Talk Story Conference
The National Storytelling Network presents the ‘Pacific Region’ TALK STORY CONFERENCE
July 16-20, 2009
WAIKIKI, HAWAI'I @ Queen Kapi'olani Hotel
Hawai'i very first national 'TALK STORY' STORYTELLING CONFERENCE was presented over five days (July 16-20, 09) in Waikiki, With The National StorytellingNetwork (NSN), Jeff Gere, his wife Dominique, a small band of local volunteers hosted an international assortment of storytelling elite talents & enthusiasts (60 mainland and Pacific Rim visitors & 100ish locals). They converged for the most compelling & provocative workshops/shows EVER assembled in Hawaii, given by Hawaii’s Best, ‘Mainland’ stars, & talents from Thailand, Australia, Tonga, Japan, Canada!
Our 'home' was the Queen Kapi'olani Hotel, a block away from Waikiki Beach (across from the Zoo). Their Peacock Room (meals, general sessions, some workshops) has sliding floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a large deck (Opening Ceremony) & a gorgeous Diamond Head view! Downstairs, the spacious Akala Room hosted workshops & Concerts & dancing.
Costs: Full Conference & Meals- $350 (12 Meals: Thurs lunch thru Mon Breakfast- $180, Conference Fee $165 + Paypal fees) Rooms- $42/night (shared) on up…… we really worked to keep costs low. Twice in Conference members passed the hat to make sure it met costs (it did), and sculptor Jerry Vasconcellos donated $800 in sales.
AFTER CONFERENCE: 3 days of O'ahu Story Field Trips & 4 days on Maui.
We created a huge website (with Paypal)(first one) with Full Programs, Activity Descriptions, and after Conference feedback and photos (many shared here) at www.nsntalkstoryconference.com
Read TESTIMONIALS by those who attended the Conferece
Read JEFF GERE'S REFLECTIONS on the Conference
Star Bulletin article on Talk Story Conference by Gary Chun (July 10, 2009)
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Ongoing Registration THURS PHOTOS
Noon
Lunch (1st Conference Meal)
1-5 p.m.
Master Coaching Session - Jim May ($75/hour added, had a few takers)
1-5 p.m.
‘Getting Bigger’ Media Pow-Wow!- radio, TV, photo, recording, pod casts to create a story media. Eric Wolf & Jeff Gere. Surprise partner: Ben Nind, Exec. Director Northwest Territories Arts (Yellowknife)
Inside Story in Outside World: Creativity & Storymaking (fingerpainting, clay, poetry, & new tales) Dr. Nancy King & Dr. Claudia Reder (authors/ educators/ tellers)
Shifting Paradigms: Exploring the Capacity of Storytelling to Heal -
Lani Peterson (Mass.) psychologist/storyteller, NSN Healing Alliance
6 pm
Opening Dinner
7 pm
Welcoming Aloha Ceremony - Traditional Polynesian greeting rite adapted by protocol authority Emil Wolfgramm, Lopaka Kapanui, & Jeff Gere. Everyone picks a rock & goes on lanai. Foreigners (from the sea) gather regionally & choose a speaker who responds to Hawaii's speaker asking who comes, inviting them onto the island. Deposit stone in calabash, receive lei, exchange breathe with each islander.
8:30 p.m.
Improvization Storytelling– ‘learn by doing’ make up a tale- Ruth Halpern
Swaps: Creation Tales, Sweet ‘n Sour Love
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Ongoing Registration THURS PHOTOS
Noon
Lunch (1st Conference Meal)
1-5 p.m.
Master Coaching Session - Jim May ($75/hour added, had a few takers)
1-5 p.m.
‘Getting Bigger’ Media Pow-Wow!- radio, TV, photo, recording, pod casts to create a story media. Eric Wolf & Jeff Gere. Surprise partner: Ben Nind, Exec. Director Northwest Territories Arts (Yellowknife)
Inside Story in Outside World: Creativity & Storymaking (fingerpainting, clay, poetry, & new tales) Dr. Nancy King & Dr. Claudia Reder (authors/ educators/ tellers)
Shifting Paradigms: Exploring the Capacity of Storytelling to Heal -
Lani Peterson (Mass.) psychologist/storyteller, NSN Healing Alliance
6 pm
Opening Dinner
7 pm
Welcoming Aloha Ceremony - Traditional Polynesian greeting rite adapted by protocol authority Emil Wolfgramm, Lopaka Kapanui, & Jeff Gere. Everyone picks a rock & goes on lanai. Foreigners (from the sea) gather regionally & choose a speaker who responds to Hawaii's speaker asking who comes, inviting them onto the island. Deposit stone in calabash, receive lei, exchange breathe with each islander.
