Twenty women dressed in cinder red with underskirts of dark gray, the color of smoldering ash, paid homage to Pele, the volcano goddess, with a gift of dance on the rim of Halemaumau Crater. As one graceful, powerful body, they dipped, swayed, twirled and, it seemed, even breathed in perfect unison.

“;They looked like they had been pulled from the core of the earth,”; recalled Big Island artist Kathy Long. “;Their black hair was blown in the updrafts like steam rising. I was entranced!”;

Halau O Kekuhi's dramatic performance that summer day in 1983 was Long's introduction to hula kahiko (ancient hula). Since then, the hula has been the focal point of her stunning portraits, which have earned awards and accolades for their accuracy of expressions, gestures, costumes and adornments.

In May 2005, Long attended the World Expo in Nagoya as part of a Big Island Visitors Bureau contingent showcasing hula and its associated arts. During the six days they were there, they saw performances by about 75 halau (schools) from Japan, totaling some 6,000 dancers.

“;It was evident they felt an intense love and joy for the hula,”; said Long, “;but as the week went by, it also became clear that there was a need for stronger education foundation, particularly with the Hawaiian language.”;

The group came home, inspired to launch a new hula festival in Hawaii that emphasized education instead of entertainment, and that reached far beyond Hawaiian shores.

Halau from other countries would participate with halau from the islands in the competition segment of the festival, and celebrate the arts related to the dance—from language to instruments—at interactive workshops taught by cultural experts.

Students would demonstrate what they learned in a closing hoike (show). They would then take their newfound knowledge, skills and experiences home and share it with their community. In that way, the integrity of the hula and other cultural traditions would be preserved and perpetuated throughout the world.

Thus was born the Moku O Keawe International Festival. Spearheaded by the nonprofit Moku O Keawe Foundation, this year's third annual event is set for Nov. 6 to 9 at Waikoloa Beach Resort.

In keeping with its international framework, three halau from Japan will join six from Hawaii in the competition. In addition, halau from Finland and Taiwan will attend the workshops and perform in the hoike.

“;Globally, hula has become a phenomenon,”; said Long. “;There are hundreds of thousands of dancers in Japan. Mexico has hundreds of halau, as do Canada and the mainland. A major hula competition is held in Germany, with participants coming from Germany, Holland, Austria, France, Switzerland and Scandinavia. Hula has even spread to Taiwan, and a wonderful halau from Tahiti competed at Moku O Keawe last year.”;

Although she's not a dancer herself, Long recognizes the festival's importance.

“;Dancers from abroad come to Hawaii, where the hula was born, to mingle and learn with their local peers,”; she said. “;Many other places have sand and sunshine, but only Hawaii has Hawaiians. They've presented the world with the precious gift of the hula, and it's inspiring to see how the world has embraced that. Hula can be the bridge that connects nations.”;