# Event Details - **Event Name**: Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026 - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 11 Jun, 2026 at 09:00 am – Sat, 13 Jun, 2026 at 09:00 pm (-10:00) - **Event Description**: A gathering for mele Hawaiʻi and the stewards of this cultural practice.About this EventKāhuli 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, 2026The 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, 2026Breakout 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, 2026Recognizing 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 FILMINGThe 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.Conference Day 1🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AMWelcome🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:45 AMPlenary Session #1Info: 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.🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PMPlenary Session #2Info: 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.🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:15 PMBuffet Lunch🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:15 PMPlenary Session #3Info: Kani Kō: Competitive Hula and Mele (Plenary Session) As an extension of the Mele Conference 2025 panel, "I Leʻa i ka Hoʻopaʻa: Reflections of a Hula Musician," this plenary session aims to share the reflections of kumu hula who often engage in the competitive realm of hula and mele. Moderated from the perspective of a hula musician, the panel will have special emphasis on the unique relationship between hula and mele, kumu hula and musician, on and off the competition stage.🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:45 PMPlenary Session #4Info: Kani Pono: Hula and Mele Economics (Plenary Session) This plenary session focuses on a few economies through which mele and hula practitioners find economic value and sustainability. Discussing economic opportunities in Hawaiʻi, mele/hula popularity in Japan, and utilizing resources to obtain royalty payments, panelists will share their own experiences and hopes for the future.🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:15 PMPlenary Session #5Info: Kani Nahe: Haku Mele Competition (Plenary Session) Based on the Haku Mele Competition rules, this final plenary session of Day 1 features performances and adjudication of haku mele competition finalists. Having already submitted their lyrics for adjudication, competitors will present their mele for adjudiators to provide commentary/critique. The winner will be invited to perform their mele on the Mele Hula Festival broadcast on June 13, 2026.🕑: 05:30 PM - 08:15 PMPau HanaConference Day 2🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AMWehena🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:45 AMBreakout Session #1 (Hakukole & Mele, IP and Contracts)🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PMBreakout Session #2 (Haku Mele & Innovation: How Far?)🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:15 PMBuffet Lunch🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:30 PMBreakout Session # 3 (Ehuehu Mai Nei ʻo Mānoa & Mele Aʻo: Mele Curriculum)🕑: 02:45 PM - 04:00 PMFinal Plenary Session and Panina (Mele Pū: Still Singing Together)🕑: 05:30 PM - 08:20 PMPau HanaMele Hula Festival🕑: 05:00 PM - 09:00 PMMele Hula Festival - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/honolulu/mele-conference-and-mele-hula-festival-2026/100001985546660511 - **Event Categories**: business, conferences, festivals, music, entertainment, contests, music-festivals - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 49.87, max: 295.29, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Honolulu - **state**: HI - **country**: United States - **location**: Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort - **lat**: 21.2782408 - **long**: -157.829903 - **full address**: Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort, 2255 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026 - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/f28ad6dfc4574f2f6f708e2535602480cf3cb8acdc12d347422ef9ee77d704f0-rimg-w1200-h600-dc326b89-gmir.jpg?v=1776424539 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026 being held? - **A:** Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026 takes place on Thu, 11 Jun, 2026 at 09:00 am to Sat, 13 Jun, 2026 at 09:00 pm at Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort, 2255 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, United States. - **Q**: How much do tickets cost for Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026? - **A:** Ticket prices for Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026 range from USD 50 to USD 295 depending on the ticket type. Here's a full breakdown of available ticket types:Ticket TypePriceAvailability2 Day Conference + Mele Hula FestivalUSD 295 + USD 20 feeAvailableMele Hula FestivalUSD 50 + USD 5 feeAvailable - **Q**: Who is organizing Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026? - **A:** Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026 is organized by Kahuli Leo Leʻa. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Mele Conference & Mele Hula Festival 2026 is ideal for music lovers, fans of all genres, and anyone who wants to celebrate the power of music - from intimate gigs and live sessions to festivals and cultural performances. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Honolulu, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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