Vibrant culture

The Aloha Festivals is a matter of tradition and history for mother and daughter

Aunty Mary Lou Kekuewa ran for Aloha Week queen back in 1955, unsuccessfully.

Her fair skin may have been the culprit in the decision, she explained. "And, I thought they would see me as tall and statuesque."

Kekuewa refused to allow the defeat to get in the way of her connecting with her roots, so she became the wardrobe mistress. After having spent five years in San Francisco with her military family and finishing her education, she longed for her Hawaiian heritage.

"I started doing the costumes for the first several years and served in the queen's court," she said. "I wanted to belong so bad, I could taste it."

Twenty years later, in 1975, she was selected queen.

Kekuewa will be among past queens and kings in this year's floral parade. Past alii were invited as ambassadors in celebration of Aloha Festival's 60th anniversary.

"We plan on pulling out all the stops for our 60th anniversary," said Charlian Wright, executive director of Aloha Festivals.

Aloha Week was created as a public festival to honor the heritage of Hawaii and was originally held during the makahiki season in October. In 1974, Aloha Week was expanded to a monthlong festival that spanned the islands. The name was changed to Aloha Festivals in 1991 to reflect further expansion that now includes hundreds of events, including pageantry, parades, street parties, concerts and family activities.

Kekuewa's daughter Paulette Kahalepuna was selected queen in 1970, five years before her mother. Kahalepuna's own daughter was turning 1 and the luau had to be planned by family and friends. "The queen was out being queen," she said.

The role demands understanding from both employers and family members. Court members are required to make appearances all year, sometimes providing 400 to 500 hours of service.

"Culturally, it is one of the venues that offers the Hawaiian community a means of reflecting on the alii of the past," said Kahalepuna. "We would walk out of the palace and it felt like we were coming out of our own home. We give a lot of credit to Aloha Festivals for their awareness of the culture."

Although those selected to the court are role-playing, "it's really thought provoking," explained Kahalepuna. "We enjoyed going to the Big Island for the investiture ceremonies. Dressed in regalia, we made offerings to Pele, as if we were back in this time."

They also visited the chiefs from different areas. "It was like visiting your auntie or uncle."

WHEN KEKUEWA first became involved with Aloha Festivals, she met Leilani Fernandez, who became her mentor in featherworking. Kekuewa began teaching classes and eventually opened a Kapahulu shop about 15 years ago.

Kekuewa has passed the skill on to her daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter. The four generations were invited to be ambassadors for Aloha Festivals back in 1997.

Kekuewa's featherwork can be seen at the Pacific Club, Kamehameha Schools chapel and in Aloha Airlines premier clubs, among other sites.

"My mom has been honored for keeping the cultural practice alive," said Kahalepuna. "The beginning of this treasure is Mom. She is the root for us."

Mother and daughter continue to support the festivals, from serving as parade marshals to selling ribbons. "We are honoring all of the alii, all of Hawaii, all the islands," said Kahalepuna.

Clara "Dudee" Ahuna can attest to the sense of community the festival offers. "Aloha Week has always had a spot in my heart," she said. Ahuna, along with many other past kings and queens, is a member of the Aha Hui Mo'i O Aloha Festivals. The group gathers often to talk story or attend gatherings.

Ahuna is the oldest living queen, from 1954. "I started back in 1947 as the queen's attendant and kahili bearer," she said. "Everyone did things from the heart. It was such an honor."

Ahuna recalled the parades of old. Floats were simpler, but still incorporated flowers, so there was no lack of color. On her 1954 float, she had a banana tree and the king alongside her.

"The floats of today are just gorgeous," she said.

One thing everyone seems to miss is the Royal Ball, which has been discontinued because of the expense. The grand finale event had the reigning monarchs dress in Victorian style attire.

"The ladies had on their rhinestones and tiaras -- the guys got to wear medals," said Kekuewa. "You wore your finest."

Isle rough riders hold revered spot

Aloha Festivals 60th-anniversary theme, "Na Paniolo Nui O Hawai'i -- The Great Cowboys of Hawaii," salutes the life, music, spirit and family of the paniolo. The theme recognizes the parallels between ancient Hawaiian culture and the way of life of the paniolo.

» In 1832, King Kamehameha hired vaqueros, cowboys from Mexico, to teach Hawaiians how to rope and ride, a generation before their American counterparts were introduced to the same expertise.

» The name paniolo comes from the Hawaiian pronunciation of Español, meaning Spanish. The paniolo became known as "Hawaiian Rough Riders."

» The vaqueros also taught the paniolo how to make saddles, bullwhips, and spurs. To this day saddle-making in Hawaii is a revered art form, with each island claiming their own distinct style.

» In 1908, Ikua Purdy was invited to compete in the famous Frontier Days World Championship Rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyo. He won top honors.

» Maui's Makawao region was called "Macho-wow" because of its reputation of being home to the toughest bucking-bronco riders.

» Cowgirl Anna Lindsey was so dedicated to the pageantry of horse riding that she created a colorful rendition of Hawaiian history completely reenacted on horseback -- "Old Hawaii on Horseback." The story depicts the arrival of Capt. James Cook to modern-day Hawaii.

