2021 Winner of the Ho'owehiwehi Award - Dr. George S. Kanahele  for the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa and Ho‘okela Hawaiian Heritage and Culture Center
 

We are proud to present Ms. Ku‘uipo Kumukahi, the Sweetheart of Hawaiian Music. Her extensive ‘ike (knowledge of) Hawai‘i and aloha nui (great love) for this ‘āina (land) and her kanaka (people) is what makes this living legend the perfect choice to lead our hotel as the Director of Hawaiian Culture and Community Relations. Ho‘okela Hawaiian Heritage and Culture Center at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki has partnered with the Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society (HMPS), a local nonprofit organization, dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and perpetuation of mele Hawai‘i (Hawaiian poetry/music). Together, they have created, designed, implemented, and managed a variety of projects. As the pandemic evolved, Ku‘uipo and her team were challenged to provide activities that would encourage connections between the visitors and Hawai‘i’s rich culture while maintaining pandemic protocols to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being. As Hawai‘i’s gates re-opened and gatherings resumed with modifications, Ho‘okela and HMPS seized the opportunity to further develop its robust cultural programs and ongoing community initiatives we enjoy today.