Patrick Makuakāne, Grace Cathedral’s Artist in Residence, will create a kuahu, which will be available to view from Thursday, March 6, through Sunday, March 9.

The kuahu is a simple structure set up on the eastern side of the hālau hula (hula school) serving as a temporary abode for the deity, or divine elemental. The divine elemental associated with hula is a forest entity, and solidifies the relationship between humankind and nature, serving as a reminder of our symbiotic relationship, and the importance of caring for one another.

The kuahu is decorated with fresh greenery from the surrounding area—flowers, vines, leaves, and plants—symbolizing characteristics desired for a student, such as overcoming shyness, strength, confidence, repelling negativity. The kuahu serves as a beacon for the divine elemental to come and sit, for the main purpose of inspiring the students to be the best they can be. The kuahu is normally set up for special purposes, like graduating a dancer from one level to another. Many prayers, chants, and rituals are conducted: from plant and wood retrieval, to the building of the kuahu, placing of the greenery upon the structure, and finally, breakdown and removal.

Event Details

The kuahu may be seen during regular cathedral hours, 10 am to 5 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 pm on Sunday.

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About our Artist in Residence

Patrick Makuakāne is a 2023 MacArthur Fellow. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, he studied with renowned hula masters, Robert Uluwehi Cazimero and Mae Kamāmalu Klein. While grounded in the traditions of hula, his artistry crafts a provocative treatment of tradition that leaps forward in surprising and meaningful ways. His work explores an expansive variety of cultural traditions and colonial impact, including colonization, reclamation of Native Hawaiian agency, and gender fluidity. Patrick also serves as a spiritual advisor at San Quentin State Prison for the Hawaiian Religious Spiritual Group.