celebrate hula

HULACELEBRATEA Guide to the 49th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival

April 8-14, 2012 Hawaii Tribune-Herald

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ONGOING EVENTS10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday to Sat-

urday — PIHA Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit at the Merrie Monarch Festi-val Office, 865 Piilani St.

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday — Merrie Monarch Hawai-ian Arts and Crafts Fair at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium (4 p.m. clos-ing Saturday)

SUNDAY, APRIL 8Ho‘olaule‘a at the Afook-Chinen

Civic Auditorium9 a.m. — Ha‘akumalae, Kekuhi

Keali‘ikanaka‘oleohaililani and Mana-iakalani Kalua

10 a.m. — Hula Halau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa, kumu Meleana Manuel

11 a.m. — Waiakea High School Ka Leo Wai, Kawika Urakami

Noon — Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua, kumu Johnny Lum Ho

1 p.m. — Halau Na Pua O Uluhai-malama, kumu Emery Aceret

2 p.m. — Lori Lei’s Hula Studio and Wai‘ohinu Hula Studio, kumu Lori Lei Shirakawa

3 p.m. — Halau Na Lei Hiwahiwa ‘O Ku‘ualoha, kumu Sammye-Anne Young and Na Lei Liko O Ola‘a, kumu Kimo Kekua

4 p.m. — Toa Here, Romi Sal-vador

MONDAY, APRIL 9Noon — Keolalaulani Halau

‘Olapa O Laka, kumu Aloha Dalire, at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort

1 p.m. — Halau Hula ‘O Hilo Hanakahi, Pua Crumb, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

TUESDAY, ARIL 1010 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Hawaiian

entertainment at the ‘Imiloa Astron-omy Center

Noon — Unukupukupu, kumu Taupori Tangaro, at the Naniloa Vol-canoes Resort

1 p.m. — Halau O Mailelaulani,

kumu Maile Canario, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1110 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Hawaiian


11 a.m. — Halau O Kawanana-koa, Alberta Nicolas, at the Civic

Noon — Halau Na Lei Hiwahiwa ‘O Ku‘ualoha, kumu Sammye-Anne Young, at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort

1 p.m. — Ke Ola O Na Kupuna, kumu Haunani Medeiros, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Ho‘ike at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multipurpose Stadium

6 p.m. — Entrance of Royal Court6:15 p.m. — National Anthem

and Hawai‘i Pono‘i by Puna Men’s Choir, Kenneth Reinhardt

6:25 p.m. — Pule by Kahu Wen-dell Davis

6:30 p.m. — Halau O Kekuhi, kumu Nalani Kanaka‘ole

7 p.m. — Halau Hula ‘O Lima

Nani, Kei Inouye7:30 p.m. — Na Lei O Kaholoku,

Leialoha Amina and Nani Lim Yap8 p.m. — Rangi Moana, Marcos

Haumoana Rapu8:45 p.m. — Nonosina, Tiana and

Mevina Liufau

THURSDAY, APRIL 1210 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Hawaiian


11 a.m. — Hui Pulelehua, na kumu Maile Loo, Iwalani Kalima and Kaponoai Molitau, at the Civic

Noon — Hula Halau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa, kumu Meleana Manuel, at the Naniloa Vol-canoes Resort

1 p.m. — Halau Hula O Kou Lima Nani E, kumu Iwalani Kalima, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Miss Aloha Hula Competition — Edith Kanaka‘ole Multipurpose

Stadium6 p.m. — Entrance of Royal Court6:15 p.m. — National Anthem

and Hawai‘i Pono‘i by Leilani Kerr6:20 p.m. — Pule by Kahu Wen-

dell Davis6:25 p.m. — Introduction of

judges6:30 p.m. — Miss Aloha Hula

Competition, followed by presenta-tion of awards

FRIDAY, APRIL 1310 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Hawaiian


11 a.m. — Ke Ola O Na Kupuna, kumu Haunani Medeiros, at the Civic

Noon — Halau O Kawananakoa, kumu Alberta Nicolas, at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort

1 p.m. — Halau Ha‘a Kea ‘O Akala, kumu Paul Neves, at the Hilo Hawai-ian Hotel

Group Hula Kahiko Competition at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multipurpose

Stadium6 p.m. — Entrance of Royal Court6:15 p.m. — National Anthem



judges6:30 p.m. — Hula Kahiko Com-

petition

SATURDAY, APRIL 1410:30 a.m. — Royal Parade

through downtown HiloNoon — Halau O Mailelaulani,

kumu Maile Canario, at the CivicGroup Hula ‘Auana Competition

at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multipurpose Stadium

6 p.m. — Entrance of Royal Court6:15 p.m. — National Anthem



judges6:30 p.m. — Hula ‘Auana Compe-

tition, followed by presentation of awards n

CELEBRATE HULA

Exclusive Web coverage Celebrate Hula

SCHEDULE OF EVENTSINDEX

Editor David Bock

On the cover: Main photo: Halau Keali‘i O Nalani

Secondary photo: Miss Aloha Hula 2011 Tori Hulali Canha

Staff WriterPeter Sur

Page DesignMeg Scarbrough

Celebrate Hula is a copyrighted publication of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald

n Welcome to the 49th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival, 3

n Complete list of competing halau, 4

n Hula Hands: There’s meaning in each movement, 8

n Ho‘ike is a night of free fun and entertainment, 12

n Royalty reigns at annual Royal Parade, 18

n Many factors go into creating a hula performance, 20

n The entrance and exit are important part of performances, 21

n Craft fairs abound this week in Hilo, 24

n Legend tells tale of how Maui battled Kuna in Hilo, 25

n A look at the early years of King Kalakaua’s reign, 27

n Meet this year’s Miss Aloha Hula contestants, 30

n There’s plenty of free hula to enjoy this week, 31

For more exclusive coverage of the Merrie Monarch Festival, visit the Tribune-Herald’s website at:

www.hawaiitribune-herald.comThe site includes a special Merrie Monarch section that features

interesting stories, hula photo galleries, schedules and more.Use your smartphone to scan the code at right to access festival

coverage on our website.

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By PETER SURTribune-Herald staff writer

When the Merrie Monarch Festival concludes at the end of this week, what will people remember

as the signature moment?Will it be when Halau O

Kekuhi storms the stage during the Wednesday night Ho‘ike?

Will it be when some yet-unknown wahine begins the dance that earns her the title of Miss Aloha Hula? Or will it be something else: A rain-bow over the Royal Parade? A chance reunion at the craft fairs? Another surprise mar-riage proposal?

The air hangs thick with possibilities, for this is the 49th Annual Merrie Mon-arch Festival. It was founded

in the early 1960s by Helene Hale, the late George Na‘ope and Gene Wilhelm, and taken to new heights by the late Dot-tie Thompson. Today, the festi-val has grown into a celebration

of all things Hawaiian — espe-cially hula, the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people.

But that heartbeat doesn’t come easy. The dances that people will see this week are the culmination of months of researching, collecting, learn-ing, growing and rehearsing. Behind the scenes, there’s noth-ing magical about what goes on. Just a lot of unseen hard, gruel-ing work.

A few weeks ago, kumu Kapua Dalire-Moe of Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea said things were coming together.

CELEBRATE HULA

The greatest show in Hilo49th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival promises great hula — and perhaps a few surprises

See HULA Page 4

Above: Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela of Oahu will once again join the lineup of halau competing in the Merrie Monarch Festival. At right: Anela Marie Kawehikulaonalani Evans dances in the 2011 Miss Aloha Hula contest.

Photos by WILLIAM ING/Tribune-Herald

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CELEBRATE HULA

COMPETING HALAU HULA From previous page

“It’s just the same old, getting down to the nitty-gritty. The rehearsals, making sure our presenta-tion is up to par and prop-erly presented,” she said.

This year, as part of the preparations for the 50th Annual Merrie Mon-arch Festival in 2013, an unprecedented number of big-name halau are taking a break from competition this year, opening the way for new groups to enter, and for some old names to re-emerge.

This is one of the rea-sons why no Big Island halau is compet-ing. Halau

O Ka Ua Kani Lehua? Look for them in Sun-day’s Ho‘olaule‘a. Na Lei O Kaholoku? They’re in Wednesday’s Ho‘ike. Halau Hula O Kahikilau-lani? They’ll be doing a parade float, but other than that, wait until next year.

But look who’s back: Kumu hula Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu and the Acad-emy of Hawaiian Arts bring their renegade brand of hula from Oakland, Calif. And Kawaili‘ula, under the direction of

kumu Chinky Mahoe, is bringing a

wahine group for the first time in many

years.New entrants this year

include Manoa, Oahu’s Halau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, under the direc-tion of kumu Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughn-Darval, daughter of the great musician Palani Vaughan and a 1995 Miss Aloha Hula winner.

From Waimanalo, Oahu, come the ladies of ‘Ilima Hula Stu-dio. There’s a tongue-twisting kane halau from Maui — Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi — and a wahine group from Kauai, Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala.

OAHUHalau Hula Olana

WahineNa kumu Olana and Howard Ai

Pu‘uloa

Halau Hula ‘O Hokulani Wahine

Na kumu Hokulani and Larry De RegoWaipahu

Halau Hula Ka Lehua TuahineKane & Wahine

Kumu Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughan-DarvalManoa

Halau I Ka Wekiu Kane & Wahine

Na kumu Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang

Pauoa

Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea Kane & Wahine

Kumu Kapua Dalire-MoeKaneohe

Halau Mohala ‘Ilima Wahine

Kumu Mapuana de SilvaKaohao

Halau Na Mamo O Ka‘ala Wahine

Kumu Tiare Noelani Ka‘ainaLualualei, Waianae

Halau o ke ‘A‘ali‘i Ku MakaniWahine

Kumu Manu‘aikohana BoydKanewai

Halau O Na Pua Kukui Kane

Kumu Ed CollierKalihi

Hula Halau ‘O KamuelaWahine

Na kumu Kau‘ionalani Kamana‘o and Kunewa Mook

Kalihi & Waimanalo

‘Ilima Hula Studio Wahine

Kumu Lani-Girl Kaleiki-AhLoWaimanalo, Honolulu and Waipahu

Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘eWahine

Na kumu Tracie and Keawe LopesKahauiki

Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka LaKane & Wahine

Kumu Kaleo TrinidadHonolulu

Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua Kane & Wahine

Kumu Snowbird BentoHonolulu

Ka Pa Hula ‘O Kauanoe ‘O Wa‘ahila

WahineKumu Maelia Loebenstein Carter

Kaimuki

Ka Pa Nani ‘O LilinoeWahine

Kumu Lilinoe LindseyAiea

Kawaili‘ula Kane & Wahine

Kumu Chinky MahoeKailua

Keolalaulani Halau ‘Olapa O Laka Wahine

Kumu Aloha DalireHe‘eia, Oahu, Hilo, Hawaii,

and San Mateo, Calif.

