Bishop Museum Hosts Celebrate Micronesia Festival

# Bishop Museum Hosts Celebrate Micronesia Festival

2022 Festival celebrates Micronesian cultures and connections with both in-person and livestreamed programming.

Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, in partnership and in collaboration with the East-West Center Arts Program, the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP), the Center for Pacific Island Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and Micronesian Communities in Hawaiʻi, hosts the 2022 Celebrate Micronesia Festival: Belonging on Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. throughout the Museum campus.

The 2022 Festival celebrates Micronesian cultures and connections with art, performances, poetry, and stories, and features over 20 community partners and service providers.

The event also features discounted Museum Admission for kamaʻāina and military with ID, of $5.00 per person. Admission includes access to the Festival as well as the Museum's exhibitions and galleries. Jeremiah's Food Truck will be on the Museum's Great Lawn, and Marshallese Baked Goodies will also be available for purchase.

"The Celebrate Micronesia Festival is a safe and positive space for Micronesian communities to combat the negative narratives that are widely held throughout the State of Hawaiʻi, offering broader understandings to the community about Micronesia, the diverse cultures of the region, and the value that Micronesians add to our shared space in Hawaiʻi," said James Perez Viernes, Ph.D., Pacific Islands Development Program regional engagement & development officer.

"As the State Museum of natural and cultural history of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, Bishop Museum is pleased to once again host the Celebrate Micronesia Festival for the fourth year," said Brandon Bunag, Bishop Museum vice president of public programs & interim director of education. "This year's Festival theme of 'Belonging' is especially notable during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Island Heritage Month, and we appreciate the opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Micronesia," said Bunag.

Tickets for the Celebrate Micronesia Festival can be reserved at BishopMuseum.org/Tickets.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health will be on the grounds of the Festival providing COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, and testing. In collaboration with the Department of Health, Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center has donated over 300 COVID-19 test kits for participants to collect at the HDOH vaccination/test tent.

Festival Program – In-person

• 9 a.m.: Introduction / Traditional Protocols
• 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Discover the Collection | Hawaiian Hall AtriumDiscover objects from Micronesia from Bishop Museum's cultural collections.
• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Native Hawaiian Garden ToursEnjoy a walk at your own pace through our Nā Ulu Kaiwiʻula Native Hawaiian Garden and use our QR code-accessible audio tours to learn which endemic plant species are only found in Hawaiʻi, and which indigenous Oceanic plants are shared between our islands and Micronesia.
• 9:30 a.m.: Pacific Voices
• 9:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., & 1 p.m.: Storytelling SessionsListen to stories from across Micronesia at the Bess Press tent.
• 10 a.m.: BYUH I-Kiribati Club Performance
• 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., & 4 p.m.: Wayfinders in the J. Watumull PlanetariumEnjoy a 45-minute full-dome program that puts you on the deck of the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa. The recovery of traditional navigation in Hawaiʻi would not have been possible without Mau Piailug from the Micronesian island of Satawal. Seating is limited, tickets must be reserved at Admissions or the Hoʻokipa Desk.
• 10:30 a.m.: Nohnon FSM oh Serin Ihn Katengenioar (Youth Dance Group Pohnpei)
• 10:45 a.m.: I-Kiribati Association of Honolulu
• 11 a.m.: Carol Ann Carl Poetry Performance
• 11:30 a.m.: BYUH I-Kiribati Club Performance
• 11:45 a.m.: Palauan chant with Leea Mengidab
• 12:30 p.m.: The Revitalization of Fais Maak TattooJoin us for a panel discussion and presentation in the Hawaiian Hall Atrium to learn about tattooing traditions in Micronesia. Speakers include Su'a Sulu'ape Aisea, Jermy Uowolo, and Rodney Ni Powell. In conjunction with the talk, see the exhibit Tatau: Marks of Polynesia on view in the J.M. Long Gallery.
• 1:30 p.m.: Chamoru Poets: Ifit & Angela Hoppe-Cruz
• 2 p.m.: Closing

Festival Program – Livestream

Livestreamed via the Celebrate Micronesia Facebook Page.

Livestream will begin at the start of the Festival with coverage of the live performances on the Bishop Museum Great Lawn, and continue throughout the event. Specific online programming include:

• 9:45 a.m.: Kosraean weaving video
• 1 p.m.: Chuukese storytelling with James Naich and Kathy Martin
• 2 p.m.: MicrONEnesia: Educational Resources for All

Bishop Museum Admission, Parking, and Hours

Timed General Admissions can be booked on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at BishopMuseum.org/Tickets. Tickets for Bishop Museum After Hours events can be purchased via this same webpage.

The safety and health of our visitors and employees remain our highest priorities. Face masks are optional but strongly encouraged. Learn more on our Health & Safety page.

*General Admission* Adults: $24.95 Seniors (65+): $21.95 Youth (4–17): $16.95 Children (3 and under): Free

*Hawaiʻi Residents, Hawaiʻi College Students & Military with ID* Adults: $14.95 Seniors (65+): $12.95 Youth (4–17): $10.95 Children (3 and under): Free

Children age 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Bishop Museum Annual Membership levels include free general admission and parking for 12 months. Learn more at BishopMuseum.org/Membership.

*Parking Rates* Daytime Rate: 6 a.m.–5 p.m. $5.00 Evening Rate: 5 p.m.–10 p.m. $3.00

*Hours* Open every day from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Bishop Museum Café by Highway Inn offers a limited menu of bowls, sandwiches, and snacks from 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. daily. Bishop Museum Members receive a 10% discount with their membership card.