Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 10, 1 October 1987 — Halau Mohala llima Prevents Clean Sweep [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Halau Mohala llima Prevents Clean Sweep

Five of Six Keiki Titles to Halau Hula Olana

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA Halau Hula Olana of Pearl City, perennial winner in the Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition, maintained its winning form in the 12th Annual event Aug. 20-22 in hot and humid Kekuhaupi'o Fieldhouse on the Kamehameha Schools campus. The keikis of Kumu Hula Howard and Olana A'i, who keep busy with 250 students from ages 3 to 65 at their Pearl City Industrial Park studio, nailed down five of the six first places at stake in the competition, including the coveted Miss and Master Keiki Hula titles. Kumu Hula Mapuana deSilva's Halau Mohala 'Ilima prevented an Olana cleansweep by winning the hula kahiko competition for girls. Otherwise the Pearl City halau took first in hula auana in both boys and girls and hula kahiko boys in addition to the Miss and Master titles. An original composition written and composed by the A'i tandem in tribute to Hawaii Astronaut Ellison Onizuka titled, "Elikona Hula," and the scintillating movements of petite and graceful eight-year-old Laurie Fuller earned her the title of Miss Keiki Hula. She was a appropriately dressed in a red, white and blue outfit. It was the second Miss Keiki Hula trophy for the Fuller household. Pua Fuller, now 12, also won the title at the same age in 1983. Laurie and Pua are two of five daughters of Kimo and Toni Fuller of Pearl City. The others are Terry Ann, 14, Kathy, 5, and Lisa, 3. All except Lisa are students at Sacred Hearts Academy. Kimo Fuller is a St. Louis High School graduate who is a career Navy man with 17 years of service. All the Fuller girls, including their mother, are enrolled with Halau Hula Olana. Brandon Paredes, 12, an eighth grader at Kamehameha Schools, did a masterful dance to an old standard, "Na Ka Pu'eo" to win the Master Keiki Hula title, thus keeping the trophy in his halau for the third straight year. His predecessors were Tai A'i in 1985 and Robert Paka Kekoa in 1986. Brandon is the youngest of the seven children of Stanley and Dorothy Paredes. He is the third child to attend Kamehameha. His brother, Lloyd, graduated in 1977 and his sister, Leann, is from the class of 1980. Stanley Paredes is a painter and his wife is a clerk with Sears, Roebuck and Company at Pearlridge. First runnerup in the Miss Keiki Hula balloting was Kahealani Brown, 9, third grader at Queen Ka'ahumanu School and a member of Hu'i Park's Hula Studio. Her counterpart in the Master Keiki voting was Earl Mauneio, 10, student at Waipahu Elementary School and member of Aloha Pumehana O Hawaii under Kumu Hula Denise Kia Ramento and twin brother Dennis Kia. The three-day performances by more than 500 youngsters ages 6 to 12 from 31 halau on four major islands and California have been staged annually since its establishment in 1975 in honor of Queen Lydia Kamakaeha Lili'uokalani who was born Sept. 2, 1838, and died Nov. 11, 1917. The competition, whieh had its humble beginnings at Aala Park and two public school auditoriums before finally being entrenched at Kekuhaupi'o the last several years, offers the children of Hawaii to competitively demonstrate their achievements in the traditional art form of the hula. The capacity limit of 3,000 on eaeh of the three days enthralled those fortunate enough to witness outstanding performances and equally noteworthy costumes. While the heat made it uncomfortable for spectators, it was the quality presentations and the hard work put in by these keikis and their respective halau that made the audience forget their discomfort. Danny Kaleikini, star of Hawaii's longest running show at the Kahala Hihon Hotel, was recognized for his significant contributions toward the promotion of the Hawaiian culture and the furtherance of Keiki Hula in Hawaii. He was presented with the competition's Pulama Award by Executive Director Wendell P.K. Silva of the sponsoring Kalihi-Palama Culture and Arts Society ine., during the final day of performances. A completely surprised Kaleikini was visibly moved by the honor and his voice was unsteady as he tried to thank the keikis and the crowd. When he did regain his composure, Kaleikini paid special tribute to the parents for allowing and supporting their children to carry on the Hawaiian tradition of the hula. He also presented a eheek for $1,500 to Silva on behalf of the Danny Kaleikini Foundation and Duty Free Shoppers to perpetuate keiki hula. His commitment to the program is further evidenced by his contribution of two custom designed 14K gold Hawaiian coat of arms pendants to the Master and Miss Keiki Hula winners. Another interesting aspect of the competition was the Na Leo O Na Kupuna Hawaiian Language award

