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Obstacles were seen as a test
Mattos' wait paid off
for resilient Texas halau
Results By Tim Ryan
Star-BulletinHILO -- It began with tears of sadness, it ended with tears of joy. A Texas halau confronted, it seemed, on every step of its journey to the 37th annual Merrie Monarch Festival, major obstacles including the tragic death of a dancer's husband on the last day of competition Saturday.
Almost a dozen hours after that death kumu hula Paleka Leina'ala Mattos, leader of Hula Halau 'O Kamuela of Waimanalo/Kalihi, stood near center stage at the Edith Kanakaole Stadium with co-kumu Kunewa Mook, tears glistening on her cheeks, as she accepted the Lokalia Montgomery perpetual trophy for the best overall performance from this weeklong Olympics of hula.
Beyond trophies and titles, participants agreed that Merrie Monarch is less about competition than about the aloha spirit, love of hula and an affirmation of what is Hawaiian.That certainly was the statement shown right after a teary-eyed kumu hula Keli'i Chang of the Texas-based Halau Ho'ola Ka Mano 'O Hawaii opened Saturday's program with the announcement that the evening's performance was dedicated to dancer Pixie Allison, a three-year halau member whose 54-year-old husband died that day snorkeling at Kehena Beach in Puna.
The widow did not perform but remained at Hilo Hospital with her two sons and daughter. The halau did not fill her place on stage but kept it
open because she deserved it, members said.
Backstage throughout the evening, the halau members collected about $2,000 in donations for the deceased man's family.The Texas halau almost didn't get to Hawaii after a member stole its travel funds.
"We cried together, we sobbed together, we prayed together," Chang said. "We prayed for the family and we prayed for ourselves. We did this for Pixie and her family."
The halau learned a life lesson, Chang said.
"No matter what obstacles come your way, when you believe in the heavenly father you understand that all this is a test of endurance and aloha," he said. "We don't just preach aloha we try to live it."
Kumu hula Leina‘ala
By Tim Ryan
Mattos’ 22-year wait
to perform uncle’s
song paid off
Star-BulletinHULA Halau 'O Kamuela held on to its overall wahine title by four points, stopping William Sonny Ching's Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahula from reclaiming the title it lost last year to Paleka Leina'ala Mattos and Kunewa Mook's halau,
Although Ching's halau won three first places for wahine kahiko, kane 'auana and
kane overall, his wahine finished in fifth place in the 'auana event. Hula Halau 'O Kamuela grabbed top honors in the category, and seven points more than Ching's score, though tying for first with Keolalaulani 'Olapa 'O Laka.
The 30-member Mattos/Mook halau, dressed in dazzling yellow, put on a breathtaking, perfectly synchronized and spirited performance, with dozens of sharps twists and turns and line transitions.
The song to which they performed, "Kaulana 'O Waimanalo," described the mountains and the sea that surrounds Rabbit Island and the day-to-day events there as written by Mattos' uncle Sam Naeole.Mattos said her winning formula the last two years in the 'auana division has been to remain true and knowledgeable about "my Hawaiian culture."
"You cannot compromise this in any way," Mattos said. "You must not only know the words of the chants but you must believe them, understand their history, know your alii. Remember, the judges know all these chants very well.
"I've been wanting to (perform) this song to dance for 22 years and, finally, tonight I did and we share this award with my uncle," Mattos said.
In contrast to "Kamuela's" choreography, Ching took a more conservative, less athletic approach with his 31 women in the modern hula competition.
Dancing to the John K. Almeida love song "Ku'uipo Pua Rose," the dancers wore long, red velvet gowns, forming a colorful triangle on stage. Much of their dance involved standing in place while focusing on hand, arm and hip movements in a subtle routine.
This was not the case for Ching's kane 'auana dancers Saturday. The men finished 12 points ahead of the second-place finisher. The dozen dancers in their chant "Pau Iki Pau Nui" praised the victory and skills of Kamalama, who was killed by Kauahola, his childhood companion.
Aloha Dalire's Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa 'O Laka
perform the wahine 'auana portion of the competition.
