Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 4, 1 April 2011 — FOR THE LOVE OF HULA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FOR THE LOVE OF

HULA

By Francine Murray As they enter all eyes greet them, the audience motionless, silent and attentive following their every move and hanging on their every word. The contestants of the Miss Aloha Hula category compete for the top soloist award in the annual "Super Bowl" of hula, the Merrie Monarch Festival. There isn't one specific thing that sets these competitors apart. "It really is a package deal," explained Merrie Monarch judge and Kumu Hula Noenoe Zuttermeister. "It is their interpretation of the mele, their expressions, the thing that may not even be on paper. It's how they feel when they are dancing. Sometimes you ean just feel the love of hula permeating through someone who's dancing." According to Zuttermeister, what makes this competition special is that: "It gives the young women of Hawai'i an opportunity to have confidence and pride in themselves as an individual, rather than as a group. These young women take the time to learn how to oli, to be confident enough

to dance not only in front of the live audience and judges, but on television and the Internet, where they will be seen throughout the world." Aunty Luana Kawelu, President of the Merrie Monarch Festival, explained that during the oli, performers are given a ehanee to demonstrate their chanting skills, the style in whieh they are chanting and the use and understanding of the Hawaiian language. "If someone comes on stage and is very confident and is able to be heard, that will really work for them," said Zuttermeister. In assessing a dancer's Hawaiian language skills, judges also look to see if contestants are able to express the meaning of the oli. The Hawaiian Language Award is a $1,000 monetary prize presented annually by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to the individual with the highest score in the oli portion of their kahiko performance. Individuals vying for Miss Aloha Hula performan 'auana and a kahiko, with the overall highest ranking earning the title. ■

Merrie Monarch Festival and Competition Festival runs Sunday to Saturday, April 24-30 Competition runs Thursday to Saturday, April 28-30 The weeklong Merrie Monarch Festival includes art exhibits, craft fairs, demonstrations, performances, a parade and the world-renowned three-day hula competition. OHA is a proud sponsor of this event and also presents the annual Hawaiian Language Award. • Festival kicks off with a free Ho'olaule'a at 9 a.m. Sunday, with hula performances all day until 3 p.m. at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium. • Free entertainment continues with daily hula shows at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort and Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. • The festivaFs official craft fair runs Wednesday through Saturday at the civic auditorium. • Hō'ike performances, a free exhibition night of hula and intemational performers, starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium. • Competitions start and 6 p.m., featuring the Miss Aloha Hula eompetition on Thursday, group hula kahiko on Friday and group hula 'auana and awards ceremony on Saturday. (808) 935-9168 or www.merrie monarch.com.

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Omlani Koa won the 201 0 Hawaiian Language Award, presented annually by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. - Photo: Nicholas Masagatani