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Hula Halau ‘O Ku’ulei E-Newsletter | March Newsletter
Hula Halau ‘O Ku‘ulei
The “Ka Hula Hou”
Experience
By: Jennifer Voight
On Saturday, February 16, several members from our halau
traveled to Centennial Hall in Hayward for the first-ever Ka
Hula Hou: Pride on the Line. Presented by MKH Productions
in conjunction with the Academy of Hawaiian Arts, this was the
first-of-its-kind challenge, featuring kane (male) dancers in a “no
holds barred” hula competition judged only by the screams and
applause of the audience.
The competition took place in a setting similar, but much smaller,
to the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hawaii, with a square stage in
the middle and seating all around. The format was simple – four
halaus would compete in rounds, 1 vs. 2 and 3 vs. 4, 1 vs. 3 and 2 vs. 4, and 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3. The screams and applause were
scored using a decibel meter and the top two halaus would compete in the final round for the championship title. Much different from
the structure and traditional requirements of the Merrie Monarch, Ka Hula Hou allowed the halaus to choose their style and add the
component of pure entertainment.
The four competing halaus were:
• Academy of Hawaiian Arts with Kumu Hula Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu (Oakland, CA)
• Na Kane O Manawaiopuna with Kumu Hula Kamaile Hamada (Federal Way, WA)
• Halau Na Pua Lehua I Ka Ua Noe with Kumu Hula Keoni Chang (Chino Hills, CA)
• Halau Hula O Kawika Laua ‘O Leinani with Kumu Hula Kawika and Leinani Viloria (Diamond Bar, CA).
Adding to the excitement was emcee “Mento Mele,” who is a popular Hawaiian radio personality and comedian. From her
Hawaiian jokes to jokingly giving dollar bills to the dancers, she definitely added fun and laughter to the evening.
Outside of the competition arena, there was shopping, pupus (finger foods), great Hawaiian raffle prizes, and a silent auction.
The event was also a fundraiser for the Academy of Hawaiian Arts to compete in the 2008 Merrie Monarch Festival happening in
April. While none of us won any of the raffle prizes nor could afford the silent auction items, it was a treat to see implements and art
by Mark Keali’I Ho’omalu. Of course, none of us could refuse window-shopping (and shopping!) at our favorite vendors, Escolta Fine
Art Gallery and Sun Jose Hawai’I, and eating pupus during the three-hour event.
Highlights of the evening’s competition included musical performances by “Mento Mele” and a hula by several kapunas in the
Hawaiian world. What a motivating sight it was to see the 1st Miss Aloha Hula still dancing beautifully! The competition itself went
across the range from kahiko numbers with ipus, ipu hekes, and olis to hula auanas morphing into hip-hop and the costumes were
varied accordingly. Just as one halau would make hearts melt with their grace, the next halau would make us energized with their
fierceness. The Academy of Hawaiian Arts won the inaugural competition with their “chicken” moves and made it clear why they are
going to Merrie Monarch again.
Leaving with Ka Hula Hou and AHA T-shirts and a few pairs of “thunder clappers”, we left with an excitement for what we saw
and experienced and a motivation to dance even more than before. I personally ended the evening thinking, “I can’t wait for next
year!”
Getting To Know One Of Our
Hula Sisters...
Name: Annie Brown (my middle name is Nicole)
How old are you?: 7
What brought you to the halau?: I wanted to learn how to
dance hula so I could be a “hula dancer”.
How long have you been dancing hula?: I started dancing
when I was 4 years old.
What are your hobbies?: I love to Hula and Tahitian Dance.
I’ve also played Bobby Sox Softball for 2 years now. I love
to go shopping.
What do you do for fun?: I love to play video games and
tag with my brother, Eric. I love to go shopping for clothes at
“Justice for Girls”. I like to go to Disneyland and Maui with
my family. I like to go to Virginia to visit my Aunt, Uncle and
Cousins. I like to play with my best friend, Katy. I like to go for
family bike rides. I like to go to “Kings” basketball games and
“Giants” baseball games with my family. I like to perform hula
and tahitian at different places. I like to tahitian dance in the
Fiesta Days Talent Competition.
What do you want to be when you grow up?: I’d like to be a
Hula Teacher like Kelly.
What would you like your halau family to know about
you?: I go to Foxboro School. I’m in the second grade. I
love collecting stuffed animals. I like bright colors. My favorite
colors are pink, blue, and red. I really like jewelry. I love ice
cream. My favorite flavor is “coffee”. My favorite place to eat
is McDonald’s. I love to shop. I like to listen to my iPod. My
favorite band is “The Naked Brothers Band”. My favorite TV
shows are The Naked Brothers Band, iCarly, American Idol,
and Survivor. When I dance hula and tahitian, that makes me
happy. When I was 5, I got to dance the “Hukilau” with Lilo and
Stitch at Disneyland’s Paradise Pier Restaurant. Every Friday
night is our “Family Night”. We go to Burger King dinner and
then Baskin Robbins for dessert. We’ve been doing this tradition
since I was 2. Every Christmas we go to Disneyland, and every
summer we go to Maui.
Hawaiian Grammy’s Perform at Borders
By Kelly Auwae-McAllister
If you were early, you
were lucky enough to get a
seat and purple orchid lei from
Hawai’i placed around your
neck. When we arrived, it was
a jammed packed audience
with all the standing room
already taken. A free Hawaiian event ... I should have known
better and brought my own stool! Hula sister Carol Rosa
did just that. While she found a good comfortable spot,
some of us braved the crowd and found a spot between a
few heads where we could kneel ... until the pain set in .
