Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 4, 1 April 2006 — E haʻ amākaukau: Make ready for Merrie Manarch! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

E haʻ amākaukau: Make ready for

Merrie Manarch!

By Manu Būyd Public lnformation Directnr although its trademark hula competition wouldn't start until a few years later, 1963 marked the dawning of the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo honoring Hawai'i's seventh sovereign, King Kalākaua. Originally intended as a tourism promotion and a "shot in the ann" for Hilo's sluggish economy, the Merrie Monarch Festival today enjoys international popularity as a Hawaiian cultural extravaganza "fit for a king" that contributes significantly to Hawai'i County and state coffers. Best known for its three-night hula competition that brings the week-long celebration to a close, Merrie Monarch begins eaeh Easter Sunday with ceremonies at Mokuola (Coconut Island) in Hilo Bay. (Festival dates vary greatly as Easter ean fall anywhere from March 22-April 28). Craft fairs lining Hilo streets and parks and the Afook-Chinen Civic Center spring into action, and filled-to-capacity hotels and bed-and-breakfasts from Hāmākua to Ka'ū heeome home to thousands of culture-loving malihini and hula aficionados. This year's hula competition begins with the solo Miss Aloha Hula division on Thursday, April 20. At sundown, the Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium stage will light up with 16 contestants vying for the coveted soloist title.

Eaeh contestant performs in two categories. First, the hula kahiko division requires dancers to perform traditional hula as well as an oli, or unaccompanied solo chant, that is judged for a separate language award. After a half-hour intermission, the contestants, all wahine between the ages of 18 and 25, will return for their hula 'auana, or modern hula presentation, complete with colorful costumes, beautiful flowers and lei, and live musical accompaniment. Awards for the top five contestants are presented that evening. Group hula in wahine (female) and kāne (male) divisions continue on Friday, April 21 for the hula kahiko, and Saturday, April 22 for the hula 'auana and group awards. A panel of seven hula experts will serve as judges for both the solo and group competitions: Nālani Kanaka'ole of Hilo; Hōkūlani Holt-Padilla of Kahului; Victoria Holt-Takamine, Sonny Ching and Wayne Keahi Chang of Honolulu; Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett of Kāne'ohe; and Cy Bridges of Lā'ie. On Saturday morning, the spectacular Merrie Monarch Festival Parade will wind its way through downtown Hilo with pā 'ū equestrian units, colorful floats, marching

bands, cultural groups and more. Near the end of the parade route, a huge craft fair at Mo 'oheau Park on the bayfront will feature the best of Hawai'i island products, 'ono food, art, Hawaiian crafts, T-shirts and other apparel. KITV Channel 4 televises the three-night event, with specially produced segments on participants as well as related cultural themes, and also streams the broadcast live over the Internet. This year, program booklets, usually only available to those lucky enough to get tickets to the sold-out Hilo event, will be available ahead of time. The Ladies of Nā Pualei o Likolehua, the hālau of Kumu Hula Leinā'ala Kalama Heine, who are celebrat-

ing their 30th anniversary, will pre-sell a limited amount of booklets in Honolulu so those at home ean follow along. The $8 booklet includes the performance order, chant and song descriptions, photos and more. For advance copies, eall 676-0056. ^

Merrie Monarch Festival April 16-22 Hilo 808-935-9168 www.merriemonarchfestival.org Live TV and Internet broadcast of hula competition: KITV Channel 4 Thurs., April 20 - Sat. April 22 Check listing for times TheHawaiiChannel. eom

The Songmaker's Chair Through April 15 at Kumu Kahua Theatre, O'ahu April 27-29 at McCoy Studio Theater, Maui This powerful play by noted Pacific lsland writer Albert Wendt traces the changes a Sōmoan family experiences over three generations after settling in New Zealand. Kumu Kahua Theatre: $5-$16; www. kumukahua.org or 536-4441. McCoy Studio Theater: $20; 808-242-7469. David Malo Day Fri.-Sat„ April 7-8 A parade down Front Street starts at 7 a.m. on Friday. The events on Saturday will include a $10 lo'au at 5 p.m., followed by a presentation on the history of Lahainaluna High School. Lahainaluna High School, Maui. 662-4000. Pūnana Leo o Moloka'i festival Sat„ April 22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. An educational ho'olaule'a wīth music, crafts, food and games. Lanikeha Center, Ho'olehua. Free. 808-567-9211. Tribute to fallen warriors Sat„ April 29 A ceremony honoring fallen Hawaiian warriors will be held at the Pali Lookout at 6 a.m., followed by a festival on the lawn fronting UH's Bachman Hall. The event will be held in conjunction with a protest of UH's genetic modification of kalo, and will feature food, demonstrations and music. I Mua Kamehameha Sat„ April 29, 7 p.m. A Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame concert featuring Kamehameha Schools grads, including 'Ale'a, Emma Veary, Holunape and others. $22-$27. Hawai'i Theatre. 528-0506. Rev. Joel Hulu Māhoe Resource Center fundraiser Sat„ April 29, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Food, prizes and live music by Jeff Rasmussen, Kenneth Makuakāne and Darren Benitez. Lanikūhonua, Ko Olina, O'ahu. $1 7.50. 677-5513. Brothers Cazimero Lei Day concerts Mon.-Tues„ May 1-2 The Brothers Cazimero will perform their annual Lei Day concerts at Waikikī Shell on Mayl and at the Maui Arts & Cultural Centeron May 2. 597-1888.

NĀ HANANA • EVENTS

Miss Aloha Hula 2005 Maile Francisco adorned in a lei of 'akulikuli pays tribute to North Kohala,- Photo: Courtesv oflsland Heritage