Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 9, 1 September 2001 — lnvaluable lessons learned at Hālauaola [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

lnvaluable lessons learned at Hālauaola

By Manu Boyd When 1,000 po'e hula (hula practitioners) gathered in Hilo July 26-Aug. 4, the unprecedented world conference on hula was destined to make a lasting impression on many hearts and minds. "It was as if the flood gates were lifted and water rushed in," said Kumu Hula Leinā'ala Kalama Heine of last month's international hula conference in Hilo. "We were in the planning process for well over a year, but no one really knew what to expect. It was invigorating, inspiring, humbling and awesome, all at the same time," she said. Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Hālauaola was borne from in-depth discussions among kumu on the direction hula was taking. With decidedly more involved in the art form outside of Hawai'i, Hālauaola wanted to pron ide a haven for hula people of all levels of experience to learn and share together. Kāwika Viloria, who along with his wife Leinani run their hālau in Diamond Bar, Caif., knows well the challenges of teaching abroad. "Living away from Hawai'i, many of our haumāna, even those who are Hawaiian. have not been to Hawai'i. The conference was a great experienee - learning new traditions, gaining knowledge along with our haumāna. Together, we experienced

mana and aloha," he said. With the Lālākea and the Edith Kanaka'ole Foundations guiding the event, organizers were able to raise funds through grants, donations, and performances of the hula drama, " Kīlohi : Nā Akua Wahine ." The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, through its Grants Program, eontributed $85,000, joining 16 others as event st)onsors.

Over a 10-day period, scores of kumu hula and cultural

practitioners shared their skills in such areas as hula, chant, history, crafts, art, philosophy, religion, spirituality and folklore. A repertoire of traditional chants such as "E Pana 'ewa Moku Lehua Nui" and "Pūpū Weuweu " were shared with hundreds of po'e hula in Hawai'i and across the continent in the months prior to ensure that attendees would be prepared for the opening ceremonies.

"1 think the planning forthe opening ceremony took more than two years. It really took a eouple of generations," said Kaipo Frias. "When the opportunity eame up to orchestrate the ceremony, we had the tools already, but took some poetic license as these ceremonies are generally smaller and private. "We saw another level of our kumu. They gave us new insight on

not only how to give, but what to give and when. We are so secure in our art and traditions, we didn't have to get political about it. There were no flags, no anthems, just a pure, Hawaiian environment," he said.

"I'd like to see more workshops on a smaller scale," said Kumu Hula Pualani Kanahele, co-chair of the event along with Heine and Hōkūlani Holt-Padilla, kumu hula of Maui's Pā'ūohi'iaka. "We had many intelligent, articulate discus-

sions. People knew their c;ulture very well, and were willing to share their knowledge. Now we know we have a lot of resources. Many people today in hula are very visible in the dance. Those who attended are those who do - or want to do - the whole gamut. You must know the land, the environment, to look deep into the mele," said Kanahele. "If you are willing to share, you must also be willing to leam. As soon as you think you know everything, you begin to deteriorate," Kanahele added, who has been in hula all her life. "If we do this again, hopefully even more will participate. Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Hālauaola has brought a new consciousness to hula," said Conference Director Wong-Wilson. Although there are no immediate plans for another conference, the buzz in Hilo and throughout the hula community was "hana hou!" ■ Top, l-r: The kuahu is a miniature forest assembled with symbolic plants; Kumu Hula Leinā'ala Kalama Heine dances "Ka Lehua I Milia" at an evening hō'ike. Conference chair Pualani Kanahele and director Noe Noe Wong-Wilson beam at the closing ceremony. Morning "haki kino" (body llmberlng) exercises drew hundreds. Kumu Hula Nālei Nāpaepae Kūnewa performs a hula kala'au. "Kona Kai 'Ōpua." The lapaiki class show off thelr drums in the closing hō'ike. ■