Categorized | Entertainment, Hula

Moku O Keawe celebrates Hawaiian culture (Nov. 5-8)

Members of Hula Halau Kahula O Hawaii compete in the 2008 Moku O Keawe Hula Competition. (Photo courtesy of Mike Darden/Moku O Keawe Foundation)

Members of Hula Halau Kahula O Hawaii compete in the 2008 Moku O Keawe Hula Competition. (Photo courtesy of Mike Darden/Moku O Keawe Foundation)

MEDIA RELEASE

For the fourth year in a row, the Moku O Keawe International Festival presents an immersive celebration of hula and related arts at the Waikoloa Beach Resort.  The cultural and educational festival offers kamaaina, visitors and international participants four days of entertainment and experiences embracing Hawaii’s best-loved art form — in competition, concerts cultural workshops, artisan marketplace and hoike performances including a special appearance by Amy Hanaialii.

* Workshop schedule and instructors may change without further notice.

Aia La Olaa (Hula Auwana)

Instructor: Nalani Kanakaole

Class Date: Friday, Nov. 6; Class Time: 9 a.m. – noon

Description: The poetry describes love, the sensations felt in the moment, and how beautiful it is to be with the one you adore. This song, written by Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole, was first choreographed by his Aunty Nalani Kanakaole for a performance at the Moana Hotel on Waikiki Beach. The motions allude to the quivering with delight and being enraptured with the beauty of romance.

As the youngest daughter of Edith Kekuhikuhipuuoneonaliiokohala Kanakaole, Nalani continues to lead the Halau O Kekuhi. Rooted in tradition, their hula style is known as aihaa, a bombastic, bent-knee posturing that connects the energies of dancer and land through motion.

Bring a pau or a pareu. Participants are invited to showcase what they have learned at Sunday’s Hoike Program.

Workshop Price: $45

Aloha no O Waianae

Instructor: Howard Ai

Class Date: Saturday, Nov. 7; Class Time: 9 a.m. – noon

Description: The Ohana Ai have provided hundreds of keiki a strong foundation in hula and the pride in sharing the culture of the islands. Award-winning performances in both Merrie Monarch Festival and the Keiki Hula Competitions, their signature hula style continues to impact generations.

This song of the Waianae district was written by Abigail Pililaau for her cowboy husband. The words recall love for the area and the famous panini that grew on the hills and in the valley.

Bring a pau or a pareu. Participants are invited to showcase what they have learned at Sunday’s Hoike Program.

Workshop Price: $45

Huakai: Keauhou, North Kona District

Instructor: Keala Ching

Class Date: Saturday, Nov. 7; Class Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Description: Journey to the culturally significant grounds at Keauhou in Kona. This site was a favorite of King David Kalakaua as he spent much time here. The heiau of Hapai Alii have been restored allowing a view into how our ancestors watched time through these masterpieces of architecture. Stories of the district and how governance and the relationship to hula will be shared.

Kumu Keala Ching will teach the hula kahiko “Ponimoi O Kalakaua,” a chant he composed to honor King David Kalakaua and his many accomplishments for his people. Participants will also learn protocol as hookupu will be presented at Hapai Alii. Bring a pau or pareu. Participants are invited to showcase what they have learned at Sunday’s Hoike Program.

Workshop Price: $45 (Lunch is included).

Huakai: Mahaiula, North Kona District

Instructor: Kaleo Trinidad

Class Date: Saturday, Nov. 7; Class Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Description:  Celebrated in song and dance, this kipuka is considered a jewel.  One of the few white sand beaches on the Kona Coast, the bay was the former home of the Magoon ohana. Three generations of the family spent time at this special site in the shade of the palms, inviting friends and family to partake of the beauty.

Helen Desha Beamer wrote the song of Mahaiula, extolling the comforts of the home and all of offerings from the ocean and of distant lands. The imagery of the sea and the journey there make up this wonderful hula.

Award-winning Kumu hula Kaleo Trinidad will host this excursion and will teach the hula on the grounds at Mahaiula. Bring a pau or a pareu. Participants are invited to showcase what they have learned at Sunday’s Hoike Program.

Workshop Price: $45 (Lunch is included.)

Implement: Ohe Hanu Ihu (Bamboo Nose Flute)

Instructor: Kia Fronda

Class Date: Friday, Nov. 6; Class Time: 1 – 4 p.m.

Description: The long nodes of the Hawaiian bamboo make this variety valuable and especially desirable to make implements for hula. The ohe hanu ihu is a nose flute, oft times used in song and chant. The student will learn to prepare the bamboo prior to creating the instrument. A song will be taught and students will perform as a group at Sunday night’s Hoike Program.

Workshop Price: $30 (Kit fees included in workshop price)

Hana Ulana (Weaving Lauhala): Pale Workshop

Instructor: Aha Puhala O Puna

Class Date: Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8; Class Time: 9 a.m. – noon

Description: Selecting and gathering leaves from the puhala tree is the first step in weaving. As each leaf is cleaned, softened, and rolled into the kukaa, the process prepares the weaver to have the necessary basic ingredient for their hats, moena, or purses. In this workshop, the student will be taught how to gather and prepare the leaves. They will learn how to make a pale, the simple and very functional two-layered square protective piece that is the base that the ipu is played upon. The term “pale” mean to shield and may be used in a variety of ways.

This basic weaving workshop will encourage the dancer to make their implements and regalia. The workshop instills that craft and growth of spirituality is achieved through process.

Kit Fees: Included in the workshop price.

Workshop Price: $40.00

Implement: Uliuli (Gourd Rattles)

Instructor: Kika Nohara

Class Dates: Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7; Class Times: 1-4 p.m.

The uliuli is a hula dancer’s implement that provides syncopation. The rhythmic sounds add to the mele’s presentation. Made from a tree gourd, the student will prepare and clean the gourd, process and add stripped leaves from the puhala tree, and fashion a traditional uliuli for dancing.

Friday’s lesson will be to make uliuli. Saturday will focus on a hula auwana that will be taught using the uliuli. Bring a pau or a pareu. Participants are invited to showcase what they have learned at Sunday’s Hoike Program.

Kit Fees: $25 + Workshop Price: $40. Total Workshop Price: $65

The festival is sponsored by the Moku O Keawe Foundation. As a private non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing, enriching and educating the practice and development of hula and its associated arts, its focus is to build, strengthen and inspire the living cultural traditions of Hawaii.

Major supporters of the Moku O Keawe International Festival include Hawaii Tourism Authority, Waikoloa Beach Resort, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Big Island Candies, Queens’ MarketPlace, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, ResortQuest, Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Sig Zane Designs, Kathy Long, Sushi Shiono, Big Island Visitors Bureau, Pacific Radio Group (KAPA), Kintetsu International Hawaii, Waimea Music Center, Kona Deep, Bausch & Lomb-Japan and KWXX.

For information and tickets to events, e-mail infor@mokif.com or visit www.mokif.com

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