MAUIHalau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi

KaneNa kumu ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes

Wailuku

KAUAIHalau Ka Lei Mokihana

O Leina‘alaWahine

Kumu Leina‘ala Pavao JardinKalaheo

CALIFORNIAAcademy of Hawaiian Arts

Kane & WahineKumu Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu

Oakland

Halau Keali‘i O NalaniWahine

Kumu Keali‘i CeballosLos Angeles

NEVADAHalau Hula O Kaleimomi

WahineKumu Sheldeen Kaleimomi

HaleamauLas Vegas

See HULA Page 5

Miss Aloha Hula 2011 Tori Hulali Canha presents

her kahiko performance

during last year’s competition.

WILLIAM ING/ Tribune-Herald

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CELEBRATE HULA

WILLIAM ING/Tribune-Herald

Halau o ke ‘A’ali’i Ku Makani of Oahu will return to the festival this year.

HULA From previous pageThe Merrie Monarch

Festival is, at its heart, a celebration of hula. That is, real hula, not the hapa haole hula of the 1930s (although that era has its merits). Hula, on its sur-face, is the telling of a sto-ry through song, chants and dances, about the famous places, people and legends of Hawaii.

On a deeper level, those mele are rife with hidden meanings, or kaona, known

only to the composer. That song about a flower isn’t really about a flower. The song “Hi‘ilawe” isn’t about the Waipio Valley water-fall; it’s about a secret love affair.

On a deeper level still, the performers aren’t just honoring the gods. Many believe that the gods them-selves are inhabiting and animating their bodies dur-ing the hula. In this inter-pretation, dancers don’t just

honor Hi‘iaka, the mythical sister of Pele. Hi‘iaka lives in the hula, in the moment.

And that’s why hula is more than just a dance. Hidden within the beats of the ipu heke are the cul-tural underpinnings of the Hawaiian people.

But step back from that idea for a moment. The Merrie Monarch Festival is more than just hula.

See HULA Page 6

Read all about it in the

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The festival is named after King David Kal-akaua, a fascinating and tragic figure, who reigned from 1874 to 1891.

Kalakaua is credited with the revival of the hula, and many of the per-formances this year date from this era.

The festival kicks off Easter Sunday with the ever-popular free Ho‘olaule‘a at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., it’s a full day of hula, singing, Tahitian dance and more.

Monday features a free noon performance by Keo-lalaulani Halau ‘Olapa O Laka, which has opened a Hilo studio across the street from the Merrie Monarch office.

Tuesday marks the first of four days of workshops, performances and concerts at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center (see page 35 for more information).

Things only get busier from here. There are many craft fairs around town, but there’s only one offi-cial Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Craft Fair. It opens Wednesday morning at the Civic.

Wednesday evening is the granddaddy of all hula exhibitions, and it’s free. The Ho‘ike, at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multipurpose Stadium, features the debut of this year’s Royal Court, led by mo‘i kane Richard Kamau and mo‘i wahine Meleana Manuel. This year’s Ho‘ike begins with the powerful stylings of Hilo’s own Halau O Kekuhi.

They will be followed by a halau from Japan, then by the decorated Na Lei O Kaholoku of Kohala.

Next, from Oahu, comes Rangi Moana, featuring the rarely seen dances of the island of Rapa Nui, known to the world as Easter

Island. The show concludes with a California-based Tahitian troupe, Nonosina.

Thursday brings anoth-er full day of craft fairs, exhibits and free hula shows, and the awarding of the most coveted indi-vidual title in all of hula. This night, 12 women will each perform a solo hula kahiko, followed by a solo hula ‘auana. The wahine who can best perform both of these radically different styles of hula, according to a distinguished panel of judges, will be named Miss Aloha Hula. Each dancer is chosen by her respective kumu hula to represent her halau.

Friday night is the group hula kahiko competition. This is the night where the various hula halau from across Hawaii and the mainland get a chance to take the stage. For one long night, the sounds a Hawaii that’s gone but not forgot-ten will echo into the damp Hilo night. Hula kahiko is the umbrella term for the style of hula that existed in the monarchy period and before — essentially, through 1893. Here there are chants and homages to those legendary beings and royals of old, and follow-ing the protocol of the era. It is a night of power and drama, and perhaps a few surprises.

Saturday is the final day of the Merrie Monarch Fes-tival. It begins, as all good days should, with a Royal Parade through downtown Hilo. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. through the town’s usual parade route. It goes up Pauahi Street, turns right at Kilauea Ave-nue, continues on Keawe Street, down Waianuenue Avenue, hangs a right on Kamehameha Avenue and ends at Pauahi Street.

Welina Mai Kākou!King Kalākaua says,

“Hula is the heartbeat of Hawai‘i’s people.”

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CELEBRATE HULA

HULA From previous page


Ka La ‘Onohi Mae O Ha‘eha‘e of Oahu performs at the 2011 festival.

See HULA Page 7

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“We root our identity in this indigenous heritage and reect the rich mix of Native Hawaiian, Asia-Pacic, Local, national, and international cultures that embody the diversity of Hawai‘i.”

-University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Strategic Plan 2011-2015

Dr. Kalena Silva, Professor of Hawaiian Language and Hawaiian Studies, instructs students in Hula Kahiko class. Photo by Ron Hughes

He mea nui loa nō i ke kulanui ka ho‘okō ‘ana aku i nā kuleana o ka mālama ‘ana i ka po‘e ‘ōiwi o Hawai‘i.

We especially embrace our responsibilities to the indigenous people of Hawai‘i.

www.hilo.hawaii.edu

CELEBRATE HULA


The last night of the competition is group hula ‘auana night. This is the night when the ancient protocols are relaxed. The contest will feature mod-ern-day music from some of Hawaii’s most promi-nent musicians. The danc-ers, decked out in colorful outfits and fresh flowers, will look and smell great, and everyone will have a good time.

Then the results will be announced, and there will be a lot of quiet grum-bling.

As in previous years, the festival’s competition will be available in high definition on KFVE-TV, or K5 The Home Team, on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, for those who are unable to get a coveted ticket inside Kanaka‘ole Stadium. The view from the TV screen is often better than from a seat in the stadium, so those who are watching

at home can take comfort in that.

And what can people look forward to this year? If Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu has his way, there’s going to be “trouble.”

“We’re going to be making trouble, that’s for sure,” he said.

For his group’s wahine kahiko performance, the dancers will perform a rarely seen style of dance called the hula mu‘umu‘u, and they won’t be wear-ing what you’d expect. They will depict the activ-ity of sea creatures as Pele flows into the ocean in Puna, where a branch of the Ho‘omalu family resides. The whole goal of the Academy of Hawaiian Arts is to “make a point.”

Ho‘omalu believes that for hula to grow, it has to escape the confines of tra-ditional rules of what can be done.


Halau Na Pua O Uluhaimalama of Hilo takes the stage for a 2011 kahiko performance.

See HULA Page 9

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Hula Hands

kali = wait la‘au = tree minoaka = smile

ua = rain aloha = love nana = look

hale = house pua = flower moku = boat

Photos by HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald

Claire Kaneshiro, 10, is a Waiakea Elementary Schoolfifth-grader. She has been dancing for six years. She dances

under kumu hula Lori Lei Shirakawa of Lori Lei’s HulaStudio in Hilo and Wai‘ohinu Hula Studio in Ka‘u. Here, Kaneshiro demonstrates various hula gestures.

CELEBRATE HULA

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CELEBRATE HULA

“I’d really like to see it take off. I think there’s some great things going on,” he said.

Other hula schools — actually, all of the others — are likely to take more traditional views on uphold-ing the culture.

Take, for example, the men of Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea, who are presenting a hula kahiko entitled “Ku‘i Moloka‘i.”

It’s “an old, traditional mele that is recognized for the island of Moloka‘i,” said Dalire-Moe. The halau’s wahine group is also pre-senting a hula in honor of the island, so it made sense

to continue the theme for the kane group.

“Some of us were even able to go on a huaka‘i (journey) to Moloka‘i to see first-hand experiences of the island and the area we’re talking about,” she said.

The halau’s wahine ‘auana performance will be a new composition by Kaumaka‘iwa Kanaka‘ole, called “Ma‘ema‘e Moloka‘i.”

“It’s a mele he composed to honor the families and the close friendships that he has there on the island of Moloka‘i,” she said.

HULA From page 7

See HULA Page 10WILLIAM ING/Tribune-Herald

Ke Kai O Kahiki, the overall kane winner for 2011, performs a hula ‘auana.

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Dalire-Moe comes from a hula family. As a mem-ber of Keolalaulani Halau ‘Olapa O Laka, she won Miss Aloha Hula in 1991. Her mother, Aloha Dalire, was the first Miss Aloha Hula in 1971, and her sisters Kaui and Keola fol-lowed in 1992 and 1999.

Dalire’s halau is still competing this year. So is Dalire-Moe’s. Isn’t that strange for her?

“It’s gotten a lot easier. For me, I always find it a bigger responsibility that our presentation not only be properly presented for the public and the judges, but also for my traditions and where I come from and for my mom, who’s able to see — you know, she’s here to see where

I’ve grown and how far I’ve come, as not only her daughter, but also a kumu hula and a reflection of her legacy.

“And every year we get to participate in Merrie Monarch alongside of her, it always gives me great honor. And the reward in itself comes out of know-ing that she was pleased with the performance and that it was satisfying to her eyes,” Dalire-Moe said.

“For me, it makes it a little more special know-ing that my mother is still here. And my kumu is still able to see the reflection of herself in what I have to present.”

Email Peter Sur at [email protected]. n

We’re Big onthe Big island!


Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La performs in 2011.

