana beamer was recorded in January 2011 at The Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference in New York City. To listen to the podcast, scroll down and click on the link. The interview is about 40 minutes long.

Keola & Moana Beamer will perform in the Harrisburg, PA area on Sunday, February 20, 2011. There will be a free Hula Workshop at 4:30 pm,  a Potluck at  6:00 pm and a concert at Concert 7:30 pm. The events will occur at Camp Hill United Methodist Church (CHUM). More information can be found at www.sfmsfolk.org.

Keola and Moana Beamer are the First Family of Hawaiian music, touring the world to present their unique vision of Hawaii's cultural arts. Keola is a master of Slack Key, the mellow, melodic guitar style indigenous to Hawaii, and Moana is renowned for her mastery of authentic Hula dancing. Together, their presentations bring to life the natural beauty and the cultural awareness that makes Hawaii uniquely appealing.

 Keola Beamer is a recognized master of Hawaiian artistic expression. With roots going back to the 15th Century, his family tree includes several influential performers, composers, and teachers. Keola has studied music and hula since he was a child, and has been an active teacher and performer of kï hö alu (slack key guitar) since the 1970s. His influence launched a statewide revival of this uniquely Hawaiian musical form.

 Moana Beamer began her hula training at the early age of four, and now teaches hula workshops around the world. With some 272 documented styles, hula incorporates spiritual and philosophical currents along with the movements of dance. Moana's performances showcase many of those styles, along with background vocals, percussive interludes, chanting, and an element of "talk story," giving the background behind many of the pieces the duo perform together. She also plays several ancient Hawaiian percussive instruments, including iliili, kä eke eke and ipu.