By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Japan dancers with Hula Hui O Kamalei took first place
in the Kupuna Wahine 'Auana division, for their comic dance.
Halau from across the sea
By Catherine Kekoa Enomoto
make an impression at the
Kamehameha hula fest
Star-BulletinYou blinked Saturday and thought you went to Japanese hula heaven. You saw Japan dancers with turquoise-blue, velvet gowns and flower headpieces similar to those worn in past performances by Kalihi's Halau Hula O Kamuela. They displayed the same subtly graceful style, the same demure, virginal aura. Their long hair was even curled at the ends in the same way.
Clones -- the idea flashed through your mind.
It was the Japanese appropriation of Hawaiian culture -- as manifest at this weekend's 24th annual King Kamehameha Hula Competition at Blaisdell Arena.
"We probably will come under heavy criticism for having Japanese representation," said Keahi Allen, executive director of the State Council on Hawaiian Heritage, which hosts the competition. "But I look at it this way: Hula lives around the world, and if we've got other people from other countries who respect it, and want to learn it, and they're hungry for it, it'll just make it live more.
"They're not just learning by rote and they're not learning by videotape; they're actually bringing people over to teach them," she said. "They're not just learning the motions, but they're learning the in-depth interpretation of the songs. And look at them, they're chanting in Hawaiian. You may get that accent in there, but so what?
"And for them to place twice -- first-time entry and they place twice? Yeah, it's too much. It was beautiful."
It was slightly shocking, as well.
Paleka Leina'ala Mattos, kumu hula of Hula Halau O Kamuela, has been affiliated for five years with kumu hula Lehua Tomoko of Tokyo's Hula Halau O Kaleilehua. The Mattos-influenced halau, a first-time competitor at the Kamehameha contest, placed fourth in hula 'auana (modern) and fifth in hula kahiko (traditional).
Other big winners: A halau led by Keali'i Reichel captured six awards, including both coed crowns and three language-related awards. Also, Victoria Holt Takamine's language teacher-studded halau garnered five awards, including both top language honors.
More remarkably, Japan dancers swept the Top 2 places in the kupuna (elders) 'auana division. Kumu hula Kamalei Sataraka, with nearly 500 Japan students, placed first with a show-stopping comic performance, and kumu hula Aloha Dalire, with 250 Japan dancers, placed second.
Dalire's Nagoya and Tokyo students follow alaka'i (leader) Sawako Maka'alohilohi Yamasaki.
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Halau Hula O Kaleilehua of Tokyo, aided by Hawaii's
Paleka Leina'ala Mattos, placed fifth for Female Kahiko,
paying homage to Pele in "Kilauea."
"I don't feel bad in saying, yes, that it makes good money for me, because I'm sharing with them totally, the same way I share with my students here," Dalire said. "I'm committed to teaching them and making sure that they learn it properly, because it's going to carry my name."Said Mattos, "They love hula and they're going to do it whether I'm there or not. So teach them the correct way, so when they come back here and they dance, it's not embarrassing."
Tomoko teaches 600 students in Tokyo and Osaka. Her full name is Tomoko Kaleilehua Nawa and she graduated as a kumu hula in 1980 under Louise and Luka Kaleiki of 'Ilima Hula Studio, a 1973-76 Merrie Monarch champion.
Tomoko said placing in her first Hawaii competition was "so exciting and (we're only) novice. I'm very glad to dance with Hawaiian native people."
The Japanese have come to love hula, she said. The dances "have heart in the motion, in the meaning. We feel the warm heart -- how you say, aloha. We like the pretty flowers and everything."
Dalire said her kupuna were also thrilled with the accouterments of hula: "We had shoes dyed for them and they had velvet dresses with lace. And they were so tickled at the flowers that were put on their hair. They even wore real mokihana with maile -- they had the true thing. They felt so elegant and they were just so happy. When they came offstage, they were all crying. I told them, 'Oh, your eyelashes are going to come off,' " Dalire laughed.
Blink again and you may really get to Japanese hula heaven. Takamine said Merrie Monarch officials are helping to organize a hula festival Aug. 26 to 31 in Ikaho, Japan. Takamine joins na kumu hula Cy Bridges and Noenoelani Zuttermeister as judges. The event offers workshops and Dalire is bringing 15 Hawaii dancers for exhibitions.
King Kamehameha
Hula Competition winnersState Council on Hawaiian Heritage Order of Distinction award: Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation.
HULA KAHIKO (traditional)
HULA 'AUANA (modern)
Winning moments
By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Halau Hula O Ka Makani Wili Makaha O Kaua'ula won
first place in both coed competitions -- 'auana, left, and kahiko.
By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Rebecca Sanborn, holding the first-place trophy for the
chant competition, celebrates with Rachele Lee.
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Hula Halau O Kamuela, above, won the
women's kahiko competition.
By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Keali'i Reichel's halau celebrates
a double win in the coed categories.