Festival triggers one-way traffic

In conjunction with the Merrie Monarch Festival, a temporary one-way traffic pattern will be in effect on Kalanikoa Street in Hilo.

Traffic will be allowed to flow only in the Puna — or southerly — direction on Kalanikoa Street between Kuawa Street and Piilani Street during the festival. The one-way traffic pattern will be in effect daily from noon Wednesday through 1 a.m. Sunday, April 15.

Right turns only will be allowed on Kalanikoa Street to accommodate festival par-ticipants entering and exiting the Hoolulu Complex.

Traffic will not be allowed to turn left (easterly direc-tion) onto Piilani Street from Kalanikoa Street. Traffic will only be allowed to turn right (westerly direction) onto Piilani Street from Kalan-ikoa Street. The regular two-way traffic will remain in effect on Manono, Kuawa and Piilani Streets.

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Wise sayings“‘A‘a i ka hula, waiho ka hilahila i ka hale.”

When one wants to dance the hula, bashfulness should be left at home.

“Pu‘uwai hao kila.”Heart of steel.

Fearless.

“Kuhi no ka lima, hele no ka maka.”Where the hands move, there let the eyes follow.

A rule in hula.

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CELEBRATE HULA

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In the days of old, follow-ing Kamehameha I’s wars of conquest, the people of Kailua, Oahu, threw

a great feast for the chief, but they didn’t expect him to bring such a big crowd of people.

Those who arrived first ate all the meat, so the second group had to be content with licking and nibbling at the bits of

meat that adhered to the ti leaves.

In derision, the people of Oahu called these latecom-ers the Hawaii palu la‘i, the ti-leaf lickers of Hawaii.

The moral of the story: If you want to get in the stadium in time for Wednesday night’s Ho‘ike, the grandest free exhibition of the Merrie Monarch Fes-tival, you better not be late. Don’t be a ti leaf licker.

This year’s extravaganza

features five groups from across the Pacific, each performing a distinct and mesmerizing tribute to the many cultures of the Pacific — Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Rapa Nui and Japan.

The sound of conch shells heralds the initial entrance of the Royal Court at 6 p.m., which is followed by a performance, divided into five parts.

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Five stellar groups slated for Ho‘ikeAnnual dance exhibition will celebrate

cultures from around the Pacific

See HO‘IKE Page 13

Halau O Kekuhi wows the crowd during the 2011 Ho‘ike night. The Big Island halau, a crowd favorite, will return to the festival again this year.

WILLIAM ING/ Tribune-Herald

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The first act to grace the stage comes courtesy of the most storied, most traditional, most renowned hula school in the festival. Halau O Kekuhi, helmed by the descendants of Edith Kanaka‘ole, is the acknowledged standard of the ‘aiha‘a stle of dance. Performed in a low, bent-knee style, their dancing is vigorous, bombastic, and calls to mind the epic legend of the goddess Pele.Their performance this

year begins with an entrance hula that describes the vol-cano weather phenomena that accompany Pele and her clan on their migration to Hawaii from Kahiki, said Nalani Kanaka‘ole, one of this year’s hula competition judges.

The bulk of the show is derived from the epic love triangle of the Pele, her sister Hi‘iaka and the handsome chief of Kauai, Lohiau. It’s a complex tale of love, life, death resurrection and more death, spanning the entire

Hawaiian archipelago. The scene tells of Hi‘iaka’s trav-els to the Waianae coast of Oahu, along with Lohiau and her mortal companion Wahineomao. Upon arriving at Makua, they are greeted with a great feast. Traveling

by herself to the uplands of Waianae, Hi‘iaka appreci-ates the beauty of the island, but she receives a vision that her friend Hopoe was destroyed by Pele.

CELEBRATE HULA

HO‘IKE From previous page


The high-energy free

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In the final dramatic act, the hula is chanted with no implement accompa-niment, where gestures mimic the forests being inundated by lava.

The second part of their legend deals with a series

of mele for the hula god-dess Kapoulakina‘u, also known as a healer and sorcerer.

In Kaupo, Maui, Hi‘iaka meets Kapo and chants a greeting, and there are other dances for

Kapo that relate to the legend of Hi‘iaka. That’s all that can be said for now; their performance on Wednesday should not be missed.

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Dramatic chants and

dances from across the Pacific are

slated for this year’s Ho‘ike.

The event is free and

will be held Wednesday

night.


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“In all the beauty of the Pele and Hiiaka saga, Ulumahiehie (the author) frames the larger picture of our culture so luxuri-ant with intentional lay-ers of metapor imagery,” Kanaka‘ole said. “We as modern Hawaiians need that to anchor our intellect, our values to our ancestors. In the larger frame of our halau this is our function, to bring the story to the people in hula form.”

The next group to per-form is Lima Nani Hula Studio, a halau that has gone through its own unique challenges, being that its members are based in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.

The halau is affiliated with Na Lei O Kaholoku, the Kohala-based halau under the direction of sisters Nani Lim Yap and Leialoha Amina. When Lima Nani Hula Studio asked Yap if the Japan halau could per-form in the Ho‘ike, Yap was

told that Na Lei O Kahol-oku must perform with them. So they began train-ing; Yap and Amina trav-eled to Japan many times.

“I have been training Lima Nani Hula Studio for several years now, and I have been training them for this particular Ho‘ike for about a year and a

half,” Yap said. “Many things happened while going through my Japan training.” Yap was in Japan on the afternoon of March 11, 2011, preparing for a practice when the earth-quake struck, causing a tsunami. “But I think with all that

has happened with them, they are resilient and have come back stron-ger, focused and ready to share,” Yap said. “I have spent so much time with them, and I love and appreciate them for allow-

ing me opportunity to train them for this special occasion.” Next comes Na Lei O Kaholoku itself. This is a banner year for the halau. In September it will ‘uniki, or graduate,

its first ever kumu hula, comprised of the school’s original dancers from way back when. Their Ho‘ike performance is titled “Na Hanauna,” the generations.

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April 10-13, 2012

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In order to continue to offer more educational enrichment programs, event program admission is $5 per session for

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Tuesday, April 1010:00-11:00amPuna Lei Onaona, Hula performance, presented by Nā Haumāna O Ke Kula‘O Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u

12:30-2:00pm ‘Au Kai ‘Imi Loa, Panel discussion & song, presented by Nā Haumāna O Ke Kula ‘O Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u Wednesday, April 11

10:00-11:30am Welo, Musical performance,

presented by Kaumakiwa Kanaka‘ole & Kekuhi Kanahele1:00-2:30pm Weldon Kekauoha

Musical Performance Thursday, April 12

10:00-11:30am Nā Momi Makamae, Lecture,presented by Adrienne Kaeppler

1:00-2:30pm ‘ Ōhai ‘Ula, Musical Performance,presented by Kainani Kahaunaele

Friday, April 1310:00-11:30am Ka WeloHula, Panel Discussion,presentedby The Kanaka‘ole‘Ohana

1:00-3:00pm Honoring the Ancients,Hula Performance and Workshop,

presented by The Hula Preservation Society in collaboration with

Hakipu‘u Learning Center

CELEBRATE HULA

Read all about it in the

www.hawaiitribune-herald.com

“This year they (na kumu hula) will return to the stage as ho‘opa‘a (chanters) along with my son, Carrington Manaolaho‘owaiwai‘ikaleikaumakalani,” Yap said. “This year’s performance chants and hula were researched, selected and choreographed by … Carrington. As I mentioned, Na Hanauna, the next generation of dancers, is what we are presenting for this Ho‘ike.” The 30-minute performance will begin with hula kahiko and culminate with two hula ‘auana performances. The final performance, Yap said, is an original compo-sition by her son dedicated to Lim family matriarch Mary Ann Lim. “Since she was our first ever kumu hula, it is only fitting with our theme that we end in honor of her,” Yap said. In 2006, Yap and Amina’s niece, Namakana Davis-Lim, won the prestigious title of Miss Aloha Hula. Now a dancer with Yap’s

company, Traditions Hawaii, at the Mauna Kea Resort Luau, “she will will be performing with us this year front and center,” Lim said. “She and her sister, Nanea, are family-bred dancers — so according to (the) theme they needed to be a part of this Ho‘ike. She is also part of the next generation of leaders in the halau.” While the dancers are all familiar with the rigors of the hula competition, they’re also finding out that the Ho‘ike is even tougher.

“Yes,” she said, “you have more numbers, costumes and lei, changes, coordi-nation, musician rehears-als, etc. And in the end, it really is a show that people must enjoy, especially there on that stage. Careful con-sideration of mele, theme, etc., are key — so yes, it is a little difficult. But I am loving every minute of it because in the end you have to be OK with what you do, no matter what.”

After Na Lei O Kahol-oku, the next group to perform is a rare treat. It’s

believed that this is the first time any group from Rapa Nui, Easter Island, is performing in the Merrie Monarch Festival.

Rangi Moana, is com-prised of 15 dancers and accompanied by two chap-erones, said the group’s Honolulu-based contact, Julianna Rapu Leong.

“It’s a big deal for them because Rapa Nui is very little, and it’s very isolated,” Leong said. The easternmost point in the


Tahitian dancers give a lively performance during the 2011 Ho‘ike.



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CELEBRATE HULA


Polynesian Triangle, Rapa Nui is an island, slightly smaller than Niihau, more than 4,400 miles away from Hawaii.

Its inhabitants, most famous in ancient times for the erection of Moai, great monolithic stone figures, have fared poorly in the last 150 years. Peruvian slave raiders carried off perhaps a third of the population, and those survivors who were able to return introduced smallpox and tuberculosis. By 1877, the population had fallen to 110.

The population was devastated, but the culture survived.

“All of the dances they will be performing are tra-ditional Rapa Nui dances,” Leong said. Although it’s unclear which dances the group will display, his-torical accounts speak of a “hopping dance” called the nagana, performed by men who stayed on one foot and extended the other by jerks while following the rhythm of the song.

“All Polynesian cultures share a lot of similarities,” she said. Rangi is their word for heaven, which is similar to the Hawaiian equivalent “lani.” Moana means blue in the Rapa Nui language but “ocean” in Hawaiian; the two words may yet be related.

Nonosina, from Califor-nia, rounds out the Ho‘ike.

