In 2009, when I first set foot in Hawaii, I found these islands to possess a completely different charm from the East Coast of the U.S., which was more familiar to me. The difference wasn’t just about the weather or the landscape. Every time I encountered traces of Korean culture in unexpected corners—such as kimchi and Korean ice cream readily available at the market or the homemade galbi and kimchi I had at a Hawaiian musician’s house—I experienced a new kind of unfamiliarity. Now, 15 years later, Hawaii feels more familiar, but a sense of unfamiliarity coexists within it. This has led me to reflect again on the 120 years of footsteps left behind by Korean immigrants here.

The performance Resonance is a reflection on the lives of Korean immigrants in Hawaii and a process of listening to their stories. By combining traditional elements of the Namhaean Byeolsingut ritual with the free improvisation of jazz, we have captured fleeting moments from the history of Korean immigration to Hawaii through music. Just as traditional gut rituals listen to the stories of villagers, be a part of their lives, and offer blessings, this performance is an artistic expression resonating with the moments experienced by Koreans in Hawaii over the past 120 years. Through this resonance, we respond to their stories, wishing for their journey to continue, accompanied by auspicious blessings.

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