Talk Story

Listening to Kumu Recca tell us about Wai’kiki

Learning through the oral tradition is not only transferred from kumu (expert) to haumana (student) but also through the telling of stories. The retelling of stories in an amusing and engaging way was an admired gift as I grew up. People would exclaim in pleasure and anticipation if a favorite cousin or aunty was said to be coming to a party. “Oh! Deborah’s coming? Good! Good! She can talk story!”

Listening to a gifted storyteller retell a story was as pleasurable and memorable and helped the listener to retell the story too, because they could imitate the lively way a story could be told instead of a dry reading of the news events of the day.

Thursday February 28th I designed and will offer a free interactive workshop for artists wanting to participate in Wahi Pana. The huakai (guided onsite tours) where kumu would share with us their mo’olelo of the selected wahi pana are pau and this would be the last chance to hear the stories associated with the locations. Signup is via eventbrite.

I will be using the attendees of the huakai from Kawainui Marsh, Waianae, and Waikiki to help tell stories and let the participants ‘talk story’ about the collective knowledge we have about the sites before we set out to make art during March 8-10.