Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 8, 1 August 1986 — Kauai Halau Marks Significant Point in its 14-Year History [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kauai Halau Marks Significant Point in its 14-Year History

By Carmen (Booths) Panui Communitv Resource Soecialist. Kauai

One of the hula halau whieh appeared at the Ninth Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival July 19 at Moanalua Gardens was Kahiko Halapa'i Hula Alapa'i under Kumu Hula Roselle Keli'ihonipua Bailey of Kaumakani. This appearance eame at a most appropriate time in the halau's 1986

program because it marked a significant point in the entire 14 years of its development and a decision made several years ago when Mrs. Bailey and her students asked themselves to redefine the group's goals. At the time, the ehoiee seemed to be between entering the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo one more time and participating in less conspicuous cultural and community events.

The decision was to go for the latter, appearing in non-competitive activities such as performances at jails and hospitals were more consonant with its stated purpose: "To search for the tmth of the Hawaiian culture, to restore the Hawaiian culture to its original dignity, to educate the populaee for its understanding, enjoyment and appreciation of the medicine, art language, crafts, philosophy, history and religion of the Hawaiian people through hula." Few members probably realized precisely where that decision would lead. In short order eame an opportunity for a cultural exchange visit to Washington state

and British Columbia. Soon afterward, Te Whare Wananga o Waikato, a group of Maori singers and dancers, visited Kauai and the halau hosted them. In January, 1986, the Maori group reciprocated, hosting Kahiko Halapa'i Hula Alapa'i in New Zealand for two weeks. Native Americans from Vancouver Island stopped briefly on Kauai last April and enjoyed the halau's hospitality. They invited Mrs. Bailey to bring her students to British Columbia in 1987. Similar activities and other exchanges are being considered. The students, meanwhile, continue their work to maintain and preserve Hawaiian culture within their own community, such as tendingthe heiauof Ke Ahu A Laka at Ha'ena, holding craft workshops and other activities in addition to their singing and dancing. Entertaining visitors, traveling and driving from Kaumakani to Ha'ena involve money. To meet hnaneial obligations for these kinds of things and to pay for their New Zealand trip, halau members washed cars, sold Tshirts and held a luau fund raiser wherein they did the cooking, served the food and put on the show.

Because of the success of that fund raiser, halau members are planning another one for Aug. 23. Rehearsals for this show began shortly after the group returned from the Prince Lot Festival. While formal classes ended after the annual ho'ike on June 14 and will not resume untilSeptember, the summer continues to be a busy one for Mrs. Bailey and her dancers.

Kahiko Halapa'i Hula Alapa'i has been incorporated as a tax-exempt educational organization under the laws of the state of Hawaii. Anyone wishing more information about the halau and its activities may contact Meph Wyeth at 822-7971 or Diana Brin at 822-0399.

Dt»ncers of Kahiko Halapa'i Hula Alapa'i perform at the heiau of Ke Ahu a Laka at Ha'ena.