Whatever
Happened...
Question: What ever happened to the hula dancers in that minute-long trailer that has played before every movie in Consolidated Theatres' venues for the past decade or so? Big-screen hula
dancers faring well
By Gordon Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comAnswer: All six of the dancers are doing well, according to Mountain Apple Records founder Jon DeMello, who wrote the music and helped come up with the concept for the trailer to commemorate Consolidated's 75th year in Hawaii in 1992.
The dancers worked with DeMello as either dancers for the Brothers Cazimero, Leinaala Kalama Heine or other Mountain Apple artists.
In alphabetical order:
>> Jackie Booth is a flight attendant for Aloha Airlines, has four children and lives on the Windward side.
>> Michael Lanakila Casupung teaches hula at Mid-Pacific Institute. He is also a kumu hula, along with Karl Veto Baker, of Halau I Ka Wekiu, whose women debuted at Merrie Monarch last year and whose men will do the same this year.
>> Keola Kamahele lives in Salt Lake City with his wife and two children. He works for a mortgage company.
>> Reggie Keaunui works in developing the progress of Polynesian voyaging canoes and traveled with the Hokule'a on a recent journey. He also coaches youth divisions in outrigger canoe paddling.
>> Healii Kihune is married and works for Sandwich Isles Communications, a company that services Hawaiian homestead customers.
>> Arletta Soon is married, has three children and teaches Hawaiian language and culture to elementary school students at Kamehameha Schools. She is also studying for a master's degree in teaching.
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