Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 7, 1 July 2011 — Ka ʻImi's 'Recalling Hawaiʻi,ʻ a tribute to aliʻi legacies [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ka ʻImi's 'Recalling Hawaiʻi,ʻ a tribute to aliʻi legacies

By Dawn Fraser Kawahara This year in a May 28 perfonnance, a pinnaele in hula learning and presentational skills for Ka 'Imi Na'auao o Hawai'i Nei Institute members was reached during the evening presentation of Recalling Hawai'i at the Kaua'i Coimnunity College Perfonning Arts Center. The hula chronicle played to a sold-out house. From the moment the large pū sounded and the chanting began - "Aroha tatou, e na tupuna ..." - and the spotlights focused on colorfully costumed figures before a screen splashed with images of Kaua'i and Hawai'i, the energy between audience and cast circled and continued to build over two segments

covering several hours of dance and music researched and choreographed to "chart" time from the kumulipo through the peaceful time of Manokalanipō to the days of the monarchy. Following "Hawai'i Aloha," at the closing, the receptive audience rewarded the more than 40 dancers, chanters, musicians and supporters involved in the challenging hula drama with a stand-up "hana hou" reaction. At this point, artistic director and President Emeritus of Ka 'Imi Institute, founder Roselle Keli'ihonipua Bailey, of Maui, introduced the cast members in the ambitious presentation who had traveled to merge together with Kaua'i Ka 'hni members from O'ahu, Maui, California and Gennany. This Hawai'i premiere built on the first European performances of Recalling

Hawai'i, presented successfully in lune 2010 in Gennany and Switzerland by invitation. Kumu Hula Bailey, when interviewed, said she chooses to continue the tradition of Hawaiian creativity in finding new ways to blend the old with the new in her choreography and staging. "My hope is that any person with Hawaiian ancestry would gain renewal and personal pride from the content of the program," she said. "I wish the same for anyone who respects and dedicates to learning the truth of the Hawaiian culture." This show's theme revolves on aspects of Hawaiian culture that are successfully alive today. The focal points are the legacies of Hawaiian leaders of the past, and how these bequests of the Ali'i translate in modern-day

Hawai'i to benefit all people of the greater coimnunity. The legacies of members of the two prominent royal families, the Kamehameha and Kalākaua dynasties - Kamehameha I through Kamehameha V (Lot), Kuhina Nui Ka'ahumanu, Liholiho, Kauikeaouli, Lunalilo, Emalani, Kapi'olani and Kalākaua, Kai'ulani and Lili'uokalani, Pauahi and Kūhiō, and the like - are well worth remembering and celebrating. ■ Dawn Fraser Kawahara is a poet/writer and publisher (TropicBird Press, tropicbirdpress. net), a longtime member of Ka 'Imi InstituteKaua'i (kaimi.org) and teaches Hawaiian culture subjects for HPU's Pacific Island Institute Road Scholar program.

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At Kū 'lmi lnstitute's "Recalling Hawai'i" premiere peiformance in Hawai'i, youth portraying royal princesses are shown in ū musical moment between lessons in deportment, manners and dances. From left, Cheyenne Leianuenue Manle (O'ahu), Sara Mikolelehua Wong (Calif.), Kukui Gavagan (Maui), Sitara Malia Mohr (Kaua'i), Lily Lilinoe Carbullido (Calif.), Kasey KūWūimūkūleaokūlūni Redman (Maui) with 'ukulele, Olivia Lamalamaka'ili Nardell (Calif.) and Leela Mohr (Kaua'i). - Courtesy photos by Miehael Teruya

Confining dresses, shoes and stockings were not always popular with the young princesses, as shown in this scene from "Recalling Hawai'i," depicting a missionaiy school for the ali'i children. Shown from left, Kumu Hula Sally Jo Keahi Manea (Kaua'i) fixes the skirt waist of Kukui Gavagan (Maui), while princesses Sitara Malia Mohr and small, barefoot Olivia Lamalamaka'ili Nardell (Calif.) wait to dance. Kumu Hula Pat Moanikeala Finberg similarly adjusts for Cheyenne Leianuenue Manle (O'ahu), while princess Becky Shimabukuro gazes on patiently.