Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 3, 1 Malaki 2016 — Monarch [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Monarch

petition. To watch online, live streaming of > the competition is at k5thehometeam.com. "I have backed off as part of the broadcast team," said Dr. Pualani Kanahele, former commentator on the Merrie Monarch television broadcasts. "I am getting too old, and our islands do produce many brilliant flowers." She offers a few tips for viewers: "While L watching Miss Hula, focus on the intro-

ductory chant. That is their weakest spot because all dancers on the Merrie Monarch stage have been dance ready foryears. However, most don't learn to chant until this challenge. Therefore, if the chant exhibits energy, conjures excitement and displays an unusual trill then that dancer is worthy of that stage and certainly your time in watching and listening." In the Hula Kahiko competition, "the first 10 seconds onto stage including the kāhea reveals the quality of the Kumu and 'ōlapa," says Dr. Kanahele. "Also if the dance transports you to a different plaee, a different time, the dancers then have heeome the dance, transcending time. This is a quality you want to watch for. If this happens then you have experienced the 'time maehine.' If, however the dance and dancers keep you on stage then you have been entertained." Every onee in a while something extraordinary takes your breath away. Many of those moments are rer\ 1i7Prl Mnnamh

Festivals, like in 2015 when

Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero and the men of Hālau Nā Kamalei O LllAehua took the stage. They seemed to reach out and aloha the audience with their hula 'auana - we could feel their t presence through the screen - the mele and hula were a perfect paring and delight to the

senses. They took first plaee for 'Auana and were the overall winners at the 52nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival. Speaking of breathtaking hula, we always sit wide-eyed in anticipation of Kumu Hula 0'Brian Eselu and his hālau Ke Kai O Kahiki. Their 2009 hula kahiko, "Tu 'Oe" was breathtaking. Eselu successfully made traditional hula look edgy and new, not by changing it, but by performing a rarely seen style

called hula 'ōhelo. It was pure perfection. This beloved kumu hula has made an indelible mark on men's hula, with a warrior-like physical strength and ability in his style. Under his direction Ke Kai O Kahiki placed first overall at the festival

four times. "We have nothing more focused or grander then Merrie Monarch," said Dr. Kanahele. "It's months of preparation and a whole week of total enjoyment. Like a vacation!" We asked Billy V what viewers should watch for to get the most out of the experience. "It's not so mueh what to watch for; I believe it's who you watch with," he replied. "Find people that are just as excited about hula as you are and surround yourself with them, if you ean. It goes fromjust watching TV and the TV watching you, to really becoming 'involved.' Find or make a Merrie Monarch Watch Party. It changes the dynamic of just 'watching' Merrie Monarch. You find yourself cheering and clapping for the great performances ! "Plus, in this day and age; more and more people have one eye on the TV and the other on social media," Billy says, noting viewers tweet, follow and watch. It's true. According to KFVE, last year nearly a quarter-million people from all over the world visited the Merrie Monarch pages on their website. "For me, Merrie Monarch is the ultimate spiritual and cultural experience," said Lindsey. "It is the Super Bowl of Hula. And every Merrie Monarch is an unforgettable new experience." ■

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. ST0P THE SPREAD

Rapid 'Ōhi'a Death (ROD) 1 is causing grave eoneem - within the hula ■ ō h community and many hālau ' have decided not to use lehua out ! of eoneem for our

native forests and animals. . j| Here are a few ways you ean stop the spread of ROD: • Don't transport j?M firewood. It ean carry the pfi fungus for over a year 9M • Don't transport 'ōhi'a interisland • Clean your shoes, 7^ tools and gear with mbbing aleohol or diluted bleach • Wash your tires and under ' your vehicle after traveling from an area with ROD.

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Photos: KWOArchives