Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 7, 1 September 1984 — Impressive Uniki Ushers in Halau's First Two Kumu Hula [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Impressive Uniki Ushers in Halau's First Two Kumu Hula

John Kaha'i Jopolinski has heen a kumu hula for all ol a do/en years and he has had some great moments during that span. The one memorable event for many more years to eome, however, may be the uniki or graduation ceremonies of two of his pupils from Ka Pa Hula Hawaii on Saturday, Ju!y 28. at Keaiwa Heiau high above Aiea. lt was the first time since he began his halau that Topolinski's Ka Pa Hula Hawaii graduated not one but two kumu hulas one that Topolinski believes to be the first full-blooded mainland haole male kumu of traditional hula. The other is Hawaii-born Haunani Maureen Judd Kauahi, daughter of retired school teacher Clement M. and Eleanor A. Judd who works at the University of Hawaii's School of Nursing. Franklin Marvin Palani 01son and Haunani were the focal subjects of an emotion-packed, solemn and beautiful uniki whieh started at 12 noon sharp before a large crowd of invited guests on a sun-baked day. Topolinski wanted the graduation ceremonies at Keaiwa because "the heiau is the closest we ean get to a hula mound." "Besides." he explained, "this heiau is dedicated to Lono, god of fertility and life." Olson. who prefers to be called by his 1 e g a 1 1 y adopted name ol Palani ( Hawaiian for Franklin), was a former Marine who had been in and out of Hawaii during his ser\ice vears. Pollowing his discharge from the Marines, 01son worked for a spell in California but decided to "junk ii all" and establish his roots in Hawaii. This was in 1974. 01son got a job with the State Department of Personnel Services that year where he is currenth a Personnel CIerk IV. He had been friendly with Unele Joe Kahaulelio who in turn introduced the former Marine to Topolinski. The two became fast and close friends and 01son's outside interest turned to hula. He shortly thereafter became a member of Topolinski's Ka Pa Hula Hawaii. The graduation followed nine and onehalf years of intense study. practice and performances by Haunani and Olson. She plans to open her halau Sept. 8 with registration from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Benjamin Parker Elementary School in Kaneohe. She will accept students from ages 5 to adult. Haunani teaches social studies and sociology at Kailua High School. 01son plans to open his halau in Januarv. The uniki was inspiring and outstandingly beautiful. blending the talents of the two gradauates with those ol their sisters and brothers of Ka Pa Hula Hawaii. It was climaxed by a graduation banquest that e\ening at the Bishop Museum's Atherton Halau whereseveral entertainers gave out with beautilul music and singing, and youngsters, middle-aged and kupunas danced the hula. Jopolinski himself performed a number of hulas mueh to the delight of

the invitation only large turn out. And so did Haunani and Olson. lt was a happy and at times emotion-filled occasion. And what of Topolinski himse!f? What makes this kumu hula tick? Why is Ka Pa Hula Hawaii among the outstanding halaus? Like his two graduates, Topolinski is also a professional. He is a teacher of Hawaiian History with the first eight years at Radford High School and the last seven at Mililani High School. He is a 1958 graduate of McKinley High School and continued hiseducation at Brigham Young University, Provo. Utah, where he received degreesineducation and Asian studies. He also minored in Chinese language and political science. ln addition, Topolinski has a master's degree in Pacific lsland Studies from the University of Hawaii. the first Hawaiian to be so honored. Topolinski is married to the former Anne Buffandeau, a supervisor at Straub Clinic and Hospital. They are the parents ofadaughter, Rose Wahinekapu, 15,and son. Mieah, 7. Their daughter dances for Vicky Holt while their son is busy with karate, swimming and soccer. What madeTopolinski turn on to hula? "Our family has always been active in music and the hula from the old days. Some of my relatives who were involved were Johnny Noble, Ray Kinney, Leialoha Jensen, Keaka Kanahele, Luika Kaio and many more," Topolinski said. This kumu hula dwells exclusively on the traditional "because this is the root of all hula. Without it, you lose theconnection to the hula and its beauty. We need beauty and love today and you find this in traditional hula." "I owe all my success to my teachers," Topolinski stated. He pointed them out as being Pele Pukui, Henry Pa, Maiki Aiu Lake, Kawena Pukui, Sally Wood and Mrs. Pat Bacon. Of the graduation, Topolinski said he was happy because "this is what I want. 1 want them to go out to teach traditional hula." "You will find our women very soft and our men are masculine and vigorous but there's grace. We're not maeho." Topolinski insists on discipline for his halau members. They must have the desire and loyalty. "On these rest their attitude toward the hula," he noted. After six months, his students are given a written and performance test. "lf they so junk, we ask them to leave," he quipped. He was quick to add that this has not happened because those who left did so on their own. He said those who find it hard to finance their hula lessons may apply for one of five scholarships available for women and a like number for men. They were established by his halau in honor of Pele Pukui and Henry Pa. Topolinski will have registration for his next classes on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Nuuanu Elementary School. Only those age 17 and over need register. Further information may be obtained by calling 941-7288.

The men and women of Ka Pa Hula Hawaii poised for their performance.

John Kaha'i Topolinski

Haunani Kauahi

Palani Olson