Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 7, 1 July 2003 — Keiki Hula brings long unseen mele for Liliʻuokalani to light [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Keiki Hula brings long unseen mele for Liliʻuokalani to light

By Manu Boyd Since 1976, the Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition has been attracting young dancers and their hālau to what has heeome the longest running children's hula event to date. Organized by the Kalihi-Pālama Culture and Arts Society, the popular event also has a hand in reviving old mele or chants that have not been seen or heard for generations. Competition judge and cultural ieon Patience Nāmaka Bacon, known to many as "Aunty Pat," has again shared two mele from the collection of her "hānai," Mary Kawena Pūku'i. "Mahiki" and "Ke Anu i Waimea," required for the kaikamahaine (girls) and keikikāne (boys) divisions respectfully, honor Queen Lili'uokalani with references to Hawai'i island sites, particularly in Waimea. Imagery of water sipping birds,

māmane blossoms, palapalai fern and the rising sun at Kumukahi dot these mele. "I have no preconceived expectations of the hula," said Bacon. "I leave that up to the kumu hula to interpret. Some reflect the mele one way, and others, another. But it's getting harder and harder to find mele that are fit for children. We stay away from subjects that are better suited for adults. These kids are too young for mele that suggest 'this and that,"" Bacon chuckled. Kalihi-Pālama Executive Director Itagaki, along with Nathan Nāpōkā who also judges the competition, helped in combing through the Pūku'i collection at Bacon's Mānoa home for this year's mele. "We tried to visualize movement based on the poetry and select mele we think the kumu ean work with," Itagaki explained. Other See KEIKI HULAon page 17

Hanana Ki'iikawā

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The girls of Hōlau Kamuela in their award-winning performanee in Keiki Hula 2002. Hālau 'o Kamuela finished in first plaee for Hula Kahiko.

KEIKI HULA from page 10 past competition mele have been originals by Wendell Silva, formerly of Kalihi-Pālama Culture and Arts, and Aunty Mālia Craver of the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center. Only Friday's hula kahiko division will feature the required competition mele honoring the queen. In Thursday's Miss and Master Keiki Hula divisions and Saturday's group 'auana division, song selections are left up to the kumu. "Even in hula 'auana, some songs are better suited for children than others," Bacon said. The Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Festival will be held July 24-26 at the NBC Arena in Honolulu. Tickets are $8.50 - $9.50 per day and will be available at the NBC Box Office July 19. The competition will be broadcast on KITV Channel 4 on Fri., Aug. 1, 6:30-10 p.m.; and Aug. 2, 6-10 p.m. n