DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The kane from Johnny Lum Ho's Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua perform "Ka Rodeo 'O Waimea" during the hula 'auana portion of the 40th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival. The halau took both the Kane 'Auana and Kane Overall titles. It was the most successful festival yet for Hilo's rebellious and innovative Ho.
The annual hula fest pays tribute
to both tradition and surpriseMerrie Monarch Scorecard
HILO >> Respect for tradition, preservation of culture, surprises in costuming, routines and awards -- and a bit of sadness for missing legends -- marked one of the most exciting Merrie Monarch Festival in years of world-class hula for halaus and lovers of the revered Hawaiian dance.
Much anticipation greeted performances by all-time festival award winner Hula Halau 'O Kamuela under its new -- and young -- kumu hula, Kau'i Kamana'o. The 25-year-old took over leadership of the halau last year when legendary kumu hula Paleka Mattos died of an apparent heart attack.
Other major festival award winners, William "Sonny" Kahakuleilehua Haunu'u Ching and the men and women of his Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu, were returning after a two-year absence and were always a threat to sweep.
Then there was the beloved rebel and tradition-bender, Hilo's Johnny Lum Ho, and his Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua, who traditionally brings theatrics and a touch of Hollywood to his routines, be it in the sacred ancient dances of the kahiko or in the modern, go-for-broke routines of the 'auana.
Not to be discounted was another Hilo kumu hula, Ray Fonseca, whose Halau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani combines ingenuity and creativity year after year with equal parts dignity and cultural respect. In the judges' eyes these performances, both entertaining and educational, maintain the guidelines of Hawaiian tradition.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hula Halau 'O Kamuela, above, paid tribute to the rains of Papakolea in the 'auana competition, wearing their signature plumeria leis around heads, necks, wrists and ankles. The halau won all the wahine categories and the overall trophy.
In the final tally, Kamuela won four awards, all firsts; Lum took six, including two firsts and a second; Ching had five, including four second-place finishes; and Chinky Mahoe's Halau Hula 'O Kawaili'ula won three awards, including two third-place finishes. Ching, who limped through the festival after breaking his leg in a volleyball game, may be the festival's most heartbroken placer. His halau came in second by a single point in both Wahine Kahiko and Kane Overall competitions, otherwise he would have been in definite contention for the coveted title of overall winner. Ching could take solace in that his dancer Jennifer Oyama won the prestigious Miss Aloha Hula event.
If there was a disappointment in the festival, it was the single award for Fonseca, a third-place finish in Wahine Kahiko.
Under the leadership of the late Mattos, the 20-year-old wahine halau Kamuela swept the last two competitions as best in kahiko, 'auana and wahine overall, and taking the festival's overall trophy. The halau also won several other top awards in previous years.
Kamuela was the final performer in Saturday's competition and didn't disappoint. In traditional yellow plumeria leis and split ti-leaf skirts, the wahine offered flawless synchronized playing of their kupe'e, or wrist instruments. The 29 women performed a mele and dance written and choreographed by Mattos that was part Kodak Hula Show, part Hawaiian warrior-stomping and all precision, with no dancer missing a beat despite the crowded stage and the complexity of the maneuvers.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
"Sonny" Ching's Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu, right, performs "Kunihi Ka'ena" -- about the sunlight striking Ka'ena ridge -- in the kahiko competition. The halau tied for first place in this category, second in 'auana and second in Kane Overall.
It was a routine Mattos used at the 1984 Merrie Monarch Festival.
"All I wanted for the halau to do tonight was to show what Paleka left to us," an emotional Kamana'o said after the awards ceremony. "Competition this year was amazing, so good, and I told the girls before they went out to do the best that you can and Auntie will always be there with you.
"I knew this performance was amazing. Everything just fell into place. Auntie was here for us."
The flamboyant Ho is the bad boy of hula with his daring innovations, almost thumbing his nose at hula's rules. Most years, the seven judges have passed him over for more traditional interpretations. But this time, Ho took home more awards than at any previous Merrie Monarch.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu perform the hula kahiko "Lale Ana 'O Ka'ena." Like the men of "Sonny" Ching's halau, the women offered a tribute to Oahu's Ka'ena point, comparing it to a seabird in flight.
His kane's rambunctious "Ka Rodeo 'O Waimea," an ode to the beauty of the Big Island's Waimea, brought many spectators to their feet and even drew a few "giddyups."
Wearing blue palaka shirts and bluejeans covered by bleached haylike skirts, the nine men took the audience through bronco rides, cow roping and bull dodging in the most energetic and fun routine of the festival. His reward was first place in Kane Overall.
