Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 6, 1 June 2014 — Twin accolades for Oʻahu dancer Keʻalohilani Serrao [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Twin accolades for Oʻahu dancer Keʻalohilani Serrao

She wins Miss Aloha Hula and OHA's language award

By Lynn Cook n winning the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2014, Ke'alohilani Tara Eliga Serrao danced for her kumu, Tracie and Keawe Lopes, of Ka Lā 'Ōnohi Mai O Ha'eha'e, and for all their hula ancestors. Her winning night began with the Hawaiian Language Award from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. There was mueh hugging as dancer and kumu made their way back to the stands to the open -J arms of hula sisters and the wait for thirdthrough first-place awards at the 5 1 st ■H' Merrie Monarch Lestival. Winning the Hawaiian Language Award, whieh comes with $1,000, was the thrill of a lifetime. When the name of Miss Aloha Hula was announced, kumu Tracie said it was almost as if time stopped. "Ijustdanced,"saysagracious

Serrao. "If my kumu ^ were happy, then I was happy." WĒ A Kame-

hameha Schools graduate, Leeward Community College student and coffee merchandiser, Serrao , has dedicated her life to hula, her kumu and a sincere promise to BjK herself to continue her college education and her Hawaiian

language studies. Serrao's win eame 20 k years to the day after B her kumu hula Tracie ■L Lopes won the title BL in 1994 under the

direction of the late kumu 0'Brian Eselu. Kumu Tracie says, "I promised 0'Brien that I would bring our hālau for five years. This is year number six." With her kumu husband, Keawe, the eouple teach their students from a long hula lineage. Serrao's parents, Joseph and Tina, also danced for Eselu. The young Miss Aloha Hula dancer was part of the hula lineage before she was born. "The joy of this dancer," Lopes says of Serrao, "is that she always is ready to practice and is totally open to being fixed if something needs to

be changed. And, she remembers every direction and move." According to a handout from Lopes: "The kahiko Serrao performed, 'A Ka La'i Au I Mauliola,' is often referred to as 'Keanolani' and honors Princess Ruth Ke'elikōlani. Her 'auana, 'Ke 'Ala Ka'u I Honi,' is a section from the mele 'Pua Nani O Hawai'i,' whieh was composed by Kekapa Low as an expression of affection for Queen Lili'uokalani." Serrao garnered a score of 1,142 points, more than 50 points ahead of the second-place winner Kilioulaninuiamamaoho'opi'iwahinekapualok eokalaniakea Lai of Keolalaulani Hālau 'Ōlapa O Laka. The Miss Aloha Hula tradition runs strong in Lai's family. She danced under the direction of her tūtū Aloha Dalire, the first \ Miss Hula in 1971. Lai's mom, Kapua Dalire-Moe, and two aunties have also won the title. Third plaee went to Sarah Kapuahelani Sterling of Hālau Mōhala 'Ilima under kumu Māpuana de Silva. Sterling's older sister Rebecca Lilinoekapahauomaunakea Sterling was named Miss Aloha Hula in 2012. Serrao, who works summers in the keiki enrichment program at Kamehameha Schools,

prepares students for their hō'ike performance at the schools' famed Song Contest, and is kōkua (helper) for the hālau keiki classes. Lor Serrao, one of the sweetest moments after winning the hula awards eame after she returned to O'ahu. She was a bit worried for having to miss work in order to compete. When she returned from Hilo, she was called into the office. "Instead of being in trouble," she says, "there must have been 50 co-workers ready to celebrate with me!" ■

Lynn Cook i.s a loeal freelance journaīist sharing the arts and euhwe ofHawai'i wiih a glohal audienee.

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Ke'alohilani Serrao during her kahiko performance, and 'auana, left. - Courtesy: Extreme Exposure Photography