Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 4, 1 April 1988 — Hoʻolauna Pu Kakou Draws Large Crowd in Annual Makalei Benefit [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hoʻolauna Pu Kakou Draws Large Crowd in Annual Makalei Benefit

The ninth annual Ho'olauna pu kakou (let's gather together in friendship) was just that — more than an estimated 700 people coming together on a laid-back Sunday afternoon Feb. 28 at Pua Melia Plantation in Waimanalo.

It featured the keikis, ladies and teenagers of Halau Mohala Ilima as a benefit fund raiser to send its dancers to the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo this month. The program was staged by the Makalei Foundation whieh is the umbrella organization of Halau Mohala Ilima. A special opening ceremony featuring a chant by Kumu Hula Mapuana de Silva was held at the entrance to Pua Melia before the overflow crowd filed into the grounds. They staked their locations, set up their coolers and hali'i of every kind and just relaxed and enjoyed the hula performances of the

halau and guest entertainers. The list of performing artists included the Kawai Cockett Trio with Rachel Mahuiki; Ho'okena and Manu Boyd; steel guitar virtuoso Barney Isaacs and his Islanders; David and Kalani, musicians with Moe Keale; Tony Conjugacion; andOlomana with Jerry Santos, Haunani Apoliona and Wally Suenaga.

The program ran in smooth, fluid drive fashion with no breaks taken, mueh to the appreciation of the audience. Keaumiki of Hawaiian Radio KCCN at 1420 on the AM dial and Harry B. Soria Jr. kept the program moving with just the right amount of

humor and patter. There were halau items on sale such as T-shirts, beverage coolers, caps, sweatshirts and other paraphernalia. Bento lunches, shave iee, soda, beer and candy were also on sale. Proceeds benefit the halau.

Mapuana, a product of Aunty Maiki Aiu Lake, thrilled the crowd with several dances. She was joined eaeh time by her girls in a number of impromptu and well-received performances. The crowd loved it and expressed their appreciation accordingly. The kumu hula's husband, Kihei, was recognized later as one of the pillars of the Foundation who has composed several songs and chants used by the halau. He is amathematics instructor at The Kamehameha Schools. >■ * w Hi

These are the teen dancers of Halau Mohala llima in one of their numbers on the beautiful grounds of Pua Meiia Plantation in Waimanalo.