8:30 p.m.
Improvization Storytelling– ‘learn by doing’ make up a tale- Ruth Halpern
Swaps: Creation Tales, Sweet ‘n Sour Love
July 17 Friday: Ancient Hawaii
6-8:30 a.m.
Breakfast FRIDAY PHOTOS
8:30 a.m.
Ancient Hawai'i: Gods, History & Legends –Emil Wolfgramm, Lopaka Kapanui, ‘Tita’ Kathy Collins, Alohalani Brown
10 a.m.
Marshall Islander Tales- Dan Kelin II taught drama & collected 5 summers Chinese Teahouse Storytelling & Me- Cathryn Fairlee (Calif. NSN Board)
The Long & Short Of It: Story Adaptations- Ruth Stotter (Calif.)
Noon
Lunch
1 p.m.
Hula as Storytelling- hear, see & dance hula (Lopaka Kapanui)
2 p.m.
Tongan Epic Tales: Revealing Deep Waters- Emil Wolfgramm
Content Area Storytelling – Linda Martin (Georgia)
Rocky Mountain Tells: Kate Lutz (Arctic Tales) Kathy Hunter (Greek Myth)
3:30 p.m.
Mo’o Legends (water lizard women) - Alohalani Brown (Doctorate)
Technology Talking- Eric Wolf (Ohio) www.storytellingwithchildren.com
String Stories (Why Knot?)- Anne Glover (Victoria, Canada)
5pm
Free Time
6:30 p.m.
Dinner
7:30 p.m.
Keynote: From Generation to Generativity- Sherry Norfolk, NSN Chair
8:30 p.m.
Nu Wa Tours Ethnohtec powerpoint talk of tours to China, Singapore, India
Swaps: Gigs from Hell, Earth Tales , Historical Tales
6-8:30 a.m.
Breakfast FRIDAY PHOTOS
8:30 a.m.
Ancient Hawai'i: Gods, History & Legends –Emil Wolfgramm, Lopaka Kapanui, ‘Tita’ Kathy Collins, Alohalani Brown
10 a.m.
Marshall Islander Tales- Dan Kelin II taught drama & collected 5 summers Chinese Teahouse Storytelling & Me- Cathryn Fairlee (Calif. NSN Board)
The Long & Short Of It: Story Adaptations- Ruth Stotter (Calif.)
Noon
Lunch
1 p.m.
Hula as Storytelling- hear, see & dance hula (Lopaka Kapanui)
2 p.m.
Tongan Epic Tales: Revealing Deep Waters- Emil Wolfgramm
Content Area Storytelling – Linda Martin (Georgia)
Rocky Mountain Tells: Kate Lutz (Arctic Tales) Kathy Hunter (Greek Myth)
3:30 p.m.
Mo’o Legends (water lizard women) - Alohalani Brown (Doctorate)
Technology Talking- Eric Wolf (Ohio) www.storytellingwithchildren.com
String Stories (Why Knot?)- Anne Glover (Victoria, Canada)
5pm
Free Time
6:30 p.m.
Dinner
7:30 p.m.
Keynote: From Generation to Generativity- Sherry Norfolk, NSN Chair
8:30 p.m.
Nu Wa Tours Ethnohtec powerpoint talk of tours to China, Singapore, India
Swaps: Gigs from Hell, Earth Tales , Historical Tales
July 18 Sat: Historic Hawaii & Island Spookies Concert
6-8:30 a.m.
Breakfast SATURDAY PHOTOS
8:30 a.m.
Historic Hawai'i – Lopaka Kapanui, 'Tita' Kathy Collins, Barbara Kawakami, Alton Chung with Les Adam (piano) drew tears,
10 a.m.
