Merrie Monarch Festival 2011
Hula halau have been working feverishly to perfect their dances, complete their costumes, and make final preparations for the Merrie Monarch Festival 2011. Many halau have gone on trips to the famous places in their mele – from the uplands of Kokeʻe to Puʻu Poliʻahu at the summit of Mauna Kea. They are making their ti-leaf skirts. For these halau, this is just part of their lifelong mission to perpetuate hula. The festival is dedicated to the memory of King David Kalakaua, who was called the “Merrie Monarch” for his love of the arts, especially music and dance. During his reign, from 1874 to 1891, he supported the revival of hula, which had been discouraged by missionaries.
Tickets are needed to attend the competitive performances. And they’ll likely be hard to come by in the days before the contest. But hula fans will be able to catch every graceful gesture and synchronized shake online or on high-definition television here in the Islands. Hawaii TV network KFVE will live stream the entire contest from Hilo’s Edith Kanakaole Stadium. If you’re here in the Islands, tune into KFVE’s high-definition broadcast on all three nights on Channel 5. The Miss Aloha Hula Competition will spotlight soloists performing both Hula Kahiko (ancient hula) and Hula Auana (modern hula). Hula halau will perform Kahiko on Friday and Auana on Saturday. Photo by Rebecca Breyer.
Thursday, April 28th, 6:00 pm to 12:00 am
Miss Aloha Hula
Friday, April 29th, 6:00 pm to 11:30 pm
Halau perform ancient style dances (Hula Kahiko)
Saturday, April 30th, 6:00 pm to 12:30 am
Halau perform modern style dances (Hula Auana)
Hula History and Training
Hula dancers in ancient Hawaii were trained in a strict manner, and followed particular rules of conduct recognized by their teacher (kumu). Students were kapu (forbidden, sacred), set apart from others, could not cut their hair or nails, and avoided certain foods and sexual contact. Because hula was danced as a religious ritual all of the rules were for a purpose, believing students would learn to dance the hula better if they did not engage in forbidden activities.
The kumu hula trained and disciplined dancers, and was assisted by a po`opua`a (head student) who carried out instructions. Students were divided into `olapa (agile dancers) and ho`opa`a (who sat or knelt in stationary positions to play instruments or chant mele). A ho`oulu (guard) stood at the halau door to bless entering students and refresh offerings on Laka’s altar (goddess of hula). Halau (place for hula instruction) were located in a heiau (temple), or in an area set apart for the hula.
Hula students danced on a platform with an altar dedicated to Laka, decorated with vines and flowers. Both male and female dancers wore a pa`u (short skirt around the waist) made of kapa, ti leaves, or banana leaves. Dancers wore lei covering their heads and shoulders, and kupe`e on their wrists and ankles. Kupe`e were made of greens, whale teeth, bone, shell, or dog teeth, and added a percussive rattle during the dance.
Hula dancers must become one with the dance, the story, the actions, the imagery they are portraying in the dance. Chants accompanied the movements and aided in telling the dancer’s story. Traditionally it was not the dancer’s hands but the mele (song) that counted the most. Ailolo (graduation) marked the completion of a dancer’s studies and a ceremonial nighttime purification in the ocean, prayers, offerings, blessings from the kumu, feasting, and a lifting of kapu restrictions. Photo by Rebecca Breyer at the Merrie Monarch Festival.
Merrie Monarch Festival 2010 Finale
Twenty-eight halau offered up a total of 69 performances over three nights to wow the sold-out crowd at the Merrie Monarch Festival. The kahiko (ancient) segment was an evening full of entrancing rhythms from the guttural beat of the pahu drums to mesmerizing chants and story-telling. The auana (modern) hula allows for more creativity and expression, and the stage exploded with brightly colored costumes and smiles.
Winner of the Wahine Kahiko, Auana, and Overall was Halau Kealaokamaile of Wailuku, Maui under Kumu Kealii Reichel.
Winner of the Kane Kahiko, Auana, and Overall was Ke Kai O Kahiki of Waianae, Oahu under Kumu O’Brian Eselu.
There were mele celebrating the mist and lehua of Kilauea, a tribute to the majestic Mount Ka‘ala, the waterfall of Molokai, and sands of Nohili (Barking Sands) on Kauai. There were mele honoring Queen Emma, the yellow-hued rose of Waialua honoring Queen Lili‘uokalani, the marriage of Ka‘ahumanu, beautiful places stretching from Ni‘ihau to Kilauea, the lovely lehua blooms, love, and romance. Ke Kai O Kahiki performed to a rendition of “A Ka‘uku,” a tale about the land battle between Pele and Kamapua‘a in the hula kahiko, and a lively performance of “E Koa‘e E,” a tale about a white tropic bird that nest upon sheer cliffs, while fishing from the sea in the hula auana. Photo by Rebecca Breyer.
Miss Aloha Hula 2010
Mahealani Mika Hirao-Solem was crowned Miss Aloha Hula 2010 at the Merrie Monarch Festival. Under the direction of Na Kumu Hula Kauionalani Kamanao & Kunewa Mook, she performed Kalele O Nalani He Inoa (about Queen Emma’s famed travels to Kaua’i island) for her kahiko. For her auana, she performed Haaheo Kaimana Hilo Kuu Milimili (a modern number on beloved Diamond Head). She has been dancing with Halau Hula O Kamuela for four years, and was awarded 1,082 points for her confidence, comfortable manner on stage, immaculate costumes, and bright smile.
Second place, awarded 1,074 points, was Taysha-Lei Kapuauiokalehuamamomaeole De Sa of Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua. Under the direction of Kumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho, she performed He Laau O Ka Wa Kahiko for her kahiko and Ko Olioli I Ka Ulu Kukui O Lanikaula for her auana.
Third place, awarded 1,073 points, was Mahina Macfarlaneof Ka La Onohi Mai O Haehae. Under the direction of Na Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes, she performed Hanohano Nuuanu I Ke Kawelu for her kahiko and Lei Pua Keniken for her auana.
Fourth place, awarded 1,069 points, was Oralani Koa of Halau Kealaokamaile. Under the direction of Kumu Hula Kealii Reichel, she performed Kuu Lei Awapuhi for her kahiko and I Waikapu Ke Aloha for her auana. Koa also was earned the Hawaiian language award.
Fifth place, awarded 1,060 points, Ashlyn Aulani Tavares of Halau Hula O Kahikilaulani. Kumu Hula Rae K. Fonseca, who died last month, prepared her to perform Kaiulani for her kahiko and Kinoiki Kekaulike for her aunana.
