Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 5, 1 May 1994 — OHA presents Hawaiian language award to Farias [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA presents Hawaiian language award to Farias

by Jeff Clark Tracie Ka'ōnohilani Farias, crowned Miss Aloha Hula of the 3 1 st Merrie Monarch Festival, also received the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Language Award.

The award honors the dancer with the highest score in ihe oli category; the conlestants chant an oli prior to dancing their hula kahiko. Farias performed a chant about the arrival of Pele from Tahiti to Hawai'i. The award of $500 was presented by Maui Trustee and Vice-Chairman Abraham Aiona along with Trustees A. Frenchy DeSoto and Kamaki Kanahele. OHA culture specialist Manu Boyd, who has attended the Merrie Monarch annually since 1979, said this year's performances were the best he has seen. "I am totally impressed with the level of quality of hula and use of the Hawaiian language," he said. "I attribute that to the growing interest and understanding of the Hawaiian language among students and teachers in hālau hula."

j Tracie Ka'onohilani Farias