Nonosina was founded in 1965 by Estella Reid, said her granddaughter (and current leader of the group) Tiana Nonosina Liufau. Reid came from American Samoa but was raised in Laie, Oahu.

“She came here,’ and the only thing she knew how to do was dance. So she started a group in ‘65 of all places in Orange County, Ana-heim,” Liufau said.

Today, Liufau’s fam-ily runs three branches of Nonosina. There’s one in Laie and one started a couple years ago in Tokyo, while Liufau runs the origi-nal Nonosina in California. Mevina Liufau is the lead

singer, and Tiana Liufau is the lead drummer.

“There will be a cast of 40 (performers),” she said. It’s a busy time for the group — on Monday, they’re returning to Cali-fornia from tour in Japan. Tuesday, it’s back on anoth-er plane to Hilo. Wednes-day, there’s time for one rehearsal before showtime. Thursday, many members are heading home to Cali-fornia.

“We’re going to be totally jet-lagged,” Liufau said. But they’ll be ready to present an epic performance of the migration of the Poly-nesian people throughout the Pacific.

“We’re basically telling the story of Western Polyne-sia, the migration to central (Polynesia, including Tahiti). So meaning, from Samoa and Tonga, and like if we were on the va‘a (canoe), and we were just making the migration to central Poly-nesia, and then we actually decided that because of our roots, and you can tell from

the music and the movement that it starts kind of Western Polynesian and changes its way to Tahitian.

“We thought it was suit-able because of the close relationship between Tahiti and Hawaii, because of the migration and language and a lot of other factors. We wanted to kind of make it all come together,” Liufau said. And the tradition of migra-tion continues to this day with Liufau being born and raised in Los Angeles.

“The name of our show is actually called ‘One,’ and we’re just celebrating how we are all one” culture, Liu-fau said.

She was in the Ho‘ike with an Oahu group about 15 years ago, and has been longing to come back ever since. “That was amazing,” Liufau recalled. “I’m just grateful we got the oppor-tunity to come through and represent the Polyne-sians here.”


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The Merrie Monarch Festival

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CELEBRATE HULA

The grand Merrie Mon-arch Royal Parade winds its way through downtown Hilo on

Saturday, attracting thou-sands to watch the proces-sion of floats, beautiful pa‘u queens and marching bands.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m.,

regardless of whether it’s raining or merely drizzling, the parade winds through what has become the default parade route. The procession begins at the bottom of Pauahi Street, heads uphill and turns right at Kilauea Avenue, con-tinues on to Keawe Street,

turns right on Waianuenue Avenue and makes another right on Kamehameha Ave-nue. The procession then returns to the staging area.

Fanny Au Hoy is the grand marshal of this year’s Royal Parade.

In 2011 she retired from Hulihe‘e Palace in Kailua-

Kona after 35 years as pal-ace curator. She inherited this commitment from her mother, Lei Collins, who also served as the palace curator for many years.

Fern White is the Pa‘u Queen.

A parade fit for royalty

Pageantry attracts thousands of spectators each year

See PARADE Page 19

The annual Royal Parade features dancing, floats, music and more. This year’s event will be held Saturday in downtown Hilo.

Merrie

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The crew of the USS Crommelin will be march-ing in the parade, repre-

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PARADE From previous page

A pa‘u princess waves to the crowd during the 2011 Royal Parade in Hilo.

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CELEBRATE HULA

How hula is createdKumu must consider many factors when

deciding how to craft a performanceBy PETER SUR

Tribune-Herald staff writer

One of the biggest strengths of the Merrie Monarch Festival is the wide variety of hula performances presented on

the competition stage.A subtle performance honor-

ing Princess Ka‘iulani might be followed by a bombastic one for the Kipu‘upu‘u warriors of Kame-hameha I, which might then be followed by a certain Hilo halau’s rendition of a cockfight in Ka‘u.

All of these myriad forms of the art raise another question: How is a hula created? When the text of a 120-year-old chant lands on a kumu hula’s desk, how does he or she take this and turn it into a six-minute, award-winning hula, complete with music and foliage and costumes and motion? What determines whether a dancer steps one way or turns another?

For a modern kumu hula, cho-reographing a hula is just one of the many challenges facing a halau, but it wasn’t always this way. In the early days of the com-petition there was one way to do a hula kahiko, which was selected by the late George Na‘ope.

“In the beginning,” he said in a 1983 interview with Doris Purdy, “I found the chants, researched the chants, did the beatings (timing) for the teachers, and everybody came back and did the same beat and motions.”

But in time, Na‘ope got tired of having to do all the work, so he decided to ask some of the masters of the hula community to contrib-ute their own chants.


O’Brian Eselu, right, accepts an award for his halau, Ke Kai O Kahiki of Oahu, during the 2011 Merrie Monarch Festival. Eselu died April 3.

“To me, mele is important, no mat-ter what mele it is or what the subject mat-ter is referring to.”

— Kumu hula Nani Lim Yap

See DANCE Page 22

PETER SUR/Tribune-Herald

The ladies of Halau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine rehearse April 1 for their debut in the Merrie Monarch Festival competition. The halau made a special trip to Hilo for an all-day rehearsal. The wahine group’s hula ‘auana, “E Nihi Ka Hele,” is a mele composed by King Kalakaua for Queen Kapi‘olani’s trip to California, en route to England in 1887.

Wahine of Ka Pa Hula O Kauanoe O Wa’ahila per-form during last year’s Merrie Monarch Festival.

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CELEBRATE HULA

How halau enter, exit stage is important part of dance

Every hula performance in the Merrie Monarch competition is judged on, among many other

things, the entrance and exit of a halau or soloist.

The ka‘i, or entrance mele, known as “Ho‘opuka e ka La,” or “Rise, O sun,” is perhaps the most well-known, and it is in the rep-ertoire of every respectable hula halau.

Listen carefully to the beginning of the hula kahiko performances this year to pick out this traditional chant. Accord-ing to the hula resource website Huapala.org, the chant honors Hi‘iaka as the youngest and favorite sis-ter of Pele, and the major patron of hula.

Hi‘iaka factors promi-nently in Hawaiian mythol-ogy, and in particular in hula. It is said that she taught her friend, Hopoe, of the Puna district to dance the hula, making Hopoe the first human to learn it.

The chant implores the sun to rise, with poetic references to Cape Kumukahi, the eastern-most point of Hawaii. One source links this with the annual procession of priests to an ancient heiau at Kumukahi. There’s a reference to the dualistic hula deity Kapo/Laka. The final line, “He inoa no Hi‘iakaikapoliopele,” affirms that this is a chant in honor of Hi‘iaka.

Ho‘opuka e ka la ma ka hikina

Me ka huaka‘i hele no Kumukahi

Ha‘a mai na ‘iwa me Hi‘iaka

Me Kapo-Laka i ka ulu-wehiwehi

Ne‘e mai na ‘iwa ma ku‘u alo

Me ke alo kapu o ka aiwaiwa

Ho‘i no e ke kapu me na ali‘i

E ola makou apau loa la

Ea la, ea la, eaHe inoa no Hi‘iaka-i-

ka-poli-‘O-Pele

Rise, O sun in the eastWith a procession going

to KumukahiDancing are the beauti-

ful ones with Hi‘iakaAnd Kapo-Laka in the

verdant groveMoving ahead are the

dancers toward meAnd to the sacred pres-

ence of the divineLet the sacred ways

return to the chiefsLet us all give everlast-

ing praise(Tra-la-la)In the name of Hi‘iaka-

in-the-bosom-of-Pele————

Every hula kahiko in the competition must also end with a ho‘i, or exit. The companion mele to “Ho‘opuka e ka La” is a

“Ho‘i e, ho‘i la,” a remark-able piece of poetry in any language. The gist of the mele is this: Upon the completion of the hula, the spirits of the dancers return to their mountain home, wherein dwell the birds, the fragrant ferns and the love that ties it all together.

Ho‘i e, ho‘i laHo‘i e ka ‘ohu eI ka ua lehuaA‘o kula Manu e‘Onaona i ke alaLau ‘o ke kupukupuKupu a‘e ke alohaNoho pono i ka ni‘oAeHe inoa no Hi‘iaka-i-

ka-poli-‘O-Pele

They return, returnThe mists return once

againTo the upland home of

lehuaThe haunt of many birdsVery sweet is the fra-

granceOf the leaves of the fernThere love sprouted and

grewTo dwell in the heights(Tra-la-la)In the name of Hi‘iaka-

in-the-bosom-of-Pele n

Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea enters the stage during a previous Merrie Monarch Festival performance.


The ladies of Halau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine rehearse April 1 for their debut in the Merrie Monarch Festival competition. The halau made a special trip to Hilo for an all-day rehearsal. The wahine group’s hula ‘auana, “E Nihi Ka Hele,” is a mele composed by King Kalakaua for Queen Kapi‘olani’s trip to California, en route to England in 1887.

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In came the chants, from the now-deceased masters — ‘Iolani Luahine, Lokalia Montgomery and Edith Kanaka‘ole.

“So we got all these chants from them with the translations, but no beat,” Na‘ope said. “So everybody had to go home, decide whether they would do it as a pahu (drum) dance or as an ipu (gourd) dance. That was their own problem as to what they wanted to do. But it also meant that they had to do their homework.

“All they got was words to the chant, translations to the chant … and most of the translations were just literally translated. To find out the background of these chants, they had to reseach. So now you see in the Merrie Monarch this year (1983), we had 33 groups doing the same number, but 33 different ways.”

Creating a hula, as far as can be determined, is a complex, deeply nuanced process that begins with research into the chant and

its multiple layers of mean-ing.

These hidden meanings, known as kaona, are essen-tial to the understanding of a mele. The word “pua” can refer to a flower. It could refer to a particular child, or the blossoming of something. Why did the composer choose to refer to a flower, and what is its true meaning? A skilled haku mele, or composer of songs, will weave rich hidden meanings in every verse.

After a kumu under-stands the words (fluency in Hawaiian is an increasingly important qualification), he or she must delve into the meaning behind the words, and then the feelings behind the meaning of the words.

“To me, mele is impor-tant, no matter what mele it is or what the subject matter is referring to,” said kumu hula Nani Lim Yap of Na Lei O Kaholoku. “We as dancers need to be true to the mele. Understanding the mele and the composer’s

intent is important.”Once a mele is deci-

phered, it is up to the kumu to decide what movements express the meaning of a hula.

