Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 12, 1 December 1986 — Overflow Crowd Thrilled by Hula Performances [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Overflow Crowd Thrilled by Hula Performances

Hula at its kahiko and auwana best by the keikis and young adults of four halau hula delighted and thrilled an overflow crowd of 1,500 kamaainas and malihinis alike Nov. 8 in the grandiose setting of the Maui Hyatt Regency Hotel's Grand Ballroom as Na Mele O Maui onee more paid tribute to Emma Farden Sharpe, described variously as the "First Lady of Hula," "A Living Treasure," and "A Lahaina Tradition."

lt was the second event in a three-day festival program and one that will long be remembered for its artistic beauty , excellent hula performances, choreography, costuming, warmth and aloha whieh seemed infectious throughout the nearly three-hour paee of continuous delight. Eaeh one of the four performing halau literally brought the house down as the overflow audience was generous with its applause and displayed their appreciation for the tremendous performances of the entertainers and dancers, including solo appearances by Maui's own Mokihana Gushi.

The crowd thrilled to the performances of: • Frank Kawai Hewett and his Kuhai Halau O Kawaikapuokalani of Waimanalo. • Howard and Olana A'i and their keikis from Halau Hula Olana from Aiea. • Denise Ramento and her Aloha Pumehana O Hawaii Nei from Waipahu. • Namahana Kalama and Na Mamoalii O Kauiki from Hana.

Hewett and A'i's keikis were making repeat performances while Ramento and her halau, along with Kalama's Hana dancers, were appearing for the first time. The crowd roared when Hewett presented two of his dancers, complete in Hawaiian-style jogging clothes, in an exercise hula number called aerobicise that eame as a pleasant surprise. lt was fast-paced, refreshing and hilarious. All of the songs and hula performed by Kuhai'Halau O Kawaikapuokalani, including the side-splitting exercise performance, were composed and choreographed by Hewett, a young award-winning kumu hula and songwriter whose "Makalapua Oe" is a brilliant

album featuring songs of his own composition. One of his most recent songs is "Nani Wale Na Pua Kalehua" whieh he sang at the festival and whieh, he explained, he had written just before going to Maui. Hewett also sang several of his Ni'ihau compositions whieh he dedicated to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Moses K. Keale Sr. whom he singled out from the audience. Keale, who represents Ni'ihau and Kauai, was also acknowledged by Dick Bacon, general chairman of Na Mele O Maui, and publicly thanked OHAfor its support of the festival.

Maui Trustee-elect Manu Kahaialii aIso eame in for his share of the spotlight when Bacon proudly pōinted him out as one of the original volunteer workers of the festival who not only serves as master of ceremonies for the Keiki Song Competition but also provides backup music and singing for other performers and sells tickets and posters and does anything else that needs to be done. Halau Hula 01ana's keikis are perennial favorites at the festival. This is also an award-winning halau, having recently retired two of the perpetual trophies at the annual Queen Liliuokalani Hula Festival. The 1986 Master Keiki Hula comes from this halau. He is nine-year-old Papa Kekoa who was featured in a solo appearance.

The halau, whieh recently returned from an appearanee in Washington, D.C., added a bit of Americana to their repertoire with a hula rendition of "America the Beautiful" whieh they first performed on the mainland. lt was a beautiful and stirring presentation. "Boy from Laupahoehoe" brought Aunty Emma on stage to dance with the boys. She struck a responsive chord with the audience who enjoyed every minute of her performance, dispelling any notion she was crowd-

I ing 78. The crowd loved it and Aunty Emma and the boys surely cherished the moment whieh was repeated the following afternoon at the Marriott luau, closing the festival. Na Mamoalii O Kauiki grabbed first plaee in the girls hula kahiko category at the Queen Liliuokalani Hula Festival for keikis this past summer and Maui is rightfully proud of this achievement. It was with great pride Kumu Hula Kalama exhibited their award-winning skills at the festival.

Aloha Pumehana O Hawaii Nei, like the other three halau, performed brilliantly with poise, beauty and exeellenee. Members of Kumu Hula Ramento's halau were class personified and the audience responded in kind. Kuhai Halau O Kawaikapuokalani and Halau Hula Olana performed again Nov. 9 at the luau whieh headlined Karen Keawehawaii and her musicians, Eddie Kam Jr. on bass and Earl Hale Jr. on guitar. Keawehawaii, who intersperses her singing with comedy patter, more than lived up to her billing as Hawaii's awardwinning songbird.

She was preceded by the two halau, A1 Lagunero, Sherry Noelani Dapitan, Maile Kaaiakamanu and Alii Noa who also served as master of ceremonies. This luau lineup presented over three hours of solid and enjoyable entertainment. During a brief pause in the program, Bacon explained the purpose of Na Mele O Maui and how it eame about. Valerie Kong of the Marriott, who was the luau chairperson, was honored with the presentation of a plague "for displaying the spirit whichbest exemplifies Na Mele O Maui." The luau also drew a packed house.

Aunty Emma Farden Sharpe, for whom the hula festival is named, dances "Boy from Laupahoehoe" with two keikis from Halau Hula Olana.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Moses K. Keale, left, congratulates Maui Trustee-elect Manu Kahaialii during a break at Na Mele O Maui Festival.

Dcmcers from Frank Kawai Hewett's Kuhai Halau O Kawaikapuokalani of Waimanalo in a hula kahiko number at the Aunty Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival.

Malia and Mapu of Kuhai Halau O Kawaikapuokalani, complete in "jogging" attire, repeat an aerobicise number during the Sunday luau. They did the same number the night before at the hula festival. Needless to report, it was hilarious and side-splitting.