Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 8, 1 August 2018 — Hālau from Maui win big at the 43rd annual Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competiton [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hālau from Maui win big at the 43rd annual Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competiton

MO'OMEHEU CULTURE i

Paredes 'ohana adds a third trophy to their collection

Submitted by the Kalihi-Palama Culture & Arts Society The 43rd Annual Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula eompetition, held in Honolulu, concluded July 21 after three exciting nights of hula. Maui's Hālau Kekuaokala'au'ala'iliahi walked off with first plaee finishes for their Kaikamahine 'Auana and Keiki Kāne Kahiko performances, as

well as taking the Wendell Kalanikapuaenui Silva Overall Perpetual Trophy for their Keiki Kāne. On Thursday night,the2018Miss & Master Keiki Hula were crowned after an evening that featured 24 soloists. Rachel Kimura from Hula Hālau 'O Kamuela heeame the 2018 Miss Keiki Hula with her performanee of Lei Nani

Kalaunu. The title of masier rs.eiKi nuia went to 7-year old Justin Paredes of Maui's Hālau Kekuaokala'au'ala'iliahi. Paredes' performance of Henehene Kou 'Aka adds the third Keiki Hula trophy to their family's

eolleeīion. Justin's sister Faith Paredes won the title of Miss Keiki Hula 2015 and his father Brandon Paredes was Master Keiki Hula in 1987. "It felt like I was doing my best and

siiowmg uie juuges that I am Master keiki hula," said Justin Paredes. One of the highlights of the weekend was the inaugural presentation of the Miriam Likelike Kekauluohi Achievement

Award to Kumu Hula Olana Ai, the founder of Hālau Hula Olana. Ai was joined on stage and in the audience by dozens of her former students in a remarkable display of her hula legacy. "She is so wondere

ful and to have my name associated with her is another thing that I didn't do for Keiki Hula, Keiki Hula did for me," said Ai. "My life is so blessed, I have a special life and you saw all the

children who grew up and dancing and I remembered every one when I looked right into their faces." Highlights from the 43rd Annual Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula competition are posted on KFVE Television's website at www.k5thehometeam.com. The annual competition is supported by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the State Foundation on Culture & the Arts and the City & County of Honolulu. For more information, email info@ kpcahawaii.com or visit the website at www.keikihula.org. ■ il

2018 Miss Keiki Hula Rachel Kimura and Family. - Photos: Kalihi-Palama Colture & l rts Society

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