“In our minds, there should be some kind of vision as to what the com-poser is seeing,” Yap said. “So really the composer paints the picture for us in words, and we must see that vision and use our hands and feet to create that.”

The kumu also said that she must also try to “feel” the same way as the com-poser did when he or she created the mele, and the dance must convey what that feeling is.

“As a viewer, if the dancer can move me to understand the mele, then (he or she) has captured my attention and the dance is complete.”

Sometimes, the ances-tors will inspire the living kumu, use him or her as an instrument, or a conduit, and create the hula in a sin-gle sitting. Sometimes the

hula will arrive in a dream.Occasionally a halau

will perform choreogra-phy that has already been established. As kumu ‘Iliahi

Paredes shows, even this is done with meaning.

Paredes was a 16-year-old member of Na Wai Eha O Puna in 1992 when the

Oahu halau performed their winning kahiko number, “Mele No Kalakaua.”

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CELEBRATE HULA

DANCE From page 20


Kumu hula Kapua Dalire-Moe leads Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea onstage in 2011.

See DANCE Page 23

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Now, 20 years later, Paredes is a kumu hula along with his wife, Haunani Paredes. Both are leading Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi to the Merrie Monarch Festi-val for the first time. The halau’s nine boys — ages 13 through 17 — on kahiko night are performing, “Mele No Kalakaua.”

“I’ve always loved the mele. I feel that it’s a great opportunity to honor Kal-akaua … but at the same time, the opportunity for us to put the choreography of my kumu hula (the late O’Brian Eselu and Thad-deus Wilson) on that stage, because we’re going to do it exactly the same way as we performed it back in 1992. To put it back on the stage now, in its original form, is a blessing, and it’s

an honor for us to do that. And it’s a way for me to mahalo my kumu hula for all that he has given me.”

But Eselu never got the chance to watch the per-formance. He died April 3,

less than a week before the start of the festival.

In an interview con-ducted before Eselu died, Paredes described how he channeled his own kumu to choreograph the entrance

and the exit of the kane group.

“It was an opportunity for me to sit down and think about, ‘What would my kumu hula do for the entrance, the ho‘i, or the

exit for this particular mele?’ So that was an exciting thing for me to go through.”

For the hula ‘auana, Eselu told Paredes to pres-ent his own original com-position.

“I selected a song that I wrote for my grandmother,” Paredes said. The song, “E Ho‘i ke Aloha i Mau-nawili,” refers to some of the childhood memories that his tutu wahine shared with his family while grow-ing up in Maunawili Val-ley, Oahu. Both ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes worked on the choreography.

“I had to sit down and think about these motions, think about what my kumu hula would do in these motions and create the dance, create the presenta-tion and create this art.

Really considering all the people that have come before us, what would they do in this presentation? Or what we would best want to put on the stage?”

That’s a big challenge, if Paredes was referring to people like Eselu and Na‘ope, who must be watching the festival from their raincloud.

“This is all we ask the younger generation today to do,” Na‘ope said in 1983. “Hey, not to worship other gods, but to respect tradition. This is their heritage. This is their roots. You cannot forget this, that you must have a root. And the root of these things that is happening today is the Merrie Monarch Festival.”


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DANCE From previous page

Johnny Lum Ho and his Miss Aloha Hula Tasha Oda cel-ebrate onstage following the judging of the 13 contestants in 2001.

File photo

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WEDNESDAYl Merrie Monarch Invi-

tational Hawaiian Arts Fair: The official craft fair of the Merrie Monarch Festival, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium and the Butler Building, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

l Hilo Shopping Center, common area, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

l Naniloa Volcanoes Resort, Polynesian Room. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

l Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Upper Lounge and Moku Ola Ballroom, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

THURSDAYl Merrie Monarch Invi-


l Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Upper Lounge and Moku Ola Ballroom, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

l Naniloa Volcanoes Resort, Polynesian Room, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

l Hilo Shopping Center, common area, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

l Hawaii Arts, Crafts and Food Festival, Sangha Hall, 398 Kilauea Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $2 admis-sion; keiki 7 and under are free.

FRIDAYl Merrie Monarch Invi-


l Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Moku Ola Ballroom, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

l Hilo Shopping Center,

common area, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.


l Hawaii Arts, Crafts and Food Festival Sangha Hall, 398 Kilauea Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $2 admis-sion; keiki 7 and under are free.

l Prince Kuhio Plaza, common area, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SATURDAYl Merrie Monarch Invi-

tational Hawaiian Arts Fair: The official craft fair of the Merrie Monarch Festival, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

l Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Moku Ola Ballroom, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.


l Prince Kuhio Plaza, common area, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

l Hawaii Arts, Crafts and Food Festival, Sangha Hall, 398 Kilauea Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $2 admis-sion; keiki 7 and under are free.

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CELEBRATE HULA

Craft fairs abound this week in Hilo

At right, shoppers eye the wares at the 2011 Merrie

Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Crafts Fair.

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CELEBRATE HULA

A legend: How Maui battled Kuna in Hilo


On sunny days, the peaceful Wailuku River on the northern edge of Hilo town

conceals a destructive nature that is hinted at in the English translation of its name, the destructive waters.

The river also has a leg-endary history and a fanci-ful tale associating it with one of the great tricksters of Polynesia, the kupua, or demigod, Maui. Here is one such tale, adapted from the version told by William Westervelt:

It is said that Hina, the moon goddess and Maui’s mother, lived in a great cave within the Wai-luku River, over which a waterfall hung its misty, rainbow-tinted veil.

In the river above these Rainbow Falls lived a mo‘o, a giant lizard spirit, by the name of Kuna.

For many years Hina endured the abuses of Kuna, who would stop up the river and fill it with dirt.

He would throw logs and rolling stones into the

stream, in order to be car-ried over the falls and drive Hina from her cave.

Ever unsuccessful in driving Hina from her abode, Kuna resolved to destroy the goddess. But

for Hina, help was at hand.Beseiged by the mo‘o,

her chants rang out through the river gorge. This enraged Kuna.

The river above Rainbow Falls is home to a giant lizard spirit, Kuna — at least according to legend.

See LEGEND Page 26

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LEGEND From previous page

Cursing greatly and calling upon all his magic forces, caught a great stone and at night hurled it into the river gorge below the cave, causing it to dam up and flood her home.

Hina called for Maui in a tremendous cry that was heard all the way up on Haleakala, where Maui was. Leaping down the slope of the mountain, Maui jumped into his mag-ic canoe. With two power-ful strokes of his paddle, he arrived at the mouth of the Wailuku River.

Leaving his canoe, Maui raised his magic club and with one blow struck the dam holding back the water.

“Ah!” he exclaimed. “Nothing can withstand the magic club. The bank around one end of the dam gives way. The imprisoned waters leap into the new channel. Safe is Hina the goddess!”

Hearing the crash of the club, Kuna fled up the river to his home in the hidden caves by the pool in the riverbed.

Approaching the mon-ster’s lair, Maui took his magic spear and thrust it into a hole through which the waters rushed, revealing Kuna’s hiding place.

Kuna kept fleeing, but

Maui kept finding him. At last, Kuna found what seemed to be a hiding place in a series of deep pools, but Maui had a plan. He either called on Pele for her help or himself poured a lava flow into the river until the pools were boiling and the steam rose in clouds.

Facing defeat, Kuna was chased downstream, absorb-ing blow after blow from Maui, until he was forced over the waterfall and into the stream below. There he died.

There’s some truth in this legend; anybody who wants to see proof can take a look. The rock formation Ka-wa‘a-o-Maui, the Canoe of Maui, still sits at the mouth of the Wailuku River.

The place where Maui thrust his spear into Kuna’s hiding place is known as Ka-puka-a-Maui, the door made by Maui.

Just below Rain-bow Falls is the body of Mo‘okuna, appearing as a long, black rock island.

And above the water-fall, where the water still appears to boil during heavy rain storms, is a place known to all as Boiling Pots.



Halau Mohala ‘Ilima performs in 2011.

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King Kalakaua

1874-1881By PETER SUR

Tribune-Herald staff writer

David Kalakaua claimed the rank of mo‘i kane, king of the Hawaiian Islands, through birth-

right and a bare-knuckled political fight against the Kamehamehas. He needed to move quickly to quell popu-lar unrest among restive ele-ments in the kingdom, and to solidify his family’s rule over the islands.

So his first act as king in February 1874 was to name as his heir his younger broth-er, William Pitt Leleiohoku, 19, to ensure a smooth line of succession.

To earn popular support shortly after ascending to the throne, he and Queen Kapi-olani embarked on a tour of the islands — Kauai, Maui, Hawaii and Molokai. In Hilo on April 3, 1874, Kalakaua remarked that “these people of the Big Island are among my most beloved children,

being of the land of my ancestors.”

Then, he needed to secure prosperity for the kingdom by knocking down the tariffs on sugar and coffee products that stood between Hawaii and the vast American mar-ket.

Kalakaua dispatched two emissaries to Washington, but in the face of a hesitant Senate it was suggested that the king himself make a visit to the United States. He did so in November 1874, becoming the first monarch of any foreign country to visit the United States. The American public fell in love with Kalakaua and Kapiolani, and the Senate ratified a treaty with Hawaii that would have long-lasting consequences for the future of the kingdom.

The Reciprocity Treaty ensured free trade between Hawaii and America, and led to the growth of large-scale

sugar plantations, owned by Americans, on all major islands.

The treaty was a bonanza for sugar planters, the island-born sons of missionaries. By 1875, 32 plantations had planted 12,230 acres of sugar cane and exported to the Americans more than 25 million pounds a sugar, an amount that had doubled in four years.

The sugar plantations were awash in money, but the back-breaking labor for low wages was not attrac-tive to the Hawaiian people, whose numbers had been devastated by disease. Under pressure by sugar planters, the Hawaiian Legislature opened the door for immi-grants to stream in. Between 1877 and 1890, more than 55,000 immigrants had entered Hawaii, half of whom were from China.

The early years of the king’s reign

See KING Page 28

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Into this mix jumped Walter Murray Gibson, of whom a few words must be said. A charismatic, persuasive and contro-versial figure, he would head the list of question-able characters who had managed to make their way into the king’s inner circle.

