Spokane Fall Folk Festival
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • Mission Statement
    • Directions & Maps >
      • Accommodations & Transportation
    • Testimonials
    • Poster Archive
    • Committee
    • Contact Us
    • News & Press Articles
    • Spokane Folklore Society
  • Programs
    • KPBX Re-Broadcast
  • Performances
    • Acknowledgements
    • Alma Brasileira
    • Angus Scott PB
    • Arvid Lundin & Deep Roots
    • Blue Ribbon Tea Co
    • Brad Keeler
    • Brittany Jean
    • Bulgarian Dance Group
    • Cd'A Youth Marimba
    • Coeurimba
    • Crooked Kilt
    • Dario Re
    • Dennis Glidden
    • Eyer Family Band
    • Frankie Ghee
    • Hank Cramer
    • Hunter Koss
    • Indian Youth Club
    • Jen Edgren
    • Larry Lotz
    • LaVona Reeves
    • Little Red Shed
    • Lyle Morse
    • Maple Ridge Band
    • Patrice Webb
    • Poor Boy's Delight
    • Sidetrack
    • Silver Spurs
    • Sondahl Hawkins & Thomsen
    • Spokane Area Square Dancers
    • Spokane Bon Odori Dancers
    • SFS Contra Dances
    • Spokane Storytelling League
    • Spokane Taiko
    • Steven King
    • Steven Schennum
    • Performer Referrals
  • Sponsors
    • Major Sponsors
    • Friends of the Festival
  • Volunteers
    • Acknowledgements 2020
    • Volunteer Thank You 2019
    • Two Special Volunteers 2019
    • Two Special Volunteers 2018
    • Two Special Volunteers 2017
    • Volunteer Appreciation Dance 2017
  • Vendors
  • Photos
    • Festival Photos 2019
    • Festival Photos Archive
    • Haran Irish Dancers Photos 2018
    • Jammers Photos 2018
    • Contra Dance Workshop Photos 2018
    • Kids Photos
    • Scottish Photos
    • Volunteer Photos
    • Vendor Photos
  • Wares
    • Festival Buttons Sale
    • Festival Buttons Archive
    • Festival T-Shirt Archive
    • Festival Hats Archive
    • Festival Mug Archive
  • Donate
    • Donation Online
  • Store

Hawaiian Music Spotlight for 2017

Donate to Support the Festival
​The roots of Hawaiian music go back a thousand years and you can still hear echoes of the past in today’s rhythms, percussion instruments, chants and vocal styles. Hawaiian folk music includes several varieties of chanting (mele) and music meant for highly ritualized dance (hula). Traditional Hawaiian music and dance was functional, used to express praise, communicate genealogy and mythology, and accompany games, festivals and other secular events.

Traditional music is generally simple in its structure, while the hula is a complex art form, and there are many hand motions used to represent the words in a song or chant. For example, hand movements can signify aspects of nature, such as the swaying of a tree in the breeze or a wave in the ocean, or a feeling or emotion, such as fondness or yearning.

Steel guitars featuring slack key, a “slacked” or loosened tuning technique, and the ukulele are linked to the Island sound. Portuguese immigrants brought the ukulele to the Islands at the end of the 19th century. Today, the ukulele is still a fundamental part of the musical landscape, not simply on stage, but also at family picnics or on the beach.

Relax and dream as our performers share the Aloha spirit.

Northwest Hula Company 
(Saturday, 1:30 - 2:00 pm – Small Gym in Bldg 5)
 
We welcome back Northwest Hula Company “Halau Hula O Ka La” Spokane’s leader in authentic and traditional Hawaiian hula and Polynesian dance. Longtime supporters of the festival, they beautifully share their island stories.
Picture

Mele Polinahe
(Sunday, 1:30 - 2:00 pm – Cafeteria)

​Mele Polinahe help us get the Island warmth, as they perform from traditional to modern style. You will feel like you are in Waikiki.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Spokane Folklore Society is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to fostering international cultures in Spokane.
Spokane Folklore Society, PO Box 9768, Spokane, WA 99209-9768 | (509) 828-3683 | Director@spokanefolkfestival.org
© COPYRIGHT 2016 - 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.