Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2010 — Paʻahao hālau makes holiday TV debut [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Paʻahao hālau makes holiday TV debut

A hula hālau from the Women's Community Correctional Center moved an audience to tears when they performed for a taping of their TV debut, whieh aired in December as part of Emme's Christmas lsland Moments on KH0N2. Eight dancers from the all-volun-teer Nā Wāhine o Ke Alaula swayed to the Mākaha Sons' "Ke Alaula," showing their self-taught hula skills learned as part of their treatment in Hina Mauka's cultural-based Ke Alaula program. Warden Mark Patterson said that 90 percent of women incarcerated in Hawai'i are behind bars for drug or drug-related crimes, and they must undergo substance-abuse treatment in order to be paroled or released. Patterson said the group of women chosen to perform were leaders within the hālau who earned the privilege, and all were Native Hawaiian. Dancer Laurice Alapai told Ka Wai Ola that the song "Ke Alaula" signifies second chances. Alapai, a mother of five who's learning to appreciate "what life really has to offer," said the performance was a Christmas gift that "gives other (incarcerated) women hope to heeome who you want to heeome." The show was taped Dec. 2 at the Road Runner Music Hall at Dole Cannery, with host Emme Tomimbang and a slew of Hawai'i's luminaries in music, radio and the eulinan/ arts. Here, the dancers gathered for a photo after their performance. First row, from left, Syleen Aki, Lily Manlapit and Elizabeth Aila. Back row: WCCC Warden Mark Patterson, Dawn Keliikuli, Lisa Antonio, Colleen Pakele, Laurice Alapai and Lorraine lshii - Photo: LisaAsato