According to one biog-raphy, in 1860 Gibson was baptized into the Mormon faith and dispatched by Brigham Young to open a mission in Japan. Instead, he stopped off in Hono-lulu in 1861.

Three years later, an official Mormon delega-tion arrived in Hawaii to excommunicate Gib-son, who had embezzled church funds and estab-lished himself as the white-robed president of a religious colony on the island of Lanai. Gibson was defrocked but stayed in Hawaii. He purchased a Hawaiian language news-paper and served in the Legislature. In 1882, the king would appoint him premier.

Robert Louis Stevenson described the relationship: “That amiable, far-from-accomplished, but too convivial sovereign had a

continued use for money. Gibson was observant to keep him well-supplied.”

Gibson is seen as the driving force for the era of pageantry that followed, as well as the debts that were incurred. Now that he had the king’s ear, Honolulu received new fire engines. The king-dom’s army and police received gaudy uniforms and new weapons. Gibson also decided that the king should have a proper pal-ace to replace the aging bungalow that had served his predecessors.

In the midst of this spending spree, Prince Leleiohoku, heir to the throne, died April 10, 1877, of rheumatic fever. He was 22. The hope of the kingdom passed to Kalakaua’s younger sis-ter, who had once gone by the name Lydia Paki. Now she was proclaimed Princess Liliuokalani, heir apparent.

The succession prob-lem was resolved, but Kalakaua’s spending con-tinued to strain the royal treasury. He was paying his creditors 12 percent rates. He fell into debt with Claus Spreckels, the sugar king of Maui. The

corner stone for Iolani Palace, at the time the most extravagant and advanced building in the country, was laid Dec. 31, 1879.

In one of the stranger incidents of his career, Kalakaua in August 1880 dismissed his Cabinet, appointing as premier and minister of foreign affairs a dangerous charlatan by the name of Celso Caesar Moreno. Five stormy days later, following a public outcry for the king’s abdi-cation, Moreno was dis-missed. But the incident provided more fodder for Kalakaua’s critics.

Kalakaua needed a break from the pressures of government. He needed to answer the critical question of immigration. And he needed to let the world know that Hawaii had become a sovereign nation in its own right. In January 1881, as the Royal Hawaiian Military Band played “Hawai‘i Pono‘i,” the steamer City of Sydney slipped out of Honolulu.

Having placed Liliuo-kalani in charge of the kingdom, Kalakaua began a journey around the world. n

KING From previous page

Check out what’s hap-pening this week at Basically Books in downtown Hilo, 160

Kamehameha Ave. All events are free:

MONDAY11:30 a.m.: Oral Abihai

discusses the history and development of the ukulele, featuring antique examples including a cigar box uku-lele.

2 p.m.: Performance of hula and music by Stan Kaina.

TUESDAY1 p.m.: Artist Joseph

Kalima signs this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival poster.

3 p.m.: Christine Sprowl Tetak reads from her book, “Legend of the Hula Moose,” and awards prizes for a coloring contest.

WEDNESDAY11 a.m.: Kaliko Beamer

Tripp discusses the legacy of the Beamer ohana on the hula and music of Hawaii.

THURSDAYNoon: Musical perfor-

mance by Weldon Kekauo-ha and friends.

3:30 p.m.: Slack key performance by Cyril Pahinui.

FRIDAY10 a.m.: Pualani

Kanaka‘ole Kanahele signs her new book, Ka Honua Ola.

1 p.m.: Artist Dietrich Varez signs his new illus-trated retelling of Pele and Hi‘iaka. n

Basically Books holds special events

Wise sayings“Ka ua Kanilehua o Hilo.”The Kanilehua rain of Hilo.

Hilo, where the rain moistens the lehua blossoms.

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CELEBRATE HULA

Are you pawing through this insert looking for informa-tion on how to buy

tickets to the three nights of competition? You are out of luck.

Although the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multipurpose Stadium seats 4,200 in the stands and on the floor, about half of that number is offered first to the com-peting halau. The rest have been sold out for months, so even if you follow all the steps below, there is no guarantee you’ll get a seat.

Here’s how you may send in an application for tickets to next year’s com-petition:

First, go to the official Merrie Monarch website at www.merriemonarch.com. Print out and fill out a ticket-request form. You may request a maximum of two tickets.

Second, mail in the ticket-request form, a cashier’s check or money order in U.S. currency and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The cost of the ticket depends on where you are seated and for which nights.

Third, send in your request on Dec. 26. Tickets

are only accepted begin-ning the day after Christ-mas.

The tickets will be mailed out in February. For those who do not get in, take consolation in the many hours of free hula performances that take

place during the festival, and remember that, as in any spectator sport, the view from the TV screen is often better than the view from inside the stadium (KFVE TV will broad-cast the hula competitions on Thursday, Friday and

Saturday; check local list-ings).

Next year’s festival — the 50th — will begin with the Ho‘olaule‘a on March 31, Easter Sunday, and run through April 6, 2013. The nights of competition will be April 4-6. n

Plan ahead if you want tickets


Luana Kawelu, festival president, stands next to boxes of requests for tickets for the Merrie Monarch Festival in this 2010 file photo.

Wise sayings“‘A‘ohe hala ‘ula i ka po.”

No hala fruit shows its color in the darkness of night.

Beauty must be seen to be enjoyed.

“‘Ike ‘ia no ka loea i ke kuahu.”An expert is recognized by the altar he builds.

It is what one does and how well he does it that shows whether he is an expert.

“E uhi ana ka wa hala i na mea i hala.”Passing time obscures the past.

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The 49th Annual

MerrieMonarchFestival

CELEBRATE HULA

Brandi Pu‘uwainani HartKa La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e

Rebecca Lilinoekekapahauomaunakea

SterlingHalau Mohala ‘Ilima

Desire Likeloanani O Makuahine DeSilva

Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea

Jaimie Elizabeth Kapuau‘ionalani Kennedy

Halau O Na Pua Kukui

Shawna Pihanakalani Kwai Nun Kapana

Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua

Keahiahi Sharon LongKa Pa Hula O Kauanoe

O Wa‘ahila

Shaunté Carolyn Leialoha Nobriga

Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela

Jazmine Janee Kau‘ionalani Albalos

Halau Hula Olana

Sarah Kamaleialohaikapolionamakua

NoyleHalau I Ka Wekiu

Jayna Kau‘iokalanimalie Shaffer

Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala

Summer Malamaisaua Kawailana Manuma

Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La

Tiana-Lynn Nalani ManuelHalau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi

Among the many great traditions of the Merrie Monarch Festival is the award-

ing of the title Miss Aloha Hula, given to the solo wahine who can express the kahiko and ‘auana forms of the hula, as decided by the judges.

Each woman, pictured below in no particular order, was chosen by her respective kumu hula to

represent her halau. Each will take the stage and perform a hula kahiko. After the intermission each will take the stage a second time to perform a hula ‘auana.

The winner receives, besides enduring fame in the hula community, a gold bracelet, a small cash prize, an ipu heke trophy, and a place in Saturday’s Royal Parade. n

Miss Aloha HULA

Twelve vie for coveted title

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The Merrie Monarch Festival is so packed with events, it’s hard to figure out where to

begin. The following sugges-

tions give a small sample of some of the things to do, to watch or to eat.

SUNDAYCheck out: Ho‘olaule‘a,

all day, at the CivicBuy: An official Merrie

Monarch T-shirt.Please don’t: Ignore the

PIHA Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit, open every day this week at the Merrie Monarch Festival office, 865 Piilani St.

MONDAYCheck out: Keolalaulani

Halau ‘Olapa O Laka, at noon at the Naniloa Volca-noes Resort.

Buy: An umbrella.Please don’t: Pick the

lehua blossoms.

TUESDAYCheck out: Unukupu-

kupu, performing at noon at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort.

Buy: Aloha attire.Please don’t: Plan to

book a flight, reserve a car

or a hotel room in Hilo this week.

WEDNESDAYCheck out: The Ho‘ike,

6 p.m., at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multipurpose Stadium.

Buy: Something from the craft fairs.

Please don’t: Bring sta-dium-style chairs into the stadium.

THURSDAYCheck out: The Miss

Aloha Hula competition, either live or on TV.

Buy: A program booklet, so you can contribute to the festival and see which wahine is up next.

Please don’t: Use a flash or video camera during this or any night of the compe-tition.

FRIDAYCheck out: Panel dis-

cussion by members of the Kanaka‘ole family, 10-11:30 a.m. at ‘Imiloa.

Buy: The Hawaiian Plate meal at Kanaka‘ole Sta-dium.

Please don’t: Bring out-side food or drinks into the stadium.

SATURDAYCheck out: the Royal

Parade through downtown Hilo.

Buy: A lei for yourself or your ‘ohana.

Please don’t: Be stingy with the aloha, even after the festival is pau. n

C L A S S I C I S L A N D C U I S I N E

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of the 49th AnnualMerrie Monarch Hula Festival

$3.69 BreakfastSPECIAL

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Affordable Catering811 Laukapu St. Bay 1

Ph. 935-5611affordablecateringhilo.com

CELEBRATE HULA

Free hula offered all week

Tribune-Herald file photos

Halau Kealii O Nalani performs a free show at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort in 2011.

More free hula is on

tap this week throughout

Hilo.