The atmosphere was fun and lighthearted. Kanakapila style
performances were given by Grammy winners: Cyril Pahinui,
Keoki Kahumoku, Daniel Ho and Tia Carrere.
Tia Carrere’s performance surprised me. When I had
first heard her cd last year, I didn’t think much of it. But after
hearing her sing that evening I went and purchased her cd.
Her songs are all pretty mellow and her cd reminds me more
of a baby lullaby type of album.
The other artists lived up to their awesome reputations
and kept everyone entertained with their upbeat fast ukulele
strumming and picking.
The “Meet and Greet” with the artists was quick and
pleasant. We all stood in line with our cd’s in hand ready
to be autographed and camera’s ready for a quick picture.
We were pleasantly surprised with beautiful, glossy album
posters which the artists personalized for each of us.
I have to admit, I was a little excited to meet Tia
Carrere. As an actress myself, I always enjoy the opportunity
of meeting someone who’s made it to the”silver screen”!
The thought of leaving without a picture of all of us
with her made me NUTS, so we squeezed in behind her and
took the shot!
The evening came to an end at Mel’s Diner where we
enjoyed a long overdue dinner and good conversation.
Check out our Northern California Event Calendar on
our website for upcoming, FREE performances at Borders.
Quote for the month:
“Take a lesson from the hula dancer. Meet life with grace, and a
smile on your face, and move in harmony with those around you.”
(Jessica Lani Rich, KUMU radio)
HALAU 2008 PERFORMANCES
Save the Dates
2008 Performance Opportunities:
(as of March 3, 2008)
April 12 (Saturday), 7:30
N. CA. Paetenians Intl. Luau
The Banquet, Vallejo
By invitation only
April 12th & 19th (Saturday)
American Christian Talent Search Auditions
April 29th (Tuesday)
American Christian Talent Search Show. Information:
www.ByFaithProductions.net/coming_events.htm
April 18 (solo) & 19 (group) (Friday & Saturday)
Vacaville Fiesta Days Talent Show
www.solanocountypageants.com
April 19-20 & 26-27 (various times)
Dance Days Paramount’s Great America
www.PGAThrills.com
Status: Booked Sunday, 4/27, 5-5:15 p.m.
May 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Saturday)
Vacaville Cultural Diversity Fair
www.culturaldiversityfair.org
May 10-11, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Saturday & Sunday)
May Day Festival
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton
www.kumuhulaassociation.com
[email protected]
May 17th (Saturday)
“Stand and be Counted” Christian Music Festival &
Armed Forces Day; Andrew’s Park, VV.
This is a FREE event.
www.ByFaithProductions.net/coming_events.html
May 24 (Saturday)
Vacaville Fiesta Days Parade
www.fiestadays.com
May 24-26 (Saturday-Monday)
Vacaville Fiesta Days
www.fiestadays.com
July 9-13 (Wednesday-Saturday)
Solano County Fair
www.scfair.com
August 2-3 (Saturday-Sunday)
San Francisco Aloha Festival
www.pica-org.org
www.sanfranciscoalohafestival.org
[email protected]
August 15-September 1 (Friday-Monday, everyday)
California State Fair
Cal Expo, Sacramento
www.bigfun.org
August 16 & 17 (Saturday & Sunday)
Fairfield’s Tomato Festival & West Coast BBQ
Championship
Downtown Fairfield
www.fairfielddowntown.com
September
Vacaville Kid Fest
Andrews Park
www.vacavillekidfest.org
October
Celebration of Dance
Paramount’s Great America
www.PGAThrills.com
October 11 (Saturday)
Fairfield’s Candy Festival
Downtown Fairfield
www.fairfielddowntown.com
December
Vacaville’s Merriment on Main
Downtown Vacaville
www.vacavillechamber.com
December 5 (Friday)
Fairfield’s Holiday Night of Lights
Downtown Fairfield
www.fairfielddowntown.com
December
Discovery Kingdom
Vallejo, CA
www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom
UPCOMING HAWAIIAN EVENTS
March 27, 2008 (Thursday)
Cyril Pahinui and Patrick Landeza
Little Fox Theatre, 2209 Broadway, Redwood City: 8:00
pm
March 27, 2008 (Thursday) - March 28, 2008 (Friday)
Island Sol Productions presents “Island Irie Concert II”
Featuring Katchafire with Special Guest DJ Nappy
March 27 (Thursday) - DNA Lounge, 375 Eleventh
Street, San Francisco
10:00 pm
March 28 (Friday) - Avalon Nightclub, 777 Lawrence
Expressway, Santa Clara: 10:00 pm
April 13, 2008 (Sunday)
Schola Cantorum presents “Hawaiian Overtures”
With Hula Halau ‘O Pi‘ilani
Smithwick Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte
Road, Los Altos Hills: 4:00 pm
April 19, 2008 (Saturday)
Raiatea Helm
With Special Guests: Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakane
and Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu
Herbst Theatre, War Memorial Veterans Building, 401
Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco: 7:30 pm
April 27, 2008 (Sunday)
15th Annual ‘Ukulele Festival of Northern California
Hayward Adult School, 22100 Princeton Street, Hayward
10:30 am - 5:00 pm