The Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) opens to an in-person audience for four live performances at the Kahilu Theatre for the first time in two years.
HPAF Executive Director Justin John Moniz said that despite the pandemic, the HPAF has continued planning the event and will offer viewing of the performances in multiple ways this summer.
"HPAF has continued to push forward and make improvements in order to reach audiences far beyond Hawaii Island," Moniz told Big Island Times. "For the first time this summer, all performances will be broadcast via Kahilu.TV and made accessible to audiences for 60 days following each performance. We hope this will allow concertgoers to more easily enjoy HPAF’s educational events and musical offerings — both this summer and in future seasons to come."
After 17 years of the annual HPAF, Moniz said that public support through donations and attending events help to keep the festival going, since the organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
"The public can support HPAF by making a tax-deductible donation via the HPAF website and/or by purchasing tickets to attend one of our four upcoming performances by visiting the HPAF website," Moniz said.
Moniz said that plans and registration for next year's summer festival will be made available during the fall.
"Opportunities to audition for our 2022 Summer Festival will be made available this fall. Artists can keep an eye on the HPAF website, where more information will be shared later this summer, including the 2022 season, which will include a number of fully staged operas and musicals," Moniz said.
The 2021 HPAF, titled "The Journey Back," will be held Thursday, July 8, to Sunday, July 18, offering limited-capacity in-person audiences at the Kahilu Theatre for performances including: "Stars of Tomorrow" on Thursday, July 8, at 7 p.m.; critically acclaimed soprano Rachel Copeland and pianist Val Underwood in "Songs of Hope" on Tuesday, July 13, at 7 p.m.; Justin John Moniz and Phil Kadet performing songs from their debut album "Along the Way" on Friday, July 16, at 7 p.m.; and the conclusion of the festival with "Rise Up!" at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 18. "Rise Up!" features vocals from Nyla Watson and Ana Flavia Zuim on piano.
Musicians and artists are not only from the Hawaii area, but also include talents from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America and Europe who come to the island every year for intensive study and performance training.
Along with putting on the yearly summer festival, HPAF also offers special performances during the fall and winter seasons, whose proceeds go to supporting scholarships for aspiring young artists that attend the festival each year, according to HPAF's website.
According to the mission statement of HPAF, the organization works to "promote the appreciation and advancement of classical music and musical theater, to offer a world-class music training and performance program in the inspirational setting of Hawaii, and to improve the education and elevate the spirit of all who participate, especially the local community."