| yee |
Aloha Allison,
Your questions are important towards improving and enhancing a second kava festival next year. We are already in the stage of asking for feedback, even essays, from everybody. =) Here are some thoughts to your questions.
1. At whom was the festival targeted? (i.e. students? tourists? – the various methods of marketing)
Targeting was difficult with limited resources. The festival did have some goals of reaching out to various segments of society and for different reasons (see 5). One audience was the non-kava drinkers and tourists, another was the Hawaiian, local and Pacific Islander community.
With a limited budget, the least expensive methods of marketing were used. These included PSAs (public service announcements provided free by some media), OHA's magazine, email lists of Hawaiian organizations, faculty, previous conferences, networks of friends, announcements, flyers to the Lyon Arboretum plant sale. Some ads were also placed in the newspaper. Everybody in their own fashion did what they could to get the word out.
2. Who was involved in the planning of the festival? (i.e. native Hawaiian community? faculty?)
Many were involved in the planning of the festival. Some offered views and invaluable consultation. Lyon Arboretum, representatives of the Hawaiian kava ('awa) industry, UH faculty, a student doing his Master's Degree in 'awa, friends who have an intact Hawaiian family culture and tradition, and kumu-kahuna were involved. Some were wore multiple hats. Whoever could make it to the meetings played an active role in the decision making.
3. Who (was?) asked to sell goods/do retail at the festival and where there specific criteria for accepting/denying the online ‘application’?
Anybody who had a kava, Hawaiian or Pacific Islander theme were encouraged to sell things. Diversity and innovative kava use and products were encouraged as well. Given the nature of this festival, merchants would know better about how their product would fit or be accepted by the audience for this occasion. As far as I'm aware, no applicant was denied participation to the festival. All were accepted.
4. What cultural, ecological, or other significance was there to having the festival at Lyon Arboretum?
We were very fortunate that the Director of Lyon Arboretum, Alan Teramura, suggested the beginnings of what evolved into this festival. As you can see, Mänoa is a very special place. Lyon Arboretum has a most beautiful backdrop of the Ko'olau and there are few places in town that can compare with or offer the natural scenery, lush landscaping, respite from busyness of Honolulu, and, moreover, the ability to accommodate a festival. As such, Lyon, and its location in Mänoa, is a treasured part of Honolulu within the Waikïkï ahupua'a. For further cultural significance I would defer to our kumu-kahuna, Lake, Crabbe, Gon, Kaopio and Kikiloi.
5. What was it hoped that the festival would accomplish? (and did it in your opinion?)
To a noticeable extent, I feel that we did accomplish some of our goals. Yet as in any other developmental period, we have a lot more to do.
As you may well be aware, kava has suffered from perhaps uninformed conclusions or controversy about alleged heptotoxic dangers. The result has been an effective suppression of its use and benefits for many patients and practitioners world-wide. I feel also this has been sometimes translated into corresponding judgments on Hawaiian and Pacific Island cultures. Reversing some of these extreme, unscientific, negative views was a major goal of the festival. This will probably take a long time.
As such, reaching out to our target audiences of (1) non-kava drinkers, (2) Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, local population at large and tourists; (3) educating to dispelling misconceptions, misinformation and consequent hysteria of kava; and (4) bringing about a wider market acceptance of kava, including the introduction of innovative products, were important steps.
And bringing in the latest in scientific research on kava was another goal. Scientists from UH and NTBG brought their latest findings to the festival about kava. Surveys of kava drinkers were solicited. We felt it important to deal with the controversy directly. Ample opportunity was available at the lectures in the Lyon classroom, and at the CTAHR booths to discuss science.
In another dimension, the Hawaiian community would have some opportunity here to strengthen relations with one another and other cultures. Like exercise, expression of such cultures also perhaps made for them to be stronger and brought about more aspects of unity. After all, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cultures are the solid bases for kava.
6. How does this (or can it) relate to other ‘festivals’ or ‘cultural events’ on the islands?
The Hawai'i Pacific Islands Kava Festival was modeled somewhat after some of the taro festivals. That is, a festival with cultural, educational and commercial aspects - an example perhaps of how all three demonstrate the ties that they have in society. I would add that kava plays a unique and central role in Hawaii and Pacific Island cultures. Consequently it is venerated like no other, and thus the attached 'awa ceremony as such. And as hosts who have long embraced kava, and through this festival, the Hawaiian community has continued to demonstrate leadership in steering things to what may be considered as pono (or what is right).
These are my views. If you have more questions, or need clarification or references please feel free to let me know.
Mahalo,
Jonathan
Hawaiian Kava Center, LLC
PO Box 26344
Honolulu HI 96825
(808) 256-5605
yee@hawaiiankava.com
http://hawaiiankava.com
http://kavaforum.org
http://kavafestival.org
Hawaiian Kava Center, LLC
http://hawaiiankava.com |