Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 11, 1 November 2001 — Sonny Ching hula production sets foot on Maui Nov. 17, 18 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Sonny Ching hula production sets foot on Maui Nov. 17, 18

By Manu Boyd Just one day after we celebrate the birth of King Kalākaua who helped revive the hula more than 125 years ago, Kumu

Hula William Haunu'u Kahakuleilehua "Sonny" Ching and his Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu'uanahulu will take Maui by storm with their mega hula production, "Ho'oulu I Ka Na'auao" (to grow in wisdom). With a cast of 80 dancers and chanters, Ching will for the first time perform at the Valley Isle's world-class facility, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, known to enthusiasts as "the MACC." Performing also will be Māhiehie, the trio of Sam Kaina, Mark Tang and Helene Woodward, the hālau's mainstay ensemble. "Maui seems to really appreciate cultural events and the arts," said Ching who only recently identifīed his own Maui

roots through the 'ohana of his dad, Billy Ching. "We look forward to working in that theater." Typically, loeal ensembles start small touring modest venues and building toward more presti-

gious theaters, but in 2000, Ching debuted "Ho'oulu I Ka Na'auao" at Carnegie Hall, considered the pinnaele of performing arts venues. According to Haunani Ching, family matriarch who also serves as the hālau's

■ general manager, the experience was I awesome and heart-warming - the result I of a year- and-a-half of preparing and I fund-raising. "Family members and I friends Hew in from all over," she reported. For the award-winning kumu, hula is ■ second nature, with generations in his I family practicing the art form. His ■ grandmother, Lena Guerrero, a wellI known performer in her day, gave him J his foundation, also instructing Ching's I mother, Haunani, and aunts. A grand | aunt, Luika Pele Kaio, was a noted kumu See CHING on page 14

^ ' Hanana Kuikawa

Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu performs hula kahiko at Merrie Monarch

CHING from page 8 hula in Lā'ie. Additionally, Ching studied with Kawaikapuokalani Hewett and Lahela Ka'aihue. The two-and-a-half hour production is a compressed glimpse of Hawaiian history from ancient lifestyles and spirituality through the present. Themes of gods, chiefs and the land will be woven throughout the hula kahiko performances, in sharp contrast with the Hollywood-influenced eellophane skirt numbers and the charm of mu'umu'uclad kūpuna whose smiles are priceless. "There are a lot of hālau on Maui and many people who are involved in music, dance and other art forms. We invite Maui to Ho'oulu i ka Na'auao to experience a little of what we do in Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu'uanahulu," said Ching.Tickets are $40, $30 and $10, and may be ordered by calling 808-242-7469. ■