The King’s Hula

TV coverage or
no TV coverage, the
dance goes on

By Kekoa Catherine Enomoto
Star-Bulletin

On its 25th birthday, the pretty hula maiden in the big city is hosting a party with no cake -- read: television coverage.

While its country cousin -- the Merrie Monarch hula competition in Hilo -- enjoys turn-away crowds and statewide live TV coverage, this weekend's King Kamehameha Hula Competition is a forlorn relative, feeling orphaned at the gate.

The two-day Kamehameha contest begins tomorrow at Blaisdell Arena and winds up Saturday with awards, including Order of Distinction honors to two surprise recipients.

KGMB general manager Ray Depa indicated that KGMB needed $90,000 to $100,000 in advertising to support TV coverage of the two-day contest.

"We had a difficult time, obviously, getting it underwritten. We lost a considerable sum of money on the production last year," said Depa, whose station has televised the contest for the past four years. "When you factor in the production costs alone -- the crew, equipment and lighting exceeded $60,000."

He added that CBS "frowns on our preempting network programming" with locally produced shows.

Keahi Allen, executive director of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission, said she is negotiating with two other stations to televise next year's event.

Highlights of the silver anniversary competition are 75 performances by 20 halau, including representatives of Texas, Tokyo and San Carlos, Calif.; nine chant contestants; and the competitive debut of kumu hula Makalapua Bernard, who took over Halau Hula O Mililani after kumu hula Mililani Allen's death in March.

King Kamehameha Hula Competition Time: 6 to 10:30 p.m. tomorrow and 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday Place: Blaisdell Arena Tickets: $8.25 to $20, at Blaisdell box office (591-2211) and Connection (545-4000) outlets Call: 586-0333 The King Kamehameha Hula Competition runs 6 to 10:30 p.m. tomorrow and 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, at the Blaisdell Arena. The event will not be televised. These halau, listed with their kumu hula, will compete: Halau Ho'ola A Me Ho'oulu Ka Mana'o Hawai'i: Keli'i Chang (Dallas) Halau Hula O Kamakani Wili Makaha O Kaua'ula: Keali'i Reichel (chanters only; Wailuku, Maui) Halau Hula O Mililani: Makalapua Bernard (Waianae) Halau Ka Waikahe Lani Malie, and Halau Kahulaiwi: Blaine Kia (Kailua, Oahu) Halau Ke Kapa Maile: Randol Ngum (Kailua, Oahu) Halau Mehana O Ka La: Ku'uleinani Hashimoto (Tokyo) Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu: Sonny Ching Hula Halau O Kamuela: Paleka Leina'ala Mattos Hula Halau O Pi'ilani: Linda Danek and Toni Densing (San Carlos, Calif.) Hula Hui O Kamalei: Kamalei Sataraka Joan Lindsey Hula Studio: Joan Lindsey (Pearl City) Ka Pa Ho'oheno Hawai'i: Keith Kalani Akana Ka Pa Lehua: Lehua Hulihe'e and Doreen Doo Kapomakole Kapuakane: Kekaimoku Yoshikawa Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka: Aloha Dalire (Kaneohe) Lehua Dance Company O Wai'anae: Kaulana Kasparovitch (Waianae) Mele 'Ohana: Anthony Tauvela (Tokyo) Na 'Opio O Ko'olau: James and Michael Dela Cruz Na Pualei O Likolehua: Leina'ala Kalama Heine Naipo Na Mea Hula: Leina'ala Akamine