won by Hula Hui O Kapunahala under Kumu Hula Carolee Nishi. Additionally, the same halau won the Mary Kawena Pukui perpetual trophy for having the best chanter. She was Pele Suganuma, a great granddaughter of Mary Kawena Pukui. lronically, two other sisters, Kawena and Paahana, also dance for Hula Hui O Kapunahala. Pele, who was named after her grandmother, was the chanter for her halau's hula kahiko performance. It is also interesting to note that Lissa Doi of Johnny Lum Ho's Polynesian Dance Studio in Hilo, Hawaii, 1979 Miss Keiki Hula winner, won the Miss Aloha Hula title at the 1987 Merrie Monarch Festival. The competition was another outstanding production staged by the Kalihi-Palama organization under the experienced guidance of Silva who again turned in a flawless performance as master of cremonies. The success of the competition, however, is attributed to the coming together of many helping hands, especially Silva's own ohana of father, mother, sisters, brothers, in-laws, and his secretary, Jan Itagaki, and Jan Yoneda of the Department of Education Hawaiian Studies program who worked primarily behind the scenes. There were many more volunteers who blended their efforts to assure the success of the competition. Several of the perpetual trophies and awards were donated by many individuals, including the Alfred K. Silva and Sen. Milton Holt Family trophies, and those of 0'Brian Eselu, Thaddius Wilson, Aunty Rose Kapualani Joshua, Vilma Kaoihana, lst Nationwide Bank and others.

In addition to KPCAS, the event was sponsored in part by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Hawaii State Legislature. MISS KEIKI HULA 1. Laurie Fuller, Halau Hula Olana. First runnerup — Kahealani Brown, Hu'i Park's Hula Studio. 2. Liza-Ann Goeas, Kawaili'ula. 3. Bridgette Loriaux, Hula Halau O Nalua. 4. Rachel Francisco, Kealiika'apunihonua Ke'ena A'o Hula. MASTER KEIKI HULA 1. Brandon Pciredes, Halau Hula Olana, First runnerup — Earl Mauricio, Aloha Pumehana O Hawaii Nei. 2. Jared Keo, Halau Nu Pua Mohala Nani O Kalaninuiakea. 3. Robert Kekauoha, Napuananionapalionakoolau. 4. Larry Kawai III, Pukalani Hula Hale. HULA KAHIKO 1. Halau Hula Olana. 2. Ka Ua Kilihune. 3. Halau Na Pua Mohala Nani O Kalaninuiakea. Hawaiian Language 1. Napuananionapalionakoolau. 2. Ka Ua Kilihune. 3. Halau Hula Olana. Girls 1. Halau Mohala Ilima. 2. Halau Hula Olana. 3. Hula Halau O 'Kahikilaulani. 4. Hula Halau O Nalua. 5. Namakahonuakapiliwale. Hawaiian Language 1. Hula Hui O Kapunahala. 2. Hula Halau 'O Kamuela. 3. Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio. HULA AUANA Boys 1. Halau Hula Olana. 2. Napuananionapalionakoolau. 3. Aloha Pumehana O Hawaii Nei. Gtrls 1. Halau Hula Olana. 2. Kealiika'apunihonua Ke'ena A'o Hula. 3. Hula Halau O'Kahikilaulani. 4. Hula Hui O Kapunahala. 5. Hu'i Park's Hula Studio.

The girls of Kumu Hula Mapuana deSilva's Halau Mohala 'llima display their winning form in kahiko competition.