Life Tales of Hawai’i’s Picture Brides- Barbara Kawakami
In The Beginning: Starting to Tell Stories- Sandra MacLees (Big Island)
Bridges: Zipes & Folktales In Hawai’i’s Classroom- Dan Kelin II
Noon
Lunch
1 pm
Keynote: Tales of Kindness - Margaret Read MacDonald, author/ teller
2 p.m.
Transformational Storytelling- Nancy Wang (Eth-Noh-Tec, California)
WW II Japanese-American Soldiers: Oral history to Stage Alton Chung
Fractured Thought & Folk Tales- make one up with Marliyn Kinsella
3:30 p.m.
Pearl Harbor Oral Histories- Daniel Martinez (National Parks- was sick)
My Opinion (Coaching) Ruth Halpern, Ruth Stotter, Cathryn Fairlee Japanese Ghosts & Supernatural Tales- Masako Sueyoshi (Japan)
5:00pm
Free Time: Waikiki History Walking Tour (Lopaka Kapanui)
6:30 p.m.
Dinner
7:30 p.m.
Island Spookies! (with piano improvisations by Les Adam) ‘Tita’ Kathy Collins, Lopaka Kapanui, Dan Kelin II, Alton Chung, Jeff Gere, & duet (Okiku) Collins & Gere (all video recorded)
9 pm
Swaps: Kindness, Spookies, Historical Tales
6-8:30 a.m.
Breakfast SATURDAY PHOTOS
8:30 a.m.
Historic Hawai'i – Lopaka Kapanui, 'Tita' Kathy Collins, Barbara Kawakami, Alton Chung with Les Adam (piano) drew tears,
10 a.m.
Life Tales of Hawai’i’s Picture Brides- Barbara Kawakami
In The Beginning: Starting to Tell Stories- Sandra MacLees (Big Island)
Bridges: Zipes & Folktales In Hawai’i’s Classroom- Dan Kelin II
Noon
Lunch
1 pm
Keynote: Tales of Kindness - Margaret Read MacDonald, author/ teller
2 p.m.
Transformational Storytelling- Nancy Wang (Eth-Noh-Tec, California)
WW II Japanese-American Soldiers: Oral history to Stage Alton Chung
Fractured Thought & Folk Tales- make one up with Marliyn Kinsella
3:30 p.m.
Pearl Harbor Oral Histories- Daniel Martinez (National Parks- was sick)
My Opinion (Coaching) Ruth Halpern, Ruth Stotter, Cathryn Fairlee Japanese Ghosts & Supernatural Tales- Masako Sueyoshi (Japan)
5:00pm
Free Time: Waikiki History Walking Tour (Lopaka Kapanui)
6:30 p.m.
Dinner
7:30 p.m.
Island Spookies! (with piano improvisations by Les Adam) ‘Tita’ Kathy Collins, Lopaka Kapanui, Dan Kelin II, Alton Chung, Jeff Gere, & duet (Okiku) Collins & Gere (all video recorded)
9 pm
Swaps: Kindness, Spookies, Historical Tales
July 19 Sunday: Hawaii Now, STARS Concert, Dance!
6-8:30 a.m.
Breakfast SUNDAY PHOTOS
8:30 a.m.
Hawaii Now: Dann Seki, Nyla Fujii-Babb, ‘Tita’ Kathy Collins, Hawai'i Slam Poets Kealoha & See.
10 a.m.
Slam Poetry Class- creative poetry workout with Kealoha &Cee Hidden Memory: Family History to Performance- Anne Shimojima (Illinois) Personal Narrative, Culture & Myth- Jim May (Illinois)
Noon
Lunch
1 p.m.
Keynote: The Storyteller’s Journey- Lani Peterson, psychologist/storyteller
2p.m.
History Mystery: Murder from Many Angles- Annie Eyers (Australia)
Pidgin, Hawai'i Creole- local dialect history/ stories Nyla Fujii-Babb
In Your Face- 3 Rubber Faces of. Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, Bobby Norfolk, Jeff Gere (video recorded)
3:30pm
Free Time
4:30p.m.
Public Concert of National Stars!: Diane Ferlatte, Jim May, Bobby Norfolk, Anne Glover, Margaret Read MacDonald, Eth-Noh-Tec
6:30 p.m.
