Making of ʻUmeke Lāʻau: Culture Medicine
Presented by: Hawaiʻi Contemporary

Honolulu Hale Courtyard
April 15, 2025, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Join visual poet, educator, and HT25 multimedia artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer alongside ‘Umeke collaborators Kainoa Gruspe and Amber Khan in a conversation moderated by HT25 co-curator Noelle M.K.Y. Kahanu. Together, they explore the process, inspiration, and collective effort behind ‘Umeke Lā‘au: Culture Medicine, a sculptural calabash symbolizing care and cultural practice.

Rooted in ancestral knowledge and deep connections to place, Meyer’s work revives and strengthens traditions passed down by kūpuna (elders) and kumu (teachers). Designed as a gathering space, ‘Umeke Lā‘au invites the community to experience art as a force for connection, resilience, and transformation. The installation features an audio component honoring the tens of thousands of Hawaiians who signed the Kūʻē Petitions in 1897, resisting the illegal annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States.

This event is co-sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA), helping to bring together the power of art, history, and community to foster healing and inspire change. Be part of this important conversation and witness how art becomes a vessel for cultural preservation and transformation.

For more information, please visit the Hawaiʻi Contemporary website.