By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Kaleonani Kia, left, and Kuuleialoha Chun, of the
Ladies of Ka Waikahe Lani Malie, perform aboard the
U.S.S. Independence. Kumu hula Blaine Kia plays for
them. His halau is among local groups performing
in the cruise series.

Oceans of Aloha

The luxury of a cruise
combined with a hearty dose
of Hawaiiana

By Catherine Kekoa Enomoto
Star-Bulletin

YOU still have time to enjoy tomorrow's downtown Ho'olaule'a and Saturday's Aloha Festivals floral parade before embarking on a weeklong Aloha Festivals cruise.

Then, it's seven days of nonstop eating, concerts, classes, activities and island hopping aboard a 900-passenger oceangoing vessel, the U.S.S. Independence.

A five-week series of American Hawaii Cruises' award-winning Hawaiian Heritage Programs is part of the monthlong Aloha Festivals on all islands.

Each cruise honors an island -- Oahu from Saturday to Sept. 20; Big Island Sept. 20 to 27; Molokai Sept. 27 to Oct. 4; Maui Oct. 4 to 11; and Kauai Oct. 11 to 18.

"The experience is a very unique one because we have an opportunity -- with my haumana, my students -- to share our heritage with tourists and passengers," said Blaine Kia, a kumu hula, recording artist, actor and songwriter featured during the Oct. 4 to 11 cruise.

Kia, who studied eight years with the late kumu hula Darrell Lupenui, is one of more than 150 cultural, musical and fine artists showcased during the cruise series. He will bring 18 of his 130 students from Oahu and Kauai. They'll give eight performances and open up rehearsals so guests can learn dances.

By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin

Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia
“The experience is a very unique one
because we have an opportunity to share
our heritage with tourists
and passengers.”

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"There will be a ho'ike where guests will share what they learn; so it's very hands-on," said Kia, 34, whose dancers perform poolside at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. "Guests can not only hear it orally, but also feel it physically. In this perspective, we give them some mana'o (thoughts) and stories, and we give them a handout."

Award-winning Na Leo Pilimehana (sail date Sept. 27) highlights another cruise, as well as kiho'alu artist Keola Beamer and kumu hula/storyteller Nona Beamer (Sept. 20); and Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu with kumu hula Sonny Ching (Sept. 27).

Other artists include Pandanus Club (Saturday), author/storyteller James Grant Benton (Oct. 4), feather-lei artisan Paulette Kahalepuna (Oct. 4), and watercolorist Peggy Chun (Sept. 20, Oct. 4).

Ongoing programs throughout the five-week period include Hawaii International Film Festival movies, and printmaker Lynn Cook leading authentic-petroglyph rubbing workshops.

Bookings start at $1,023 per person for seven days, including all shows, workshops, meals and nonalcoholic beverages. The Oct. 11 to 18 cruise is sold out. Partial three- and four-day cruises are also available.

Land lubbers can share in the experience through a $25 pupu buffet, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sert. 20, while the ship is docked at Honolulu Harbor. Entertainment features Halau Kekapa Maile, under the direction of kumu hula Randol Ngum, and the ship's Halau Hula Moku O Ke Kai.

Similar buffets will be held on the neighbor islands.

Aloha Festivals cruise series

Seven-day cruises featuring Na Leo Pilimehana, Keola and Nona Beamer, Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu, and others:

Aboard: U.S.S. Independence
Sail dates: Saturday; Sept. 20; Sept. 27; Oct. 4.
Cost: $1,023 to $1,128 per kama'aina
Reservations: (800) 765-7000
Dockside pupu buffets with entertainment: 11:30 a.m. Sept. 20 at Honolulu Harbor, Sept. 25 at Hilo Harbor, Oct. 7 at Kahului Harbor, Oct. 13 at Nawiliwili Harbor. Tickets $25, benefiting Aloha Festivals on the respective islands. Call 545-1771 on Oahu

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Aloha Festivals
1997 lineup

SEPT. 12

Opening ceremonies: Traditional hula and chants, introduction of Royal Court, 5:30 p.m. Iolani Palace.

Downtown Ho'olaule'a: 6-10 p.m. These streets will be closed: Bishop between Beretania and Nimitz Highway (Bishop and King streets remain open), Hotel and Merchant between Bethel and Alakea, and Queen between Fort and Alakea.

Aloha Tower Ho'olaule'a: Performances by Ben Vegas, 6:30-6:50 p.m.; O'Brien Eselu and Na Wai 'Eha O Puna, 7-7:35 p.m.; Darlene Ahuna, 7:45-8:20 p.m.; Ho'okena and Ka Pa Hula O Kauanoe, 8:30-9:05 p.m.; Darren Benitez, 9:15-9:55 p.m.

Windward Mall: Begins daily halau performances. Activities include ho'olaule'a, coconut-frond weaving, lei making, lauhala weaving, Hawaiian quilting.

SEPT. 13

Floral parade: Ala Moana Beach Park to Waikiki Shell, along Ala Moana, Kalakaua and Monsarrat avenues, 9:10 a.m.

