Schatz visits site of future Hālau of ‘Ōiwi Art in Wailuku
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U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz recently visited the construction site of the future Hālau of 'Ōiwi Art in Wailuku to view ongoing work on the cultural center, which will serve as a hub for hula and Native Hawaiian arts as well as a disaster resilience facility.
Schatz, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, helped secure $11 million in federal earmark funding for the project in 2022. Construction on the facility began in 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2027.
The Hālau of 'Ōiwi Art will be dedicated to the study, practice, celebration and perpetuation of hula and associated Hawaiian cultural arts. It also is planned to function as a community resilience hub, providing shelter and support in the event of disasters.
"This will be a special place for people to come together, a first-of-its-kind home for hula hālau across Maui to practice and share their craft and Native Hawaiian culture," Schatz said in a statement. He added that the project reflects collaboration across government and the community to secure funding and move construction forward.
Officials say the project remains in development as work continues toward its planned 2027 opening.