They tied for first with 609 points, but took second
in the tie breaker score.
The three lines of four dancers seemed joined at the hip, as hip movements, and foot stomping demonstrated not only the evocative message of "Pau Iki Pau Nui," but their obvious skill and love for the 'auana form. Ching's kane took a second place Friday in the kahiko, or ancient hula, segment of the competition.Hilo's Ray Fonseca's Halau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani put on stellar performances
throughout the competitions, with many in the crowd believing the troupe should have placed higher.
The halau finished third in the wahine 'auana and wahine overall divisions; his men finished third in the kane kahiko and fourth in the kane 'auana divisions and third overall in the kane division.
Ching, a legend at Merrie Monarch, was elated with his halau's performance. "I never choreograph for the judges because you never know what each of them are really, really looking for," Ching said. "I choreograph for the chant, in a matter that brings the mele to life.
"The importance of performing at Merrie Monarch is in the journey, not in any awards. You are only on stage for 7 minutes so the lessons you learn about yourself and your culture comes from all the preparation before you get here."
Ching said he will not compete in the next two Merrie Monarch festivals because he needs a break. The kumu hula also took a break in 1997. However, Ching is taking the halau -- more than 60 dancers -- on a mainland tour that includes a June 3 kahiko and 'auana performance at New York's Carnegie Hall.
Here are the Merrie Monarch Festival 2000 final results Results
Overall winner
Hula Halau 'O Kamuela (kumu hula Paleka Leina'ala Mattos/ Kunewa Mook), 1,211 points
Wahine -- overall
1. Hula Halau O Kamuela (Mattos/Mook), 1,211
2. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'unahulu (William Sonny Ching), 1,207
3. Halau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani (Ray Fonseca), 1,202
Wahine -- Kahiko
1. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'unahulu (Ching), 605
2. Hula Halau 'O Kamuela (Mattos/Mook), 602
3. Halau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani (Fonseca), 594
4. Halau Hula 'O Hokulani (Hokulani De Rego), 594
5. Halau Mohala 'Ilima (Mapuana de Silva), 585
Wahine -- 'Auana
1. Hula Halau 'O Kamuela (Mattos/Mook), 609
2. Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa 'O Laka (Aloha Dalire) 609
3. Halau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani (Fonseca), 608
4. Halau Hula Olana (Howard & Olana Ai), 605
5. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'unahulu (Ching), 602
Kane -- Overall
1. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'unahulu (Ching), 1,209
2. Ke Kai 'O Kahiki (O'Brian Eselu) 1,206
3. Halau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani (Fonseca), 1,158
Kane -- Kahiko
1. Ke Kai 'O Kahiki (Eselu), 602
2. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'unahulu (Ching), 593
3. Halau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani (Fonseca), 575
4. Halau O Na Pua Kukui (Ed Collier), 562
Kane -- 'Auana
1. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'unahulu (Ching), 616
2. Ke Kai 'O Kahiki (Eselu), 604
3. Halau 'O Na Pua Kukui (Collier), 583
4. Halau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani (Ching), 583
Miss Aloha Hula
Winner: Tehani Kealamailani Gonzado; Hula Halau 'O Kamuela (Mattos/Mook); songs, "Ka 'Uwepa Ki'ani," "Ku'u Ipo I Ka He'e Pue One."First runner-up: Lauren Leialoha Kana'e; Halau Hula Olana (Howard and Olana Ai); songs, "He Inoa Lei No Kapi'olani" and "Na Pua Lei 'Ilima."
Second runner-up: Ali'imanukai Kanei; Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka (Aloha Dalire); songs, "He Inoa No Likelike," "Ka Pilina."
Third runner-up: Erica Lauren Duran; Ke Kai 'O Kahiki (Eselu); songs, "E Ho'i Kealoha I Ni'ihau," "Nani Venuse."
Fourth runner-up: Vonn Hanaloia Gerona; Halau Hula 'O Kawaili'ula (Chinky Mahoe); songs, "He Mele Keia No Haumea," "Kalena."
Language award: Lauren Leialoha Kana'e
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