Steel guitar week: Jerry Byrd, Sept. 13, 5 p.m., Halekulani Hotel.

Waianae Mall: Hawaiian crafts, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; "Da Car Show'97 Preview," 10 a.m.-2 p.m. next to Bank of America; performances by Holy Hills of Zion choir, 10 a.m.; Hula Halau Na Mamo'oka'ala, 11 a.m.; Kanilau, noon; Kawika Kahiapo, 1 p.m. "Aloha Week Prize Basket" giveaway prize awarded on Sept. 13.

SEPT. 14

Animal Planet Ohana Day: entertainment, food, crafts, educational displays, more, noon-4:30 p.m., Honolulu Zoo.

Makakilo Community Association's Ho'olaule'a: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Kapolei Regional Park. Nanakuli Sons, Paradise Cove Polynesian Revue, Na Leo Pilimehana, Ledward Ka'apana. Petting zoo, bone-marrow drive.

Steel guitar week: Jam session with John Ely, Hanalei deWilligen, Casey Olsen and Alan, 5-8:30 p.m., Halekulani Hotel.

SEPT. 15

Steel guitar week: Hanalei deWilligen, 5-8:30 p.m., Halekulani Hotel.

SEPT. 16

Kapolei welcomes Royal Court: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Campbell Square Courtyard. Hawaiian demonstrations, entertainment, food booths.

Steel guitar week: Hanalei deWilligen, 5-8:30 p.m., Halekulani.

SEPT. 17

Made in Hawaii Aloha Dinner and Fashion Show: 5:30-9 p.m., Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Information, 455-1489.

Steel guitar week: B.B. Shawn and Bobby Ingano, 5-8:30 p.m., Halekulani Hotel.

SEPT. 18

Salute to Hawaii: 7:30 p.m., Hawaii Theatre. Greatlanders Showband from Elmendorf Air Force Base (Alaska) and Hawaii's Pacific Vision. For free tickets, send stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Aloha Festivals, Salute to Hawaii Concert, P.O. Box 15945, Honolulu 96830-5945; or call 528-0506. Limit four tickets.

Steel guitar week: John Ely, Sept. 18, 5-8:30 p.m., Halekulani Hotel.

SEPT. 19

Waikiki Ho'olaule'a: 7-10:30 p.m., Kalakaua Avenue.

Made With Aloha Festival: 5-10 p.m., Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Free product sampling.

Steel guitar week: Superteens Al Greene Jr., Kona Lau and Benjamin Cheney, 5-8:30 p.m., Halekulani Hotel.

SEPT. 20

A Day at Queen Emma's Summer Palace: Music, hula, food, crafts, silent auction, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Information, 595-6291.

Pearlridge Aloha Festivals Ohana Day: Royal court, 11 a.m. Uptown. Hula Halau Waimakanamakamae, 11:15 a.m., Uptown; Royal Hawaiian Band, noon, Uptown; Leon and Malia, 12:30 p.m., Downtown; Pua Kapele Hula Halau, 1:30 p.m., Downtown; Nanea, 2:30 p.m., Uptown; Hokupa'a, 3:30 p.m., Downtown; Kawika Kahiapo, 4:30 p.m., Uptown; and Na Leo Pilimehana, 7-7:30 p.m., Downtown, with an autograph session to follow at Sam Goody. Also: flower arranging, lei making, pa'u wrapping demonstrations, crafts.

Windward Mall: Jonny Kamai, noon-1 p.m.

Steel guitar week: Jerry Byrd, 5-8:30 p.m., Halekulani Hotel.

SEPT. 21

Bankoh Fun Day and Na Wahine O Hawaii: Kama'aina visit Bishop Museum free; discount admission for malihinis. Games, entertainment, food, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

HOT LIX Hawaiian Style: Steel guitar and slack-key jam session with Bobby Ingano, George Kuo, Dennis Kamakahi, Al Greene Jr., B.B. Shawn, Imua Garza and "Superteens," noon-2 p.m., Ala Moana Center Stage.

SEPT. 27

Alu Like Ho'olaule'a: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Kawaiaha'o Plaza, followed by concert at 5 p.m. with Aunty Genoa Keawe, Olomana. Concert cost: $15. Information, 521-7707.

SEPT. 28

Benefit fashion show-luncheon: For Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Hawaii Prince Hotel. Tickets: $45, call Annie Yonashiro at 524-1301.

Aloha Festivals
Oahu ribbon outlets

Aloha Surf Hotel BHP Gas Express Bishop Museum Diamond Head Theatre First Hawaiian Bank (kiosk sales) Hawaiian Airlines, ticket offices Hilton Hawaiian Village Honolulu Cellular stores House of Music, Ala Moana Hyatt Regency Waikiki Mission Houses Museum Nake'u Awai Designs

Oceanic Cable, Mililani Tech Park Pacific Beach Hotel Pearlridge Shopping Center Polynesian Plaza Royal Garden Hotel Safeway stores Star Markets Times Super Market Tower Records United Airlines, ticket offices Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel Waikiki Parc Hotel Walmart