Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 8, 1 August 1985 — Prince Lot Festival Thrills Large Crowd [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Prince Lot Festival Thrills Large Crowd

Hula Kahiko (ancient or formal) and hula 'auana (modern or informal) had their day onee more July 20 as thousands of spectators thrilled to the performances of 1 1 hula halau at the eighth annual Prince Lot Hula Festival on the earthen hula mound at Moanalua Gardens. The non-competitive festival was another project of the non-profit Moanalua Gardens Foundation. It was a beautiful day for such an event as virtually everyone eame with coolers, hibachis, pienie boxes and hali'i of every color and size to relax and enjoy on a typical Hawaiian day. Beach and sand chairs of every description could also be seen dotting the viewing areas and disinterested keikis played in nearby Kamanaiki Stream, oblivious to what was happening on the hula mound. 'Ao'ole pau ka'ike I ho'okahi halau (not all knowledge is from one school) was the theme of this year's presentation. One of the most beautiful aspects of the program was

the entrance of a Maori delegation during the opening ceremonies, chanting in their native tongue a history of their geneology and their historical links. They were greeted at the mound by festival officials who placed kukui nut leis on the neek of eaeh visitor after exchanging kisses. The Maori's presence is in conjunction with the opening of the Bishop Museum exhibition, "Celebrating the Maori," whieh had its formal opening July 18. Master of Ceremonies Wende!l Silva, executive director of the Kalihi-Palama Culture and Arts Society, called on everyone in the sprawled out audience to introduce themselves and to shake hands. He then jokingly intoned: "For those of you who didn't bring anything, you ean now share some of the kaukau with your new neighbors." There were also demonstrations and displays throughout the day by the Waianae Coast Culture and Arts Society; Hawaiian games by Aunty Elaine Mullaney and

the Queen Emma Hawaiian Civic Club; paintings by Moanalua artist Patrick Ching and lei-making by the halau. Lunches were also provided by the Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club and the Alu Like Oahu Island Center. Spectators loudly appreciated the performances of such halau as: • Halau Hula 'O Kukuna'okala (kumu hula John Ka'imikaua). • Hula Halau 'O Molokai (kumu hula Rachel Kamakana). • Na Hula 'O La'i Kealoha (kumu hula Elaine Kaopuiki, Lanai).

• Halau 'O Kalahe'ahae, Ohana of Namakahelu and Malia Kau (kumu hula Sarah Kalau'awa). • Halau Mohala Ilima (kumu hula Mapuana deSilva). • Gentlemen of Na Kamalei and Na Pualei O Likolehua (kumu hula Robert Cazimero and Leina'ala Heine). • Emma Sharpe's Hula Halau, accompanied by Puamana alaka'i Martha Medeiros and Kathy Holoaumoku Ralar. • Na Hanona 'O Ka Halau Hula Pa 'Ola Kapu (kumu hula John LakeL • Halau Hula 'O Mililani (kumu hula Mililani Allen). • Hula 'O Kawaili'ula (kumu hula Chinky Mahoe). Brief opening ceremonies were co-chaired by Nalani Otds Napoleon and Haunani Apoliona with the dedication chant performed by Ho'olu Cambra. The festival was free but donations for the printed program were welcomed. MFG's goal is to help Hawaii's people understand, appreciate and care for Hawaii's natural and cultural resources. The annual Prince Lot Hula Festival is one of the programs undertaken by the Foundation to accomplish this goal.

There was a lot of honi honi, embracing and mueh aloha as Prince Lot Festival officials intermingle with Maori delegation during opening ceremonies of eighth annual celebration at Moanalua Gardens. The Maori group joined the festivities following another program two days earlier at Bishop Musuem. Kukui nut leis were presented to eaeh member of the delegation.