Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 3, 1 March 2022 — Huamakahikina [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Huamakahikina

AMovementis Gaining Momentumto Ensurethe lntegrity, Stewardship and Protection of Hula By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi In August 2020, O'ahu Kumu Hula Mehanaokalā Hind organized a virtual meeting to garner thoughts on how kumu hula could keep themselves and their hālau safe and healthy during the pandemic. About 60 kumu hula from throughout Hawai'i and the continental United States attended. From that discussion and the wellness workshops that were held weekly over the ensuing two months, other concerns of the hula eommunity that had existed for decades, but had never been resolved, eame to the forefront. Thus, Huamakahikina - a coalition of kumu hula from Hawai'i, the continental United States, Japan, France, Spain, Aotearoa and French Polynesia, repre-

senting the breadth of hula lineages - was formed. Its goal is to stand as a united group with a strong voice to ensure the integrity, stewardship and protection of hula. Huamakahikina is inclusive: All kumu hula with recognized lineages are invited to join and support the group s mission, whieh is articulated in an eight-page Huamakahikina Declaration that was written over the course of 10 months - from October 2020 to August 2021 when the inaugural Kupukalālā Kumu Hula Convention was held virtually. Incorporating input from dozens of kumu hula, it was unanimously ratified at the convention by the 160 kumu hula in attendance. Forty more added their names within two weeks, and the document was released publicly in September 2021. Maui-based Kumu Hula Pueo Pata of Hālau Hula 'o Ka Malama Mahilani and Kumu Hula Hōkūlani Holt of Pā u O Hi'iaka are members of Leo Kāhoa, a steering eommittee of Huamakahikina that was tasked with planning the convention and compiling and distilling key points into the Declaration, whieh identifies five areas as being of urgent eoneem. Briefly, they are: 1) "misrepresentation, cultural misappropriation, exploitation, and abuse of Hula;" 2) "widespread ignorance and misunderstanding about the practice and performance of Hula;" 3) "insufficient protection for the Kanaka Maoli culture and knowledge maintained within, and embodied by, Hula;" 4) "disparities in how the rigors and highly specialized processes through whieh Kumu Hula are trained and aeknowledged...are recognized and valued by institutions

and within labor markets;" and 5) "challenges to engaging in the study and practice of Hula." Addressing the first two challenges Pata said, "Several commercial venues draw crowds by advertising a 'Hula Show,' yet in many instances we kumu hula see nothing that we recognize as authentic hula. Companies often do not hire lineally acknowledged kumu hula to choreograph for them, and the results are stereotypical presentations that foreigners expect to see. The gimmicky-ness of it all does nothing to elevate our esteemed art; instead, it reinforces the objectification of our olapa and the reduction of hula to eheap entertainment." Pata points out that kumu hula are highly trained

and specialized stewards of their lineage's traditions, but within government and most commercial and professional spheres, they are not afforded appropriate respect or consideration. "Many of us do not have permanent homes for our hālau, and we must work muhiple jobs to ensure that we ean uphold our kuleana as kumu hula," he said. 'Adding insult to injury, we are often expected to provide our services and expertise as 'kōkua' or with aloha, meaning free." Holt concurs. Reflecting on the laek of educational resources and facilities for hula, she said, "We have publicly-sup-ported basketball courts, skateboard parks and pieklehall courts in Hawai'i, but there are no publicly-supported hula spaces. Hula welcomes all ages, physical abilities, genders, ethnicities and eeonomie levels, and it is still not supported publicly." The tide might be turning. Leo Kāhoa members have been meeting with county, state and federal legislators and policymakers and, in support of the Huamakahikina Declaration, Maui Mayor Miehael Victorino announced plans last month for the Hālau of 'Ōiwi

Art, whieh will be dedicated to Hula and its associated arts. According to a February 12 Honolulu Star-Advertiser story, if all goes well, ground could be broken on the 36,000-square-foot, two- or three-story building in 2024 or 2025, with completion anticipated in 2027. It will be the first of what Huamakahikina hopes will be many such government-funded cultural centers throughout the state. "Hula should be elevated to the status it deserves as an art form that is critical to the perpetuation of the Hawaiian culture," Holt said. "Hula is the official state dance of Hawai'i, and its relevance is also linked to eeonomie heahh, not only in the visitor industry. We support flower growers, restaurants, caterers, party planners, photographers, the fabric and garment industries and mueh more." The paths to achieve Huamakahikina's goals might get complicated, but the Declaration's eall to action sums up those efforts simply and powerfully: "To cultivate Hula as a source of wellbeing and to ensure that Hula flourishes for countless generations to eome." ■ Visit www.huatnakahikina.org to view the Declaration and show your supportfor it. Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi has written 12 books and countless newspaper, magazine and website articles about Hawai'i's history, culture,food and lifestyle.

Sitting, front row, left to right: Louo'e Yomosoki, Tationo Tseu Fox, Henohea Kōne, Lahelo Spencer, Kēhouloni Kaneholoni-Sontiogo. Sittina, middle row, left to right: Holooumoku Rolor, Hōkūlani Holt. Stonding, left to right: Lehuo Ah Som, Mehonookolō Hind, Noe Noe Wong Wilson, Pueo Pata, Keoni Kuoho. Leo Kōhoo, Huomokahikino's steering eommihee, was tosked with plonnina the Kupukolōlō Kumu Hula Convention ond compiling ond distilling key points into the coolition's Declaration,- Photo: Daryl Mauliola Fujiwara

Kumu Hula Pueo Pata I - Photo: Hideharu Yoshikawa

Hula Hōkūlani Holt - Photo: Meiko Horikoshi