Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 6, 1 June 1991 — Molokaʻi celebrates the birth of hula [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Molokaʻi celebrates the birth of hula

Two hundred years before the first Westerners eame to Hawai'i, Moloka'i was its own kingdom. Its people were considered strong, powerful and warlike. Because of the many fishponds they built over a span of 150 years, that produced abundant food for its people, Moloka'i was considered the wealthiest island, and was mueh coveted by other island chiefs. Faced with a constant threat of war to take over their island, the people of Moloka'i fortified their districts to fight on a moment's notice. Schools of martial arts or lua sprung up to teach self-defense. The kahuna of the island congregated to develop their spiritual arts to a degree far exceeding the skills of other priests. As long as the Moloka'i people remained united, legend had it, they would never be conquered. Women were also renowned warriors in battle, fighting alongside their men. Great stories are told of mighty battles where the people defended their island against attack. In one battle, invading canoes on the beach stretched six miles along the shore from Kawela to Kapiho. Seeing their men losing ground, the women swam out to sea and formed a human net. They swam in with poles and first destroyed the invaders' canoes so none could escape alive. This victory was credited to Moloka'i women. Another chant tells of a mighty battle in whieh attacking forces besieged the island with so many canoes that no oeean could be seen, only logs. As wave after wave of warriors swept the beach in numbers never seen before, the armies of

Moloka'i fell back until the priests were summoned. Standing on a hill above the battle, they began to pray and chant until the attackers began to fall dead. Only the chief was spared to return home. This spread the fame and fear of the island as "Moloka'i pule O'o," referring to its spiritual power, according to kumu hula John Kaimikaua. Today the reputation of this island of strong warriors, priests and dancers persists among some other islanders who fear to visit the island. lts people still rally together to protect one of the few places left where a "Hawaiian" lifestyle ean still be lived. In recognition of the traditions of Moloka'i, including its tradition that hula was born on this island through the teachings of Laka, a hula celebration, "Moloka'i ka hula piko," was held in May at Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove in Kaunakakai. The celebration began with a pre-dawn hula ceremony to pay tribute to Laka, goddess of the hula on the hillside at Kaana overlooking central Moloka'i and its south coast. Performances later followed at Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove by halau hula, including Halau Hula O Kukunaokala, kumu hula John Kaimikaua, Halau Hula O Moloka'i, kumu hula Rachel Kamakana, Moana's Hula Studio, kumu hula Moana Dudoit. Modern Hawaiian music was provided by the K'Kai Trio, Ho'aikane, Genoa Keawe, Na Hoaloha O Laie and others. The "Moloka'i Ka Hula Piko" celebration was sponsored by the Destination Moloka'i Association.

A large crowd turned out at Coconut Grove to enjoy the entertainment, food and crafts.

Dancing the "Jockey Move" to music by Ho'aikane.

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Ipu and 'umeke for sale at a booth.

Dancers of kumu hula John Kaimikaua's Halau Hula O Kukunaokala perform a chant in honor of the first oeean migration to Hawai'i.

Creation hula performed by Halau Hula O Kukunaokala.