Talk Story Festival continues to bring the islands’ best tales to Hawaii’s people after 22 years

HONOLULU—Talk story time comes to Ala Moana Beach Park this weekend for two evenings full of spooky stories, slam poetry, and stories that take a stand as part of the 22nd Annual Talk Story Festival, Hawaii’s oldest and largest storytelling celebration. 

The free event is put together by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

Jeff Gere, a drama specialist for the Department of Parks and Recreation, created the festival in 1989 after being inspired by the hundreds of moving stories he heard visiting senior centers. His vision was to bring Hawaii’s best tellers and tales to Hawaii’s people. With no precedent, no money, a part-time aide, and the Parks Department staff, some fifty volunteer storytellers filled eight hours of storytelling on five stages each hour. One thousand people attended that first event.

In the years that followed, the crowds swelled to nearly five thousand. Olelo TV has recorded and aired Festival programs since 1990. Performances at the Talk Story Festival form the backbone of the Talk Story Radio show, airing weekly on Hawaii Public Radio (Mondays at 5:30 p.m. on KIPO, 89.3FM, Thursdays at 6:00 a.m. on KTUH 90.3 FM, and Sunday nights from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Maui’s Manao Radio 91.5FM).

At this year’s festival, Hawaii’s featured storytellers, as well as a few guests, will take part in eight 20-minute sessions across two nights on October 15 and October 16 in the McCoy Pavilion’s Auditorium at Ala Moana Beach Park.

Sign language interpreters, video projections, and active lighting all contribute in telling the tails. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. Big crowds are expected so come early.

On Sunday, October 17, a storytelling workshop will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/programs/index.htm.

Here’s what’s scheduled:

SP0oOoKY Stories
Friday, October 15 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
(Spooky “Open Mic” from 5:00 to 5:40 p.m.)

Take A Stand Stories
Saturday, October 16 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Storytelling Workshop
Sunday, October 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Featuring: 

Hawaii Tellers’ “Tita” Kathy Collins from Maui on Friday and Saturday
Kalama Cabigon on Saturday
Kit Grant and Jeff Higa on Friday
Lopaka Kapanui on Friday and Saturday
Makia Malo of Kalaupapa on Friday
Ben Moffat on Friday
Jon Osorio and Craig Howes on Saturday
Travis T. and Youth Speaks slam poetry on Saturday
Jeff Gere on Friday

Mainland Guests:

Rev. Dr. Margie Brown and Cathryn Fairlee from California on Friday and Saturday
Jim Green and Pat Braden from Yellowknife, Canada, 250 miles south of Arctic Circle, on Saturday