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CELEBRATE HULA

PREVIOUS WINNERSThough the first Merrie Mon-arch Festival was held in 1964, the hula competition did not begin until 1971. The kane, or men’s division, was added in 1976. The winners are listed below (* denotes the Overall Winner):

1971Implements Division and Mod-ern Division winner: Hauoli Hula StudioMiss Aloha Hula Aloha Wong, Keolalaulani Hula Studio

1972Ancient and Modern: Johnny Lum Ho Hula StudioImplements: Puamana Hula StudioMiss Aloha Hula Aulani Newa-lu, Halau ‘O Kahealani

197Kahiko, ‘Auana, Implements: Hauoli Hula StudioMiss Aloha Hula Kalani Kalawa, Louise Kaleiki Hula Studio

1974Kahiko, ‘Auana, Implements: Louise Kaleiki Hula Studio*Miss Aloha Hula Dee Dee Aipo-lani, Piilani Watkins Hula Studio

1975Kahiko: (tie) ‘Ilima Hula Studio and Hauoli Hula Studio‘Auana: ‘Ilima Hula StudioImplements: Keolalaulani Hula StudioMiss Aloha Hula Leimomi Maria

1976Kane: Na Kamalei O LililehuaWahine: ‘Ilima Hula StudioMiss Aloha Hula (tie) Ululani Duenas, ‘Ilima Hula Studio, Sheryl Nalani Guernsey, Kaleo ‘O Nani Loa Studio

1977Kane: Halau ‘O KekuhiWahine: Na Pualei O LikolehuaMiss Aloha Hula Pualani Chang, Pukaikapua‘okalani Studio

1978Kane: WaimapunaWahine: Na Pualei O LikolehuaMiss Aloha Hula Regina Makai-kai Igarashi, Keolalaulani Hula Studio

1979Kane: WaimapunaWahine: Hauoli Hula StudioMiss Aloha Hula Jody Imehana Mitchell, Ka Pa‘u O Hi‘iaka

1980Kane: (tie) Waimapuna and Na Wai Eha O PunaWahine: Johnny Lum Ho Hula StudioMiss Aloha Hula Kaula Kama-hele, Johnny Lum Ho Hula Studio

1981Kane: Na Wai Eha O PunaWahine: Halau O Na Maoli PuaMiss Aloha Hula Brenda Ali-don, Johnny Lum Ho Hula Studio

1982Kane: Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua*Wahine: Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani LehuaMiss Aloha Hula Dayna Kanani Oda, Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua

1983Kane: Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua*Wahine: Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani LehuaMiss Aloha Hula Geola Pua, Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua

1984Kane: Na Wai Eha O Puna*Wahine: Halau Mohala ‘IlimaMiss Aloha Hula Twyla Ululani Mendez, Hauoli Hula Halau

1985Kane: Na Wai Eha O Puna*Wahine: The Ladies of Ke‘ala O Ka Lauwa‘eMiss Aloha Hula Healani Youn,

The Ladies of Ke‘ala ‘O Ka Lauwa‘e

1986Kane: Men of Waimapuna*Wahine: Keolalaulani ‘Olapa O LakaMiss Aloha Hula Leimomi Nuuhiwa, The Ladies of Ke‘ala ‘O Ka Lauwa‘e

1987Kane: Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua*Wahine: Keolalaulani ‘Olapa O LakaMiss Aloha Hula Lisa Ku‘uipo Doi, Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua

1988Kane: Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua*Wahine: Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani LehuaMiss Aloha Hula Sheldeen Kaleimomi Kaleohano, Hula Halau ‘O Kahikilaulani

1989Kane: Kawaili‘ula Hula HalauWahine: Hula Halau O Na Maoli Pua*Miss Aloha Hula Pi‘ilani Smith, Hula Halau ‘O Na Maoli Pua

1990Kane: Kawaili‘ula Hula HalauWahine: Halau O Na Maoli Pua*Miss Aloha Hula Natalie Noelani Ai, Halau Hula Olana

1991Kane: Halau Hula O Ka Ua Kani Lehua*Wahine: Hula Halau ‘O KamuelaMiss Aloha Hula Kapualokeokala-niakea Dalire, Keolalaulani Halau ‘Olapa ‘O Laka

1992Kane: Na Wai Eha O PunaWahine: Na Lei ‘O Kaholoku*Miss Aloha Hula Kauimaiokala-niakea Dalire, Keolalaulani Halau ‘Olapa ‘O Laka

1993Kane: Kawaili‘ula Hula Halau*Wahine: Hula Halau O Ka Ua Kani LehuaMiss Aloha Hula Maelia Lani Kah-anuola Loebenstein, Ka Pa Hula ‘O Kauanoe ‘O Wa‘ahila

1994Kane: Halau Hula ‘O Kawaili‘ula*Wahine: Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahuluMiss Aloha Hula Tracie Ka‘onohilani Farias, Na Wai Eha ‘O Puna

1995Kane: Halau Hula ‘O Kawaili‘ula*Wahine: Hula Halau Na Lei O KaholokuMiss Aloha Hula Allison Kailihiwa Kaha‘ipi‘ilani Vaughan, Ka Pa Hula ‘O Kauanoe ‘O Wa‘ahila

1996Kane: Halau Hula ‘O Kawaili‘ula*Wahine: Hula Halau ‘O KamuelaMiss Aloha Hula Ku‘ukamalani Ho, Keali‘ikaapunihonua Ke‘ena A‘o Hula


Halau Ke‘alaokamaile of Maui was the overall winner in 2011.

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OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!Blanes Industrial

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CELEBRATE HULA

PREVIOUS WINNERS1997Kane: Halau Hula ‘O Kawaili‘ulaWahine: Ka Pa Hula O Kauanoe O Wa‘ahila*Miss Aloha Hula Kehaulani Enos, Halau Mohala ‘Ilima

1998Kane: Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahuluWahine: Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu*Miss Aloha Hula Lokalia Kahele, Na Wai Eha ‘O Puna

1999Kane: Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu*Wahine: Hula Halau ‘O KamuelaMiss Aloha Hula Keolalaulani Dalire, Keo-lalaulani Halau ‘Olapa ‘O Laka

2000Kane: Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahuluWahine: Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela*Miss Aloha Hula Tehani Kealamailani Gonzado, Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela

2001Kane: Halau Hula ‘O Kawaili‘ulaWahine: Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela*Miss Aloha Hula Natasha Kamalamalamaokalailokokapu‘uwaimehanaokekeikipunahele Oda, Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua

2002Kane: Halau Ka Ua Kani LehuaWahine: Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela*Miss Aloha Hula Malia Ann Kawailana-malie Petersen, Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela

2003Kane: Halau O Ka Ua Kani LehuaWahine: Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela*Miss Aloha Hula Jennifer Kehaulani Oya-ma, Halau Na Mamo ‘O Pu‘uanahulu

2004Kane: Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahuluWahine: Na Lei O Kaholoku*Miss Aloha Hula Natasha Mahealani Akau, Halau Na Mamo ‘O Pu‘uanahulu

2005Kane: Halau Na Kamalei*Wahine: Na Lei O KaholokuMiss Aloha Hula Maile Emily Kau‘ilanionapuaehi‘ipoiokeanuenueokeola Francisco, Halau Na Mamo ‘O Pu‘uanahulu

2006Kane: Halau Hula ‘O KawailiulaWahine: Na Lei O Kaholoku*Miss Aloha Hula Bernice Alohanamak-anamaikalanimai “Namakana” Davis-Lim, Na Lei O Kaholoku

2007Kane: Halau I Ka Wekiu*Wahine: Hula Halau ‘O KamuelaMiss Aloha Hula Keonilei Ku‘uwehiokala Kaniaupio Fairbanks, Halau Ka Pa Hula O Wa‘ahila

2008Kane: Halau Na Mamo ‘O Pu‘uanahulu

Wahine: Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela*Miss Aloha Hula Kalimakuhilani “Kuhi” Akemi Kalamanamana Suganuma, Keolalaulani Halau ‘Olapa O Laka

2009Kane: Ke Kai O Kahiki*Wahine: Halau Na Mamo ‘O Pu‘uanahuluMiss Aloha Hula Cherissa Henohe-anapuaikawaokele “Henohea” Kane, Halau Ke‘alaokamaile

2010Kane: Ke Kai O Kahiki*Wahine: Halau Ke‘alaokamaileMiss Aloha Hula Mahealani Mika Hirao-Solem, Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela

2011Kane: Ke Kai O KahikiWahine: Halau Ke‘alaokamaile*Miss Aloha Hula Tori Hulali Canha, Halau Ke‘alaokamaile

Photo by WILLIAM ING/Tribune-Herald

Ke Kai O Kahiki of Oahu was the kane division winner for 2011.

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CELEBRATE HULA

Meet this year’s Merrie Monarch judges

Mae Kamamalu Klein

Nalani Kanaka‘ole Cy M. Bridges Wayne Chang William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching

Noenoelani Zuttermeister Lewis Nathan Napoka

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The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, located at 600 ‘Imiloa Place in Hilo, offers workshops,

panel discussions and per-formances from Tuesday through Friday. Event program admission will be by a $6 per session ticket. Seating is limited and will be offered on a first-come first-served basis. Daily admission rates apply to the center’s exhibit hall and its planetarium programs.

TUESDAY10-11 a.m.: Na

Haumana O Ke Kula ‘O Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u Hawaiian Medium Educa-tion School

Puna Lei OnaonaThe high school students

of Nawahi take the audience on an epic journey through Puna as they share the sto-ries of the kupuna through mele, hula, and Hawaiian language oratory review.

12:30-2:30 p.m.: Na Haumana O Ke Kula ‘O Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u Hawaiian Medium Educa-tion School

‘Au Kai ‘Imi LoaThe papa alaka‘i or

senior class of Nawahi cre-ated navigational history as they sailed Hokualaka‘i from O‘ahu to the Big Island in October 2011, using the traditional Hawai-ian language of our kupu-na. These young navigators will share their unique experience through song, dance, and Hawaiian lan-guage oratory review.

WEDNESDAY10-11:30 a.m.: Kau-

makaiwa and Kekuhi Kana-hele

WeloKaumakaiwa, a five-

time Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winner, is the eldest son of Na Hoku Hanohano

Award winner, Kekuhi Kanahele. Mother and son will grace the stage to share mele from their new album, soon to be released. Their performance will bring the true meaning of tradition and evolution to life.

1-2:30 p.m.: Weldon Kekauoha

Musical PerformanceNa Hoku Hanohano

Award-winning Weldon Kekauoha will share his favorite mele and stories about working with various halau on the preparation of musical selections for the Merrie Monarch competi-tion. Kekauoha’s former group, The Mana‘o Com-pany, had been instrumen-tal in influencing the evolu-tion of island music. Now a solo artist, Kekauoha’s fourth album is scheduled for release in June 2012.

THURSDAY10-11:30 a.m.: Adrienne

KaepplerNa Momi MakamaeAdrienne Lois Kaeppler

is an American anthropolo-gist and curator of Oceanic Ethnology at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institu-tion in Washington, D.C. Her research focuses on the interrelationships between social structure and the arts, including dance, music, and visual arts, especially in Tonga and Hawaii. This presentation will focus on our kupuna’s precious treasures that were showcased at the Smithson-ian.

