Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 5, 1 May 2004 — ʻŌpio represent three islands in inter-scholastic hoʻokūkū hula [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻŌpio represent three islands in inter-scholastic hoʻokūkū hula

By Manu Boyd For nearly three decades, Hawai'i's 'ōpio have engaged in friendly hula competition. And while the Merrie Monarch, King Kamehameha and Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula events have brought hula to international aeelaim, the Hawai'i Secondary Hula Kahiko Competition has instilled a sense of school pride among Hawai'i's youth while they learn about and help to preserve hula traditions and Hawaiian language. On Sat., May 8 at 10 a.m., the 28th annual secondary school hula event will take plaee at Kapolei Middle School on O'ahu. Initiated in the 1970s by the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center at the urging of Aunty Mālia Craver, the popular hula event was taken over years ago by the Kalihi Pālama Culture and Arts Society, a community-based non-profit organization that

also produces the annual Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Festival. Mālia Craver, who now serves as statewide kupuna cultural and spiritual advisor to QLCC, will serve as judge. Joining her will be hula mainstays Pat Nāmaka Bacon, Edith Kawelohea McKinzie and Nathan Nāpōkā. Language expert Puakea Nogelmeier will judge 'ōlelo Hawai'i.

This year, 15 schools will represent three islands in the middle school and high school divisions. Middle school participants will represent 'Iolani, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus, Kapolei, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'o Ānuenue, King, Lokelani (Maui), Mililani and Moloka'i Intermediate. High school participants are Farrington, Baldwin (Maui), 'Iolani, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus, Kailua, Mid-Pacific, Moloka'i High, Punahou and Sacred Hearts Academy. Tickets are $7 and will be available at Kapolei Middle School on the day of the event. For additional information, eall the Kalihi-Pālama Culture and Arts Society at 521-6905. Head out to Kapolei May 8 and support our 'ōpio in what has heeome a popular and important event celebrating our indigenous island her- | itage. E ho 'omākaukau! ■

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Hanana Kūikawā 7 VMv

Dancers from Maui's Baldwin High School perform in last year's secondary school hula competition.