Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 5, 1 May 2013 — HŌʻIKE CELEBRATES HULA PAST AND PRESENT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HŌʻIKE CELEBRATES HULA PAST AND PRESENT

By Kekoa Enomoto

HILO, HAWALI ISLAND— The late Aunty Dottie Thompson and Unele George Nā'ope must have gazed down with pride at the 50th iteration of the Merrie Monarch Festival they shepherded for decades. An April 3 Hō'ike presented a golden-anniver-sary spectrum of uplifting recreations, including

the rousing oli and bombastic choreography of Hālau O Kekuhi, under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele, Nālani Kanaka'ole, Kekuhi Keali'ikanaka'oleohaililani and Huihui Kanahele-Mossman. Performing were mulhple Kanaka'ole generations, whose late matriarch is the namesake of the event site, the Edith Kanaka'ole Multi-Purpose Stadium. Hō'ike highlights included Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionapuaikawekiuokalani Cazimero and Hālau Nā Kamalei. They reprised winning performances since 1976, including a haunting, graceful rendition of "Kaulilua." Dozens of hālau alumni featured those Cazimero had graduated,

through 'ūniki, as kumu hula. They included Manu Boyd, who leads Hālau O Ke 'A'ali'i Kū Makani, in Kānewai; and eo-Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker and Miehael Casupang. The latter's Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, of Pauoa, O'ahu, went on to win second plaee this year in group hula 'auana and overall kāne standings. Also, nearly three dozen former students of Darrell Lupenui reunited to honor their late kumu hula with chant and dance that captured group hula kahiko, group hula 'auana and festival overall top honors in 1978 and beyond. Kumu Hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu of the Academy of Hawaiian Arts, in Oakland, California, anchored the left front of the charismatic lineup while Chinky Māhoe anchored the right front. Other Waimāpuna alumni onstage who serve as nā kumu hula included Buzzy Histo, Blaine Kia, Keone Nunes, "Greg Lontayao and so

many of them," said Mahoe, now kumu hula of hālau L9 Kawaili'ulā, in Kailua, O'ahu. "I | think a lot of it is, [£3 onee Darrell passed away, none of them \ wanted to go into l | any other hālau, so 4 they ended up teaching. "Mv hiuhliuhī was

with Waimāpuna and being able to take that journey, bringing everyone back and seeing how happy they were being with one another, because some of them haven't danced for over 30 years," Māhoe recounted. "Darrell died 27 years ago. "What I did was to invite every generation of Waimāpuna from the very first to eome back together - just to see the ones who danced under Thaddeus and 0'Brian," Māhoe said, referring to Lupenui-affiliated Kumu Hula Thaddeus Wilson and 0'Brian Eselu, who are deceased. "We called them all back and they all said 'yes,' without hesitation. We had 34 onstage. "It was an honor and blessing for us all." The Merrie Monarch anniversary Hō'ike eulminated with all past and present Miss Aloha Hula on stage with their winning smiles, grace and dance. Alumnae includedAloha Wong Dalire, the inaugural Miss Aloha Hula in 1971 and an amazing trio of offspring: Kapualokeokalaniakea DalireMoe, 1991 titleholder, Kau'imaiokalaniakea Dalire, 1992, and Keolalaulani Dalire, 1999. All four serve as nā kumu hula for various hālau. "It was a little overwhelming for me because I think our family has that distinction to be the first" with a Miss Aloha Hula, said Aloha Dalire. "And all three daughters are (Miss Aloha Hula). I feel it is a really big honor, and I really treasure that. "Congratulations to Merrie Monarch," added the kumu hula of Keolalaulani Hālau 'Ōlapa O Laka, also marking a 50th anniversary, with an Aug. 24 hō'ike. "I don't think any of us had an inkling that the festival would be around this many years." ■ Kekoa Enomolo is a retired copy editor and staff writer with The Maui News and former Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

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Hōlau 0 Kekuhi's rousing Hōlke peiformance included generations of Kanaka'oles. - Photos: Niek Masagatani

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