By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Kumu hula Shirley Recca is training daughter
Delys, above, for the keiki hula competition this week.
Hula in the family
Mom and daughter
By Kekoa Catherine Enomoto
get ready for the keiki
competition
Star-BulletinDelys Hulalimaikalanimai Recca has hula blood dancing in her veins.
Among earlier Hawaiians, some were recognized -- like the late 'Iolani Luahine -- as born dancers. These individuals were placed in a halau for extended training in hula, which was considered sacred.
Similarly, Shirley Ann Theresa Kanemura Namakahulali Recca was a chosen one, and the 32-year hula soloist has formed Halau Hula 'O Namakahulali to train her daughter. In the Miss Keiki Hula contest of the 23rd annual Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition, viewers can see if Delys Recca inherited her mother's spirit of dance.
"I think she has," said kumu hula Shirley Recca, who brings to the event eight girls ages 8 to 12. "She has a definite spirit, I know I have it. She's so receptive, she loves her hula. I take her with me to see these wonderful resources (teachers). She's really maka'ala (alert)."
Delys Recca started dancing at age 5-1/2 with Halau Hula Olana. Four years ago Shirley Recca started a halau to pass along her own signature way of dancing, which she describes as highly stylized, very flowing and showy.
"I feel gifted in dance. It's led me to where I am today," said Recca, whose name Namakahulali means "sparkling eyes." Indeed, her eyes are limpid spheres, her hands liquid grace.
The animated kumu was moved from gratitude to tears, yelps and a myriad facial expressions as she recounted halau happenstance en route to the contest.
Her mentor Sam Bernard was inspired to compose a short mele inoa (name song), which they will perform as a ka'i, or entrance mele.
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Kumu hula Shirley Recca and daughter Delys.
Recca's sister, expert Hawaiian quilter Pua Van Dorpe, created gray and yellow kapa-print pa'u (skirts) for the dancers, and red and black kihei (capes) for the ho'opa'a (drummer/chanters).Big Isle lei maker Barbara Meheula is fashioning leis of orange, red, pink and yellow ohelo berries along with other greenery.
Of course, there is the singing of her husband -- entertainer, recording artist and actor Joe Recca ("My husband is not just a baritone; wait till you hear him sing falsetto, very 'ono") and most importantly, there is daughter Delys' desire.
Twelve-year-old Delys said, "I always ask my mom if I can be in it, but she kept on telling me, 'Practice your hardest.'
"I watched every girl on that stage and I envied them so much, because they looked like they were proud of themselves to be there and have fun and try their best."
The Kamehameha Schools 7th-grader recalled a performance by 1995 Miss Keiki Hula, Punihei Anthony-Kame'eleihiwa of Kawaili'ula Hula Halau.
"She spoke pure Hawaiian and she did this hula about Kai'ulani going horseback riding. That was my favorite because her movement was so perfect -- the swing of her hips and her hands and her feeling.
"I asked her after how did she get to win and how did she get good at hula. She said, 'I practiced my hardest.' That's why I'm listening to my mom."
Delys will perform "Kinue."
"I'm taking the audience on a jeep ride all the way to Pauahi, high up in the (Kona) mountains. I'm dancing and driving. I welcome all my friends to have fun in the uplands, to sing and dance and eat and just have fun at a housewarming party.
"I feel very proud," she concluded. "First of all for my mom, because at first she wasn't going to make a halau and she really wanted one; and second for the halau. I want people to know we're not just a new halau starting out. We try just as hard as them."
For Delys and her halau sisters, hula blood is thicker than water.
"They try their hardest in every movement -- and we all work together as an 'ohana."
Kids take the stage
What: 23rd Annual Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition
