Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026
A gathering for mele Hawaiʻi and the stewards of this cultural practice.
Kāhuli Leo Leʻa presents the Mele Conference and Mele Hula Festival, a multi-day gathering dedicated to mele (Hawaiian song) and its related cultural practices. Attendees will enjoy three days of presentations (subject to change) below:
Day 1 – Thursday, June 11, 2026
The conference begins with a series of plenary sessions dedicated to overarching conversations of mele, including compostion, ʻāina, hula, industry, and a haku mele competition.
Day 2 – Friday, June 12, 2026
Breakout sessions are tailored towards mele practitioners, educators, and music industry professionals, featuring a series of lectures from renown haku mele and a collection of industry/educational professional development sessions.
Music Royalty Help Desk (available 9:30a-4:30p in the foyer)
The cultural practice of mele persists when mele practitioners enjoy economic sustainability. One pathway toward economic sustainability comes in the form of music royalties. This help desk offers a Question-and-Answer session with a music royalty specialist, as a resource for mele practitioners who engage with music royalty revenue streams.
Day 3 – Saturday, June 13, 2026
Recognizing the inherent relationship between hula and mele, the conference culminates with the Mele Hula Festival, a new mele and hula competition on June 13.
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NOTICE OF FILMING
The area within and surrounding the Mele Conference and Mele Hula Festival are being used in the recording of video and photographs. Through your presence in these areas, you acknowledge that you have been informed that you may be recorded for use in any and all media products including, but not limited to, broadcast television, online content, social media, advertising, or publicity in perpetuity.
Further, by your presence in these areas, you grant your permission for your likeness and voice to be included therein without compensation, credit, or other consideration. If you do not wish to be photographed, recorded, or otherwise appear under these conditions, please speak to a staff member.
A gathering for mele Hawaiʻi and the stewards of this cultural practice.
Kāhuli Leo Leʻa presents the Mele Conference and Mele Hula Festival, a multi-day gathering dedicated to mele (Hawaiian song) and its related cultural practices. Attendees will enjoy three days of presentations (subject to change) below:
Day 1 – Thursday, June 11, 2026
The conference begins with a series of plenary sessions dedicated to overarching conversations of mele, including compostion, ʻāina, hula, industry, and a haku mele competition.
Day 2 – Friday, June 12, 2026
Breakout sessions are tailored towards mele practitioners, educators, and music industry professionals, featuring a series of lectures from renown haku mele and a collection of industry/educational professional development sessions.
Music Royalty Help Desk (available 9:30a-4:30p in the foyer)
The cultural practice of mele persists when mele practitioners enjoy economic sustainability. One pathway toward economic sustainability comes in the form of music royalties. This help desk offers a Question-and-Answer session with a music royalty specialist, as a resource for mele practitioners who engage with music royalty revenue streams.
Day 3 – Saturday, June 13, 2026
Recognizing the inherent relationship between hula and mele, the conference culminates with the Mele Hula Festival, a new mele and hula competition on June 13.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NOTICE OF FILMING
The area within and surrounding the Mele Conference and Mele Hula Festival are being used in the recording of video and photographs. Through your presence in these areas, you acknowledge that you have been informed that you may be recorded for use in any and all media products including, but not limited to, broadcast television, online content, social media, advertising, or publicity in perpetuity.
Further, by your presence in these areas, you grant your permission for your likeness and voice to be included therein without compensation, credit, or other consideration. If you do not wish to be photographed, recorded, or otherwise appear under these conditions, please speak to a staff member.
Good to know
Highlights
- 2 days 12 hours
- In person
Refund Policy
Location
Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort
2255 Kalākaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
How do you want to get there?
Agenda
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Welcome
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Plenary Session #1
Kani Maiau: Haku Mele Fundamentals (Plenary Session) This first plenary session of Mele Conference 2026 features a fundamental discussion around the significance of mele as a cultural practice – from discussions on the unique attributes, procedures, and values of haku mele (mele composition) to the importance of mele within Hawaiʻi's comtemporary soundscape.
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Plenary Session #2
Kani Kuamauna: Composing Place (Plenary Session) This plenary session of Mele Conference 2026 features a panel discussion with mele practitioners who utilize mele to interact with -- ceremonialize, sanctify, honor, transform --a sense of place. Throughout the conversation, each panelist will reference a composition of their own, demonstrating their use and understanding of mele as a composition of place.