1-2:30 p.m.: Kainani Kahaunaele

‘Ohai ‘UlaKainani Kahaunaele,

the talented songstress, haku mele (composer) and Hawaiian language teacher will perform mele from her latest CD release, ‘Ohai

‘Ula. The impressive col-lection of new original mele depict ancestral prac-tices, honor genealogies and storied locales, reveal deep romances, and offers up traditional and contem-

porary musical styles sure to please any music lover.

FRIDAY10-11:30 a.m.:

Kanaka‘ole Panel

Ka Welo HulaHalau O Kekuhi is a

traditional classical dance company that can account for seven generations of family practitioners and leadership in the indig-enous Hawaiian performing arts of hula and oli. The leadership of this dance company is transmitted through matrilineal suc-cession from the beloved Aunty Edith to her daugh-ters Nalani Kanaka‘ole and Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele, the Kumu Hula of the Halau O Kekuhi. We bring the Kanaka‘ole ‘ohana members together as a panel to discuss the importance of their lineage, Ka Welo Hula.

1-3 p.m.: The Hula Preservation Society

Honoring the Ancients:

Hula Performance and Workshop

Hula Preservation Soci-ety works with Hakipu‘u Learning Center and its founder, Calvin Hoe, in the perpetuation of four coveted implement forms not commonly seen in modern times. The students who study these rarities comprise Hui Pulelehua and train in hula papa hehi, ‘ulili, ‘ohe, and ki‘i from the three lineages of Uncle George Na‘ope, Aunty Nona Beamer, and Papa John Lake.

Together with their kumu Iwalani Kalima, Maile Loo, and Kaponoai Molitau, they will pres-ent dances from each line and give you a chance to see and even try these rare implements. n

Congratulations & Best Wishes To The Participants of The

49th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival

Hilo66 Lono St • Hilo, HI 96720 • 808-935-9778

Puna16-594 Kipimana St • Keaau, HI 96749 • 808-930-2600

Kona75-5737 Kuakini Hwy, Ste 101 • Kailua Kona, HI 96740 • 808-329-8889

www.bigislandfcu.com • [email protected]

Federally Insured By NCUA

CELEBRATE HULA

‘Imiloa offers special events to celebrate


The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii will feature spe-cial Merrie Monarch events all week.

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421 Kalanikoa St. (Across Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium)Open Tues-Sat 5:30am–1:00pm • Closed Sun/Mon

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Best Wishes to all 2012 Merrie Monarch Participants!

Phone: 935-0924 to schedule an appointment 811 LAUKAPU ST. BAY 11, HILO, HAWAII 96720

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5 QT. OIL CHANGEIncludes: 5 qt. (10W/30) motor oil and oil fi lter (Most cars & trucks)

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CELEBRATE HULA

In Memoriam

George Na‘ope1928-2009

Dorothy Thompson1921-2010

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DOT’S DANCE STUDIO

all participants in the Merrie

Monarch Festival

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Congratulates M

M F

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Welcome Merrie Monarch Visitors & Participants!

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CELEBRATE HULA

Aia la ‘o Pele i Hawai‘i, ‘eaKe ha‘a mai la i Maukele, ‘ea‘Uhi‘uha mai ana, ‘eaKe nome a‘e la i‘a Puna, ‘eaKa mea nani ka i Paliuli, ‘eaKe pulelo a‘e la i na pali,‘eaAia ka palena i Maui, ‘ea‘Aina o Kaulula‘au, ‘eaI hea kaua e la‘i ai, ‘eaI ke alanui a‘e li‘a nei, ‘eaHa‘ina ‘ia mai ka puana, ‘eaNo Hi‘iaka no he inoa, ‘ea

The famous traditional mele “Aia la ‘o Pele i Hawai‘i,” pays tribute to Pele and her sister Hi‘iakaikapoliopele. When properly executed, this hula evokes a powerful river of lava from Kilauea’s summit, flowing, gushing, surging through Puna to the sea.

Pele is at HawaiiShe is dancing at MaukeleShe surges and puffs this wayDevouring the land of PunaIt makes Paliuli beautifulFire tongues leaping at the cliffsIt is heard at MauiLand of Kaulula‘auWhere will we find peace?Oh, how we yearn on the roadThe end of my songA name song for Hi‘iaka

Aia la ‘o Pele

Halau O Ke Anuenue of Hilo performs in the 2011 Merrie Monarch Festival.

Merrie Monarch President Luana Kawelu pos-es for a portrait at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-purpose Stadium as members of a hula halau practice in the background in this file photo. Members of Kawelu’s family spend a whole year planning for the annual festival.

Find it in the Classifieds

Wise sayings“Na ka pupuka ka lili.”

Jealousy belongs to the ugly.

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969 Kilauea Ave. • 935-86833

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Welcometo the Home of the

Loco Moco

$200 OFF!

Take Hilo Farmers

MAMO ST. & KAMEHAMEHA AVE.

in Historic Downtown HiloExpires 5/5/12No Cash Value

From dawn ‘til it’s Gone!(808) 933-1000www.hilofarmersmarket.com EBT Accepted

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CELEBRATE HULA

2011 Ho‘olaule‘a

Above: Wearing fresh ti leaf skirts and plumeria lei, the ladies

of Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua perform “Ahe Nani Kaua‘i,” a mele

about the beautiful breezes of the Garden Isle. The Hilo halau performs in the Ho‘olaule‘a at

noon. At right: Members of Kamehameha Schools’ Hawai-

ian ensembles, Halau Na Lei Hiwahiwa ‘O Ku‘ualoha and Na Lei Liko O Ola‘a, present a hula

kahiko in last year’s Ho‘olaule‘a. The groups return this year for

an Easter Sunday encore perfor-mance at 3 p.m.

Photos by PETER SUR/Tribune-Herald

Above: A member of Keaukaha’s Merahi O Tapiti dances a graceful ahuroa, a style of modern Tahitian dance similar to a hula ‘auana. Whether you’re into Hawaiian or Tahitian, this year’s festival has something for everyone.

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Aloha! A WarmHilo Welcome to All Merrie Monarch

Professionals • Performance • Proven Resultsofeesssssssssssssiiioonals • Performance •

Subscribe to our FREE eNewsletter & Buyers Guide at RealEstateHawaii.com (next issue May 2012)

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RealEstateHawaii.com

CELEBRATE HULA

Mo‘i Kane: Richard Kuali‘i Kamau Jr.Mo‘i Wahine: Meleana Auli‘i Ku‘uleialoha ManuelKaka‘olelo: Eric Wainee JohnstonKahu: Korallisa Kahikuonalani WilsonMea Oli: Robret Lono Ikuwa or Kamuela ChunAli‘i Ukali: Lahela Makamae RosarioPa‘a Pulo‘ulo‘u: Kennady Kamalei Kuulei Batalona Kuikahi or ‘Aiponokamoku ValenteNa Kanaka Ho‘okani Pu: Zachary Ka‘imina‘auao Kerr, Jorden Ka‘anohiokala Kealoha-Yamanaka, and Austin Akahiakea KaleoNa Pa‘a Kahili: Kekaniokekai Shaw-De Mello, Kainalu Whit-ney, Isaac Paulo and Gabby Kamalani Akana-Baltero

Reigning over the festival

Richard Kuali‘i Kamau Jr. Meleana Auli‘i Ku‘uleialoha Manuel

The Royal Court

Find the right jobin the Classifeds

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THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS NEAR THE FESTIVAL:

Foodland Kea‘au16-586 Old Volcano RoadOpen: 6 a.m.–10 p.m.Phone: 966-9316

Sack N Save Hilo250 Kino‘ole StreetOpen: 6 a.m.–11 p.m.Phone: 935-3113

Sack N Save Puainako2100 Kanoelehua AvenueLocated in Puainako Shopping CenterOpen: 5 a.m.–12 a.m.Phone: 959-5831

Sack N Save Puainako

Sack N SaveHilo

FoodlandKea‘au

SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT Good on Big Island only. Limit five units (mix/match) per purchase, unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to limit quantities. No sales to dealers. Prices plus applicable state tax. Hawaii EBT cards welcomed. Foodland Super Market, LTD., 3536 Harding Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816. BIG ISLE

Hawaii Beverage Fee of 1¢ per can or bottle will be added to purchase price at checkout. An additional Hawaii Deposit fee of 5¢ will be charged for all specially marked beverage containers.

These sale prices are good at Foodland Kea‘au, Sack N Save Hilo and Sack N Save Puainako 4/8/12–4/17/12

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17

Cupcakes, 12 ct., $7.99 each

Assorted Leis

799AND UP

Mauna Loa Stand Up BagSelected Varieties, 11–12 oz.

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

799

Hawaiian Rain Water24/500 ml.

499WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

Amano KamabokoSelected Varieties, 6 oz.

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

249

Large Cooked Shrimp, 31/40 ct.Previously Frozen

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

799LB.

Luau Leaf16 oz.

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

249

Hinode Calrose RiceWhite or Brown, 20 lb.

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

999

LOCALLOCALLAL

Navel OrangesCalifornia

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

LB.89¢

C

Fresh Whole Pork Picnic Shoulder

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

179LB.

Chicken Thighs5 lb. Box, Frozen

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

699EA. EA.

16 Piece Fried Chicken4 Breasts, 4 Thighs, 4 Drums & 4 Wings

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

1699

Atebara Taro Chips 4 oz.

WITH MAIKA‘I CARD

399 EA.Atebara Sweet Potato Chips, Selected Varieties, 4 oz., 2/$6.00

Stop by Foodland or Sack N Save to find everything you’ll need during Merrie Monarch week. You’ll find local produce, a wide selection of poke, and delicious pre-cooked meals from our Deli. Pre-order sandwiches or bentos for the whole halau and simply pick them up from the Deli counter. You’ll save time and effort with us because serving you is the most important thing we do!

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P r i c e s G o o d s u n day, A P R I L 8 t h r u t u e s day, A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 2

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AlohaMerrie Monarch Visitors and Participants!

celebrate hula

Documents

halau o kekuhi

halau o mailelaulani

halau hula o hilo hanakahi

halau hula o lima nani

civicnoon halau o kawananakoa

halau o kawananakoa

na lei o kaholoku

halau na pua o uluhaimalama