New Field Museum exhibition Chicago’s Legacy Hula anchors inaugural Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Left: On Chicago’s lakefront to perform a chant to greet the sunrise, Chicago-based Hula practitioners gather around an ̀ipu heke, a traditional Hawaiian percussion implement made from two gourds. From left: Kahookele Napuahinano Sumberg, Carole Lanialoha Lee, Catherine Joy Dayagdag, Hannah Ii-Epstein, and Kū Kamaehao Sumberg © Photo courtesy of Anna Rose Ii-Epstein Right: A kahili—the sacred royal standard of the Hawaiian monarchy—made of wood and feathers. In 1949, Kulamanu Nash, a Chicagoan and relative of the Hawaiian royal family, donated 35 kāhili to the Field Museum.© Field Museum, Michelle Kuo
The inaugural celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the Field Museum offers a robust schedule of events, panels, demonstrations, and is anchored by the opening of Chicago’s Legacy Hula, a new exhibition honoring four Kumu Hula (Master Teachers of Hula) who migrated to Chicago and made monumental contributions to the future development of the Native Hawaiian and Hula communities in the Chicago Midwest.
The exhibition kicks off with an opening celebration on May 27, which will include performances of Hula masters’ dance styles, featherwork demonstrations, music, and design activities. A related virtual talk (May 10) with curators Kumu Hula Carole Lanialoha Lee and Kehaulaini Lum, and exhibition developer Ryan Schuessler gives a preview of the upcoming exhibition.
Other highlights of the month include two Meet a Scientist events; one presenting the spectacular flowers of the Hengduan Mountains of China (May 12), the other showcasing Chinese Shadow Puppets (May 19). A full list of events is below.
All programs are free with general museum admission. Admission to the Cyrus Tang Hall of China will also be free every Tuesday in May.
Visit Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Field Museum for additional information.
Event listings:
Presentation - May 3
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Armour Seminar: Dr. Zhe-Xi Luo - Ward Hall Dr. Luo Zhe-Xi, University of Chicago, presents Diversification of Early Mammals in the Age of Dinosaurs.
Virtual Talk - May 10
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Virtual Lecture: Chicago’s Legacy Hula Co-curators Kumu Hula Carole Lanialoha Lee and Kehaulaini Lum, and exhibition developer Ryan Schuessler give a preview of Chicago’s Legacy Hula.
Demonstration - May 12
11:00 AM - 1 PM - Meet a Scientist: Dr. Richard Ree and Samantha Kish-Levine - Grainger Science Hub Richard Ree, Curator of Flowering Plants and Samantha Kish-Levine, University of Chicago Graduate Student present Spectacular Flowers of the Hengduan Mountains, China.
Demonstration - May 19
11:00 AM - 1 PM - Meet a Scientist: Lani Albanza-Chan and Trinity Medellin - Grainger Science Hub Lania Albana-Chan and Trinity Medellin showcase Chinese Shadow Puppets.
Storytime - May 23 and 30
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM - Storytime with the Chicago Public Library - Crown Family PlayLab Chicago Public Library’s Ms. Sarah reads and tells stories related to AANHPI month.
Presentation - May 24
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Armour Seminar: Rachunliu Kamei - Founders’ Room Rachunliu Kamel presents Caecilians! Not worms, not eels, not snakes.
Exhibition Opening - May 26
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Chicago’s Legacy Hula - Regenstein Halls of the Pacific, Upper Level Chicago’s Legacy Hula is a new exhibition honoring four Kumu Hula (Master Teachers of Hula) who migrated to Chicago and made monumental contributions to the future development of the Native Hawaiian and Hula communities in the Chicago Midwest.
Opening Celebration - May 27
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Opening Celebration for Chicago’s Legacy Hula - Stanley Field Hall and Regenstein Halls of the Pacific, Upper Level In collaboration with Aloha Center of Chicago, the opening celebration includes live Hula performances, demonstrations, music, and artistic activities.