Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 5, 1 May 1988 — Tokyo Halau, Cook lslands Chanter Make it an lnternational Affair [ARTICLE]

Tokyo Halau, Cook lslands Chanter Make it an lnternational Affair

The 15th Annual King Kamehameha Hula Competition, sponsored by the State Council on Hawaiian Heritage, has taken on an international flavor with the chanter from the Cook Islands and a halau from Tokyo, Japan, listed among the entries.

Competition will onee more be a two-night affair June 24-25 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Arena with starting times being 6 o'eloek eaeh night. Tangaroa Kainuku of Rarotonga will demonstrate the Cook lsland style of Pe'e or chant while the Hula Halau Mehana O Ka La under Kuuleinani Keiko Hashimoto of Tokyo will compete in both divisions of the hula competition. Hashimoto studied hula in Hawaii for many years and she has a large dance school in Tokyo. Several of her halau members watched the 1987

King Kamehameha Hula Competition and expressed an interest in returning this year as participants. Two Northern California hula schools are also comheting. There will be 32 performances eaeh night with the chant and kahiko holding forth on opening night June 24. The auana or contemporary division will be held the following evening. The auana section this year honors Genoa Keawe for her more than 40 years in the entertainment field. All entries must perform asong she has recorded and in whieh she is the lead vocalist. Tickets will be available at the Blaisdell box office beginning June 1. General admission is $5 per night for upper balcony with no seat or section assignment. Reserved seats are $7 eaeh night.