Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 11, 1 November 1991 — Melveen's Aloha XMAS a Tahiti treat [ARTICLE]

Melveen's Aloha XMAS a Tahiti treat

"Melveen's Aloha Christmas Tree Ceremony," will bring to Papeete, Tahiti on Dec. 1 the sights, sounds and the smells of a traditional American Christmas, Hawai'i-style. This first of its kind event is being organized by Hawaii's own Melveen Leed, with the participation of President Gaston Flosse of French Polynesia and Papeete Mayor Juventin.

The festive Christmas program, whieh will take plaee on the grounds of the Papeete City Hall, capitol of French Polynesia, will feature traditional Christmas carols and dances of Hawai'i and Polynesia, and Tahitian choirs to accompany Leed.

Highlight of the festivities will be the lighting of a 10-foot Christmas tree Leed is bringing in from Washington state with the kokua of Hawaiian Airlines, a treat she says has never been done before in Tahiti. Leed plans to open the program with chanting by a Tahitian chanter and Hawaiian chanter Frank Hewett. She is taking along three of her voice

students and dancers, and daughter Kaaikaula Naluai, 14, will make her debut as a dancer. The program will feature traditional Christmas songs in both English and Hawaiian, and Tahitian dances by entertainers Coco and Troupe. Leed hopes to get Tahitian dignitaries up to participate in a humorous singing of the "Twelve Days of Christmas," Tahitian-style. The finale will bring the entire cast together to sing " Jingle Bells" while Pere Noel (Santa Claus) gives out candies to the children.

Leed is seeking donations from Hawai'i companies to provide the candies. She is also inviting donations of Hawaiian Christmas tree ornaments from individuals or groups. Any extra candies or ornaments will be taken to a loeal hospital. While in Tahiti, Leed will also perform with her students in loeal schools. Leed also plans to record and release a new compact disc, "Melveen's Aloha Patitifa," featuring songs from Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand, Rarotonga and Hawai'i.