"I cannot think about the judges when I am creating a dance or mele because that spoils all creativity, and I am a creative person," he said. "I always, like, hope (the judges) can look below the surface of what they may consider inappropriate to appreciate the dance, the delicateness, playfulness -- yes, respect too, yeah.
"The people always like me and there's more of them."
This year's costumes were more earth-colored and dignified, of better material in exquisite patterns.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The men of Chinky Mahoe's Halau Hula 'O Kawaili'ula, above, placed third in both the kahiko and 'auana competitions.
Fonseca's Miss Aloha Hula competitor Gabrielle Yamashita wore a stunning yellow tapalike dress, accented by a dark green fern lei. Ho's Chrissy Kama was elegant in a simple, white, two-layered cotton dress accented by her long brown hair. More kane halaus wore slacks under their skirts, reportedly because the pants have been splitting in the okole. And the split-ti skirt, rather than full-leaf, was more prominent, as it allows easier movement and lifts more readily during spins, several kumus said.
Only the kane of Halau I Ka Wekiu opted for the always crowd-pleasing, barely-there malo. Their interpretation of fishermen throwing nets and spearing was one of the most enjoyable performances of the 'auana competition.
Festival tradition continues to thrive. Black-and-white programs sold out by the second day. More than 10,000 T-shirts, sweatshirts and other memorabilia also sold out.
People still complain about the length of the events -- about six hours a night -- yet never leave early. There's still no alcohol allowed, or videotaping.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Natasha Oda of Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua, performs "Ka Lehua Pua Hunehune" during the kahiko competition. The dance tells the Hawaiian legend of the ohia tree and its lehua flower. The halau placed fourth in this category.
There was subdued reverence about the changing of the guard from Dorothy "Aunty Dottie" Thompson, the festival's executive director for 34 years, to her daughter, Luana.
And there was still sadness among over Mattos' death with no one even hinting that the door may be open for another halau dynasty to take hold.
"We compete against one another, but the real challenge is to perfect the dance, respect the culture, perpetuate a tradition," Ching said.
A visitor from Oahu on his way out of the Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium summed up the three-day fest: "In the dictionary next to the word 'aloha,' they should have a picture of the Merrie Monarch Festival."
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Accepting the overall trophy for Halau 'O Kamuela, an emotional Kau'i Kamana'o, left, and Kunewa Mook brought a picture of kumu hula Paleka Mattos to the stage. Mattos, who lead the halau to many victories, died last year.
BACK TO TOP |
Merrie Monarch Scorecard
In an exceptionally competitive festival, several categories were decided by just a single point:
Montgomery Perpetual Trophy
Hula Halau 'O Kamuela
Na Kumu Hula Kau'i Kamana'o and Kunewa Mook, Kalihi and Waimanalo
Points: 1,233
Overall /Wahine
First: Hula Halau 'O Kamuela
Points: 1,233Second: Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu, Kumu Hula William "Sonny" Kahakuleilehua Haunu'u Ching, Honolulu
Points: 1,221Third: Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua, Kumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho, Hilo
Points: 1,219
Overall/Kane
First: Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua
Points: 1,223Second: Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu
Points: 1,222Third: Ka Pa Hula O Kamehameha, Na Kumu Hula Holoua Stender, Snowbird Bento & Kaleo Trinidad, Kapalama Uka, Honolulu
Points: 1,213
Hula Kahiko/Wahine
First: Hula Halau 'O Kamuela,
Points: 615Second: Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu
Points: 614Third: Halau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani, Kumu Hula Ray Fonseca, Hilo
Points: 606Fourth Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua
Points: 604Fifth: Halau I Ka Wekiu, Na Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, Honolulu
Points: 600
Hula Kahiko / Kane
First (tie): Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu and Ka Pa Hula O Kamehameha
Points: 608Second: Halau I Ka Wekiu
Points: 607Third: Halau Hula 'O Kawaili'ula
Kumu Hula Chinky Mahoe, Kailua, OahuPoints: 605
Fourth: Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua
Points: 603
Hula 'Auana / Wahine
First: Hula Halau 'O Kamuela
Points: 618Second: Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua
Points: 615Third: Halau Hula 'O Kawaili'ula
Points: 608Fourth: Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu
Points: 607Fifth: Halau Hula Olana, Na Kumu Hula Olana & Howard Ai
'AieaPoints: 601
Hula 'Auana / Kane
First: Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua
Points: 620Second: Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu
Points: 614Third: Halau Hula 'O Kawaili'ula
Points: 607Fourth: Halau I Ka Wekiu
Points: 605
Merrie Monarch Festival
Click for online
calendars and events.
