Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 11, 1 November 2000 — Kumu Hula Leināʻala Kalama Heine salutes royal four [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kumu Hula Leināʻala Kalama Heine salutes royal four

By Manu Boyd MORE THAN 30 years ago, before Leinā'ala Kalama Heine was renown as a hula master and solo dancer, she performed with Vickie 'Ī'ī Rodrigues, Joe Kahā'ulelio and Pauline Kekahuna. "We were preparing for a show on the Lurline, and Aunty Vickie wanted to do a segment on the Kalākaua family," said Heine. "Kalākaua was her ah'i," she said, noting that Rodrigues' tūtū was in the king's court, and her own name, "Keali'ika'apunihonua," referred to the king's 1881 trip around the world. "Nā Lani 'Ehā, the four royal composers, are King Kalākaua, Queen Lili'uokalani, Piinee Leleiōhoku and Princess Likelike,"she explained. "I give credit to Aunty Vickie as an important mentor, and for inspiring our concert theme as we prepare for our fourth annual event." (See Nov. 12 event listing above). After completing formal hula studies with Maiki Aiu Lake, Heine, known affectionately as "'Ala," opened her own school, The Ladies of Nā Pualei O Likolehua,

named for the young leaf buds of the 'ōhi'a lehua. "At that time, Hawaiian music was popular, but hula had not quite taken off yet in popularity," said Heine of the beginnings of the Hawaiian cultural renaissance. "Today's climate is different. Many people are interested in all aspects of our culture, not just hula. The direction of the hālau now is in preparing teachers, and

giving them more than the dance. Many of the haumāna not only speak Hawaiian, but teach it as well," she said. In 1997, Heine co-founded 'īlio'ulaokalani, a eoalition of kumu hula and cultural practitioners. "Land issues are very important, and relate directly to the hula," said Heine. "I think our training and practice of our culture and traditions have given us the wisdom and strength to become politically active." In preparing for this year's Nā Lani 'Ehā event, Heine decided to honor eaeh of the four ali'i with song, chant and dance. "Eaeh hālau performing will honor one of the four. Although this is not competitive, we were taught that the Kalākaua family enjoyed informal eompetition among themselves. The concert will culminate with a kind of jam session that I'm sure the ali'i would enjoy." When not running her own hālau, Heine also instructs at St. Andrew's Priory, dances with the Brothers Cazimero, supports outrigger eanoe racing, travels the world, and tends to her 'ohana at her Waimānalo home. "I owe a lot to my teachers. They have given me a good hfe." ■

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Kumu Hula Lelna'ala Kalama Heine (center) andThe Ladies of Nā Pualei O Likolehua

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