01 Nov Artists and entrepreneurs named 2024 SFSU Alumni Hall of Fame inductees
SFSU | Sept 20, 2024
For 30 years, San Francisco State University has recognized notable alumni for their contributions to their communities, whether it’s the creation of innovative arts programs, their leadership in business or through the art they’ve made. This year’s San Francisco State Alumni Hall of Fame inductees are innovators in dance, poetry, food and health care and are also community and business leaders. SF State President Lynn Mahoney and the University community will honor the four newest inductees at a celebration and dinner Friday, Nov. 1, at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco.
“Each year, as we induct new alumni into our Hall of Fame, I’m impressed by the range of their accomplishments — though I’m not surprised by their success. SF State prepares students to be successful global citizens focused on problem-solving with a lens toward equity,” Mahoney said. “All our Hall of Fame alumni share a desire to leave an enduring mark through their work and in their communities. These four inductees exemplify this, and it is a pleasure to welcome them to the Hall of Fame.”
Patrick Makuakāne
B.A., 1989
Patrick Makuakāne founded and oversees the cultural organization Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu, which features a traditional dance company that blends classical hula with stylized movements and contemporary music with a theatrical flair. Raised in Honolulu, he began dancing at 13 and studied with some of Hawai’i’s most recognized hula masters. Makuakāne founded his dance school in 1985.
In 2023, he received a MacArthur “genius” grant for his groundbreaking work as a cultural preservationist. As the leader of the organization, he’s trained thousands of dancers in hula, creating and sustaining a thriving community. His productions combine traditional hula with contemporary music and movements that uplift Hawaiian culture and history while tackling powerful topics such as colonialism and Native Hawaiian transgender artists.
Over the past 39 years, Makuakāne has been honored for his work. He received a Lifetime Achievement Kulia i ka Nu’u Award from the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. In 2020, he was a recipient of the prestigious Hewlett 50 Arts Commission, which supports the creation and premiere of 50 exceptional works by world-class artists. The San Francisco Arts Commission presented him with a Legacy award in 2018. He is the spiritual and cultural adviser for the Native Hawaiian Religious Spiritual Group at San Quentin State Prison.
His latest projects are writing and choreographing a musical based on the epic tale of Hi’iakaikapoliopele, the youngest and favorite sister of the Hawaiian god Pele. He’s directing and choreographing the first major Hawaiian-language opera based on the life of native Hawaiian patriot Timoteo Haʻalilio, which will premiere with the Hawai’i Opera Theatre in May 2026.
More details about the event, including how to purchase tickets, are available online.
