Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1988 — Kupuna Kick Up Heels at Hula Festival [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kupuna Kick Up Heels at Hula Festival

By Deborah Lee Ward, Editor, Ka Wai Ola O OHA Their hair may be gray, but their spirits were certainly youthful. With beaming smiles and kolohe glances, the kupuna dancers in the 1988 King Kalakaua Kupuna Hula Festival, held a crowd of 1,000 spellbound in an enjoyable evening of solo and group numbers. Held November 17 at the Kona Lagoon hotel, the event was the first of a three-night festival that inc!uded keiki kahiko and 'auwana competitions on the following two evenings. This Was the sixth annual kupuna program, a thoroughly heartwarming event founded in 1983 by kumu hula Unele George Naope and Fanny Collins Au Hoy, curator of Hulihe'e Palaee. The event has grown in popularity since its inception, with the generous support of many community groups, and the hard work of organizers Naope and George Yoshida, director of Senior Citizen Programs for the County of Hawai'i. This year there were 14 groups participating, with troupes from faraway Japan, Walnut Creek and Hayward, California joining the loeal halau. It was also the first time groups from Moloka'i, Kaimuki, and Pa'auilo joined this unique competition. They took the stage with great poise and charm, and had a wonderful time. They also were an inspiration to all who watched, both young and old. As Yoshida noted, "As long as you have spirit, the hula goes on." In costumes both stunning and simple, they showed the results of hours of practice, with grace and energy. Even the less spry members, many of whom were in their 80s, provided they could still shake a mean hip to the mostly traditional hula numbers. Judges for the kupuna festival were Hoakalei Kamau'u, George Holokai, Leilani Alama, Puanani Alama, and Kimo Alama, all masters in hula themselves. Entrants were judged in two divisions: silver, for first-time festival performances, and gold, for returning participants. Silver Division Wahine group performances: first plaee went to the nine women of the Kohala Nutrition Center, of Kohala, Hawai'i, for their version of "Pa'ahana Muli Wai," under the direction of Suse Soares. Second plaee went to Hula Kala Lima of Tokyo, for "Mahealani Moon," directed by Mana Nino. They danced with many different kinds of leis in their hands, and threw kisses as they glided across the stage. Third plaee went to the Pa'auilo Nutrition Center, of Pa'auilo, Hawai'i, for their energetic "Going to California," directed by Frances Ebreo.

Gold Division Wahine group performances: First plaee went to the 12 women of the Kaimuki Recreation Center, Kaimuki, O'ahu, for their charming version of "E Nihi Ka Hele," a song for Kaimuki, directed by William Ching. Kane group awards: First plaee, Hilo Pomaikai of Hilo, Hawai'i, for the spirited paniolo hula, "Hawaiian Rough Riders," directed by Roxcie Waltjen. Second plaee went to Ka Nani O Hilo, also of Hilo, for their young at heart "Kolopa," directed by Helen Haa. Mixed group awards: First Plaee went o the couples of the Hayward Recreation Conter dancers, Hayward, California, for their romantic rendition of "Keoni Mana," directed by Leinaala Alesna. Second plaee was taken by the Hilo Pomaikai group for "Hoe Hoe Na Wa'a" done in

white sailor suits. The group Ka Nani O Hilo also won third plaee for their "Papakolea," done in colorful Kalakaua-era costumes. Soloists, Gold division First plaee for the "Tutu Wahine" awards went to Kapeka Kula of the Kaimuki Recreation Center group, for her outstanding performance of "Kaulana O Waimanalo" and "Hanauma." Singing to accompany her, kumu hula Sonny Ching noted that Kula first danced 30 years ago for his grandmother, the well-known Lena Guerrero. Second plaee went to Keala McCallum of Na Kupuna O Paki, of Honolulu, O'ahu, for "I Ali'i," and third plaee was won by Fusako Iizuka of Hula Kala Lima, for her "Pua Mana," done in resplendent hot pink velvet holoku trimmed with satin, laee and feathers. Finally, first plaee for the "Tutu Kane" awards went to Paul Matsumoto of Na Kupuna O Paki of Kaua'i, for "Koke'e," a close second plaee to Charlie Kaulupali of Ka Nani O Hilo, for his vigorous paniolo hula, "Kaupo." Third plaee went to Reggie Correa of the Hayward Recreation Center, for his version of "Poi Maker's Tune."

Kathrene Young of Ka Nani O Hilo did an expressive "(Ku'u Home) Ona Pali Houliuli.

For their vigorous "Kolopa," the men of Ka Nani O Hilo took second plaee in the gold division.

Emma Kauhi of Hilo Pomaikai kicks up her heels in a sprightly "Papaiina Lahilahi."

The ladies of the Kaimuki Recreation Center took first plaee in the gold division for their charming "E Nihi KaHele."

The radiant smile of Clara Kaaa shone through "Lei Nani," performed by the Hilo Pomaikai ensemble, directed by Roxcie Waltjen.

Theiryouthful smiles and enjoyment added to "Mahealani Moon," done by the Hula Kala Lima ladies of Tokyo, Japan, directed by Maria Nino.

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