10th Year Anniversary 2007

A Time of Celebration and Transition: HCF Comes to a Close

 

Aloha Kakou,

It is with much gratitude and aloha that we want to thank the many individuals and organizations that have supported the Hawai`i Cultural Foundation in its efforts to present Hawaiian cultural arts in New York over the past ten years. Along with the celebration this year of HCF's accomplishments, this year also marks a year of transitions.

Celebrating Ten Years

Founded in 1997, HCF was created with the vision of building a vibrant community for Hawaiian and Pacific Islander traditional and contemporary arts to thrive in New York City. The idea was conceived with the support of many members of the New York-Hawai`i community to establish the only non-profit corporation dedicated to representing the Hawaiian perspective in notably one of the most significant cultural centers in the world. Over the ten year period much was accomplished in achieving this mission. HCF launched its multi-focused programs to build a New York community of individuals joined by their ties to Hawai`i while providing Hawai`i artists, educators and cultural practioners an opportunity to share their talents and views with East Coast audiences. Over this period, HCF grew in scope to include concerts, workshops, community networking, lectures and an annual film festival while building strong partnerships with cultural organizations across the country.

Transitions: Closing HCF, Inc.

With a look back over the past ten years, an organizational assessment for HCF's next stage revealed the need to face the economic challenges in supporting a small cultural arts organization in New York City, while acknowledging the significant impact on sustaining operations with recent organizational changes. To responsibly address these issues, the HCF Board decided that HCF is no longer strongly positioned to sustain a 501(c)3 organization and will dissolve HCF as a corporation and its programmatic work as of June, 30 2007.

Pacifika Film Festival On Sabbatical

The HCF signature event entitled Pacifika: New York Hawaiian Film Festival will regrettably not take place during its customary month of May 2007. With the closing of its parent organization (HCF), Pacifika instead will take a hiatus during 2007 and will redefine its goals and objectives for the future—that includes a new partnership with a key cultural institution for a more permanent screening home, and a traveling, global component of the festival—amongst other pending initiatives. The support, energy and audience that the festival received in New York City during the past 4 years have been tremendous and create a strong foundation for a future incarnation of Pacifika.

A Vibrant NYC-Hawai`i Community Lives On

The strength of the NYC-Hawai`i community has always resided in the many people who have shared their sense of `ohana and aloha with each other since Hawaiians first traveled to the East Coast. The aloha spirit of those who laid the foundation in New York continues on today in the many individuals who support and practice the Hawaiian and Pacific arts and culture throughout New York in the existing hula groups and Hawaiian music community. So, despite these transitions, we are confident that sustainability and growth within the NYC-Hawai`i community will continue and thrive. 

These past ten years have truly been a blessing and joy for us to be involved with such a wonderful community of individuals who exemplify the spirit of aloha. Mahalo to all of you, and in particular our dedicated Board of Directors, who have shared your warmth, generosity and aloha with us and our `ohana in sustaining a vibrant Pacific Islander cultural presence and community spirit in the heart of New York City. The NYC-Hawai`i community will forever be held dear to our hearts, and we have great confidence that it will continue to thrive and expand in positive new directions.

With fond aloha and heartfelt gratitude,

Janu Cassidy & Michelle Akina

MAHALO NUI LOA, Nersa Miller! Our NYC Ambassador of Aloha!