Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 11, 1 November 1995 — ‘Holo Mai Pele’ drama tells goddess' story [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

‘Holo Mai Pele’ drama tells goddess' story

by Jeff Clark The Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele onee roamed the archipelago looking for a suitable home. Early next year she'll return to O'ahu as an epie drama of Pele and her family makes its Honolulu debut. "Holo Mai Pele" will be presented Jan. 10-1 1 at 7 p.m. at the Neal Blaisdell Center

Concert Hall. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50 and will be on sale at the Blaisdell box office beginning in mid-November. The 2 l/2-hour production showcases

Hawaiian culture through oli (chant), ha'i mo'olelo (storytelling), and hula. "Holo Mai Pele" is being performed by Hālau o Kekuhi featuring a 60-member cast. The evening's only English will be provided by four narrators and a printed program, but those without Hawaiian language skills will be able to follow the story and appreciate the drama in mueh the same wav theatergoers ean experience kabuki or

Italian opera. Kumu hula Pua Kanahele said the play illustrates values, protocols, and relationships - relationships between siblings, parents and children, the gods and people. The saga puts a new spin on the term "living legend" because the Hawaiian volcanoes refuse to go dormant — Pele is indeed active in our own time. "The story of Pele is not pau, so that's what's so rich about this story," said Kanahele, who called it "perhaps the most complete literary work we have - complete up until this time." The play was first performed last spring at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Hālau o Kekuhi is well known throughout Hawai'i for its 'aiha'a style of hula, whieh the hālau describes as "a low-pos-tured, vigorous, bombastic style." The cultural integrity of Hālau o Kekuhi

is impeeeahle and the group ean boast some impressive aeeomplishments: the National Heritage Fellowship Award — the most prestigious award offered by the National Endowment for the Arts - and performing at President Clinton's Inauguration Celebration. The hālau's nonprofit overseer, the Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation, established the cultural protocol for the 1992 healing ceremonies on Kaho'olawe as well as the 1994 ceremonies heralding the island's release from federal control. The hālau ean account for seven generations of hula excellence. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is helping benefīciaries

to experience "Holo Mai Pele" by contributing more than $11,000 to cover facility-related costs. Rather than being used to reimburse the agency, revenues will be dispersed by the Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation for culture-related scholarships. OHA culture specialist Manu Boyd, part of a task force charged with bringing "Holo Mai Pele" to Honolulu, said OHA is

supporting the play to perpetuate excellenee in preserving and understanding traditional Hawaiian legends and the art of hula. Trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto said, "This epie drama displays the literary art of our native people. Every Hawaiian who cares about the culture will want to eome to the Blaisdell to witness and experience the power of 'Holo Mai Pele.'"

"This epie drama displays the literary art of our native people. Every Hawaiian who cares about the eulture will want to eome to the Blaisdell to witness and experience the power of 'Holo Mai Pele.'" A. Frenchy DeSoto

Holo Mai Pele, first performed in May on Maui. Photos courtesy Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation