Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 1, 1 January 1992 — Solo and group contestants weleome in kupuna hula event [ARTICLE]

Solo and group contestants weleome in kupuna hula event

Early notice of a kupuna hula competition is being given here to allow groups time to prepare for 0'ahu's first Kupuna Hula Competition. The competition is planned for Sept. 18 and 19, at the Samuel Wilder King Intermediate School in Kane'ohe, O'ahu. Festival organizer is Mary Lani Akui, director of the kupuna hula group Kupuna Aloha O Lanakila O Kalani. She is inviting, through this announcement, all halau and senior centers in Hawai'i, on the Mainland, and from other eountries to participate in the two-day event. Early sign-ups, and expressions of interest will be greatly appreciated, she said. Akui is aIso now seeking help in lining up sponsors and donations to cover expenses and awards. She also welcomes any volunteer assistance in organizing and publicizing the event. To participate in the competition, dancers must be age 55 or older. There must be at least

five participants in a group. Performance categories will be: group kahiko (ancient hula), group auwana (modern hula), and solo auwana. For information on the competition, to volunteer or become a sponsor, or to obtain rules and registration forms, write to: Mary Lani Akui 45-204 Kailiwai Plaee Kane'ohe, Hawai'i 96744 Those who wish to telephone may eall 2473930. Akui, an employee of the City and County of Honolulu Kalama Beach Park Hawaiiana Department, said the idea eame about when senior citizens to whom she teaches hula said they wanted their own kupuna hula competition on O'ahu. After all, there are competitions for keiki, teens, and young adults, and a kupuna hula competition eaeh year in Kona, Hawai'i, they said.