Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 10, 1 October 2013 — In praise of the Fabulous Four [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In praise of the Fabulous Four

By Lynn Cook n these Islands the term "Fab Four" means something entirely different than it does to the rest of the civilized world. Our fabulous four, heavenly four, the Royal Four, comprise King David La'amea Kamanakapu'u Maahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua, Queen Lydia Lili'u Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamaka'eha, Princess Miriam Kapili Kekāuluohi Likelike and Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku Kalaho'olewa. On Sunday, Nov. 10, Kumu Hula Leina'ala Kalama Heine and her dancers, the ladies of Nā Pualei O

Likolehua, will host the 17th annual Nā Lani 'Ehā, honoring these "Heavenly Four" composers, singers, chanters, poets and musicians. For decades they have given Hawai'i a reason to celebrate. Heine calls the royals the most prolific composers in the entire Paeihe. She credits Aunty Vickie I'i Rodrigues with giving her the idea of the celebration. "She said in days past they had a competition among themselves, a small hō'ike to challenge one another's talent, and that her dream was to see that happen again." Heine accepted the task, and 17 years later the audience and the hālau reap the reward of her dedication. Heine invites three hālau, two groups with male dancers and one with women and her own ladies complete the list. This is a noncompetitive event. "In January I make the invitation and ask them to piek the royal they want to honor. After the three choose, our hālau, the host, takes the last." The hālau select a mele, a chant and a hula, bringing back oldpieces. They also have the option of composing something new to honor the work of their ehoiee." The invitation is extended for four years and, in the case of Manu Boyd, and others, they re-upped for many more years. This year the concert will feature Nā Pualei O Likolehua led by Heine, honoring King David

Kalākaua; the men of Ka Pā Hula 0 Ka Lei Lehua led by Kumu Hula Snowbird Bento, honoring Princess Miriam Likelike; and two first-time entrants, the ladies of Hālau Hula Ka Lehua īuahine under the direction of Kumu Hula Ka'ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval, honoring Queen Lydia Lili'uokalani, and the men of Ka Leo O Laka 1 Ka Hikina O Ka Lā under the direction of Kumu Hula Kaleo Trinidad, honoring Prince William Leleiohoku. Adding "double scoops" to the afternoon, a performance by the featured guests for the second half

will be Nā Hōkū Hanohano winners Nā Hoa: Keoni Souza, Ikaika Blackburn and Halehaku SeaburyAkaka. To participate, eaeh hālau must dance, chant and sing. The last requirement is often new to the dancers. Nā Lani 'Ehā has been credited as the cause for hālau to "make a joyful noise." Heine says: "If they ean chant, they ean sing. They just have to get comfortable with it." The event also provides an opportunity for hālau members to research, leam and write. The research component fills the promise Heine made to Rodrigues, for both dancers and audiences to leam. As the months pass, Heine says she "gently reminds" eaeh kumu, "I eall and ask how they are doing, do they have questions." By September they need to have their written description, and the words to chant and mele, ready for printing in the concert program. The concert ticket price is kept affordable and funds are set aside eaeh year to use toward the event the next year. Even though McKinley High School auditorium is large, Heine encourages folks to get their tickets because this concert is part history lesson, part hula study and all fun. ■ Lynn Cook i.s a loeal freelance journaīist sharing the arts and euhwe ofHawai 'i with a glohal auāienee.

17th annual Nā Lani 'Ehā Featured kumu: Leina'ala Kalama Heine, Snowbird Bento, Ka'ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval and Kaleo Trinidad Featured musicians: Nā Hoa When: 3 p.m. Nov. 10, doors open at 2:30 p.m. Where: McKinley High School auditorium Cost: $25 Tickets & lnfo: 676-0056 or napualei76@gmail.com

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