Dinner & SPECIAL APPEARANCE: Makia Malo (Kalaupapa, Hawaii's leprosy settlement)
7:30 p.m.
Dancing to “Doolin’ Rakes”- rockin’ Irish Storyt Band with James McCarthy & Les Adam (piano)
9:30-11 p.m.
Swaps Musical Tells, Peace Tales, Edgy Late Night Tales
6-8:30 a.m.
Breakfast SUNDAY PHOTOS
8:30 a.m.
Hawaii Now: Dann Seki, Nyla Fujii-Babb, ‘Tita’ Kathy Collins, Hawai'i Slam Poets Kealoha & See.
10 a.m.
Slam Poetry Class- creative poetry workout with Kealoha &Cee Hidden Memory: Family History to Performance- Anne Shimojima (Illinois) Personal Narrative, Culture & Myth- Jim May (Illinois)
Noon
Lunch
1 p.m.
Keynote: The Storyteller’s Journey- Lani Peterson, psychologist/storyteller
2p.m.
History Mystery: Murder from Many Angles- Annie Eyers (Australia)
Pidgin, Hawai'i Creole- local dialect history/ stories Nyla Fujii-Babb
In Your Face- 3 Rubber Faces of. Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, Bobby Norfolk, Jeff Gere (video recorded)
3:30pm
Free Time
4:30p.m.
Public Concert of National Stars!: Diane Ferlatte, Jim May, Bobby Norfolk, Anne Glover, Margaret Read MacDonald, Eth-Noh-Tec
6:30 p.m.
Dinner & SPECIAL APPEARANCE: Makia Malo (Kalaupapa, Hawaii's leprosy settlement)
7:30 p.m.
Dancing to “Doolin’ Rakes”- rockin’ Irish Storyt Band with James McCarthy & Les Adam (piano)
9:30-11 p.m.
Swaps Musical Tells, Peace Tales, Edgy Late Night Tales
July 20 Monday: Thai Blessing & Closing Aloha
6-8:30 a.m.
Breakfast MONDAY PHOTOS
8:30-9:30
Thai Storytelling: Dr.Wajuppa Tossa & Prasong Saihong run English Storytelling Camps & folk tale reclamation projects in rural Thailand.
9:30-10
Traditional Thai Farewell - tie a string to the wrist with a blessing.
Closing Ceremony: Kukui Nut Lei, take rocks home from calabash bowl, exchange final breath with each islander. Alohas.
6-8:30 a.m.
Breakfast MONDAY PHOTOS
8:30-9:30
Thai Storytelling: Dr.Wajuppa Tossa & Prasong Saihong run English Storytelling Camps & folk tale reclamation projects in rural Thailand.
9:30-10
Traditional Thai Farewell - tie a string to the wrist with a blessing.
Closing Ceremony: Kukui Nut Lei, take rocks home from calabash bowl, exchange final breath with each islander. Alohas.
After Conference Events
7/20 Afternoon after Conference Closing: Bishop Museum tour, (broke down Conference, returned sculptures to friend & swam in waterfall by house, some dined at Jeff's house).
7/21 Mission Houses Museum, Iolani Palace, Hawaii State Art Museum Tours, Chinatown Dinner, Haunted Honolulu Ghost Tour (Lopaka Kapanui). 30 attended.
7/22 Shangri-La (Doris Duke) Islamic Museum (very few visited), Academy of Arts Museum (poorly attended- people did their own thing instead).
7/23 15 from Conference flew to MAUI, toured Central Maui, settled into Rainbow Acres Upcountry Retreat.
7/24 Lahaina Historical Walking Tour (George Kaimiola), Ulalena Theater Show, Bon Dance on way home.
7/25 TALK STORY MAUI afternoon workshops & evening concert @ Maui Community College (recorded) with Les Adam on piano. TELLERS: Kate Lutz (Colorado), Linda Martin (Georgia), Annie Eyers (Australia), Margaret Read MacDonald (Washington), Masako & Tomoko (Japan), Ann Shimojima (Illinois), Wajuppa Tossa & Prasong Sahong (Thailand), Jeff Gere (Hawaii)
7/26 Small Group Excursions: Upcountry Maui: Haleakala, Paia, Makawao (afternoon dancing @ Casanova). Evening: Storytelling with Les Adam (piano)(recorded).
