Music and Mentorship Brought Artists and Community Together in Kīlauea
A three day festival called HOME IN THE ISLANDS KAUA‘I! took place in Kīlauea from November 13 to 15, offering evening performances and daytime mentorship activities for local musicians and kama‘āina. The event, presented by Anaina Hou Community Park and the Henry Kapono Foundation, provided a platform for artistic exchange and volunteer participation, with organizers listing contact and website information for attendees and volunteers.
HOME IN THE ISLANDS KAUA‘I! filled Anaina Hou Community Park with a blend of concerts and educational sessions over three days in mid November. The program combined evening performances with daytime mentorship activities, creating structured opportunities for local musicians and longtime residents to interact with visiting artists. The event calendar supplied dates and times, and included contact details and a website for those seeking more information or wishing to volunteer.
Organized by Anaina Hou Community Park in partnership with the Henry Kapono Foundation, the festival positioned itself as both a cultural celebration and a hands on mentorship forum. By pairing performances with daytime workshops, organizers aimed to build connections across generations of musicians and to support skill development among kama‘āina. The presence of visiting artists alongside local talent created direct channels for knowledge transfer and networking within Kauai County’s music community.
For residents, the festival offered cultural enrichment and civic engagement. The mentorship sessions highlighted an informal infrastructure for arts education that complements formal programs in schools and community centers. Volunteer roles listed by organizers provided additional pathways for community members to participate in event operations and to support local cultural programming.
From a policy and institutional perspective the festival underscores the importance of sustained support for arts programming on Kauai. Events that use public park space raise questions about coordination between nonprofit organizers and county authorities on permitting, safety planning, and accessibility. Ensuring transparent information about event logistics, volunteer opportunities, and funding sources can help build public trust and encourage broader civic participation.
HOME IN THE ISLANDS KAUA‘I! demonstrated how targeted cultural events can strengthen local creative ecosystems and engage residents directly. Organizers provided contact and website information for follow up, offering a means for attendees and volunteers to stay connected to future programming and to the evolving music community on Kauai.
