San Francisco's Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu to Celebrate 'Kanakolu - 30 Years of Hula'

In honor of its 30th anniversary, Kumu Hula Patrick Makuak?ne and his award-winning dance troupe, N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu, return to the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre for four performances only (October 17-25) with Kanakolu - 30 Years of Hula, a thrilling retrospective that pays tribute to the company's vast body of work. Featuring several of Na Lei Hulu's greatest hits from the past 30 years, Kanakolu - 30 Years of Hula will also include several world premiere dance numbers. Tickets for Kanakolu - 30 Years of Hula range in price from $35-40 and are available now through City Box Office at 415-392-4400 or online at cityboxoffice.com.

"For three decades, we have been cultivating tradition while finding new expression through Hawaiian dance. Who knew that San Francisco would provide such fertile ground for us? We were lucky to make a home in a city that is synonymous with innovation - and where various flavors and ethnicities flourish," says Makuak?ne. "As hula people, we have been able to stay attuned to the creativity of our ancestors, while tapping into the San Francisco cultural zeitgeist. Our show, Kanakolu, is both a reflection and a celebration of our 30-year creative journey."

Known for their trademark hula mua - which brings the ancient Hawaiian dance form into the modern realm by setting traditional hula movements to decidedly non-Hawaiian music resulting in a theatrical experience that is visually captivating and culturally rich - as well as hula kahiko - the traditional pre-Western style of Hawaiian dance - N? Lei Hulu I Ka W?kiu has garnered critical and audience acclaim throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

Kanakolu - 30 Years of Hula will play four performances only at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts (Bay & Lyon Streets). The performance schedule is as follows: Saturday, October 17 at 8 p.m., Sunday, October 18 at 3 p.m.; Saturday, October 24 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, October 25 at 3 p.m. There is a one-hour family matinee designed especially for children and families scheduled for Sunday, October 24 at Noon. There will be an opening night champagne reception immediately following the performance on Saturday, October 17, as well as a gala benefit L?'au and silent auction on Saturday, October 24 at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for Kanakolu - 30 Years of Hula range in price from $35-$40 (reserved seating) for regular performances and $10 (general admission) for the family matinee. Tickets to the opening night champagne reception on Saturday, October 16 are $85. Tickets for the gala benefit L?'au and silent auction on Saturday, October 24 are $150.