Source: Aloha Festivals

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Aloha Festivals, Yesterday and Today

It's been 60 years since the Aloha Festivals was created to honor the heritage of Hawaii. Below are photographs that show the evolution of the festival through the years.

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Festival Calendar of Events Oahu » Opening Ceremony at Iolani Palace, 5:30 p.m., Thursday » Royal Court procession through Outrigger Reef on the Beach lobby, followed by a opening ceremony for Hawaiian Paniolo display, 9 a.m. Friday » Waikiki Ho'olaule'a, Kalakaua Avenue, 7 p.m. Friday » Keiki Ho'olaule'a, Pearlridge Center, 10 a.m. Saturday » Paniolo Exhibit, Bishop Museum, Saturday to Sept. 17 » Aloha Festivals Sunday Services, Central Union Church, 9 a.m., Sunday » Hawai'i's Woodshow, Aloha Tower Marketplace, noon Monday to Sept. 14. » Hawaii Paniolo Display, Outrigger Reef on the Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Sept. 15. » Aloha Friday Downtown Mele, Bishop Street, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 » Aloha Festival Parade, Ala Moana to Kalakaua Avenue, 9 a.m. Sept. 16 » Aloha Festival Paniolo and Hawaiian Arts & Crafts, Waikiki Shell, noon, Sept. 16 » 60th Anniversary Concert, Waikiki Shell, 6 p.m., Sept. 16 » 'Ukulele Contest, Aloha Tower Marketplace, 10 a.m., Sept. 17 » Falsetto Contest, Royal Hawaiian Hotel Monarch Room, 7 p.m., Oct. 13 » Royal 'Aha'aina & Hawaii Artisan Showcase, Hilton Hawaiian Village, 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Oct. 14 Big Island » Poke Contest, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel at Mauna Kea Resort, 11 a.m., Saturday » Great Waikoloa Ho'olaule'a, Waikoloa Kings' Shops, 1 p.m., Saturday » Brothers Cazimero concert, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, 6:30 p.m., Saturday » Paniolo Days, Keauhou Shopping Center, 5 p.m., Sept. 15 » Annual Clyde Kindy Sproat Falsetto and Storytelling Contest, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, 7 p.m.. Sept. 16 » Kapuna Hula Festival, King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, 6 p.m., Sept. 20 and 21 » Waimea Paniolo Parade, 10 a.m. Sept. 23 » Ohana Day, Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo, 11 a.m., Sept. 30 » Aloha Festivals KWXX Hilo Ho'olaule'a, Downtown Hilo, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30 » Aloha Festivals Queen Lili'uokalani Music Festivals, Lili'uokalani Park, Hilo, 10 a.m., Oct. 1 Molokai » Royal Court Investiture, Mitchell Pau'ole Center, 7 p.m., Sept. 28 » Poke Contest, Mitchell Pauÿole Center, 8 p.m., Sept. 28 » Moloka'i Ho'ike, Lawn of Molokai Library, 7 p.m., Sept. 29 » Moloka'i Aloha Festivals Parade, Kaunakakai Town, 9 a.m., Sept. 30 » Moloka'i Ho'olaule'a and 60th Anniversary Celebration Concert, Mitchell Pau'ole Center, 11 a.m., Sept. 30 Lanai » Barbecue Competition, Sept. 23 » Na Mea 'Ono O Lanai and 60th Anniversary Celebration Concert, Lanai Dole Park, 5 p.m., Sept. 29 » Paniolo Papale Lei Contest, Lanai Culture and History Center, 8 a.m., Sept. 30 » Huaka'i O Na Paniolo, Lanai City, 9:30 a.m., Sept. 30 » Aloha Festivals Ho'olaule'a, Lanai Dole Park, 4 p.m., Sept. 30 Maui » Ka Ali'i Ceremony Investiture, Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Honokahua Preservation Site. Noon Sept. 16 » Richard Ho'opi'i Leo Ki'eki'e Contest, Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua Ballroom, 7 p.m., Sept. 16 » 60th Anniversary Celebration Concert with the Brothers Cazimero, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 23 » E Kui Lima (Join Hands), Embassy Vacation Resort, 9 a.m., Oct. 6 » Maui Makahiki Celebration, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, 10 a.m., Oct. 7 » Lahaina Town Ho'olaule'a Block Party, Lahaina Front Street, 5:30 p.m., Oct. 7 » Hana Aloha Week opening ceremonies, Hana Ballpark, 10 a.m., Oct. 7 and Play Day/Fish Tournament, Hana Bay, 11 a.m.,, Oct. 8. Nightly activities at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9 to 13, with luau at 5 p.m., Oct. 14 » Na Paniolo Nui O Hawaii, Queen Kaahumanu Center, 11 a.m., Oct. 28 Kauai » Aloha Festivals Floral Parade, Ho'olako and Rice Street to County Civic Center, Lïhue, 10 a.m., Saturday » Aloha Festivals Paniolo Ho'olaule'a, Lihue, near County Building, noon, Saturday » Kaua'i's Best Luau, Aloha Beach Resort, 5:15 p.m., Tuesday » Aloha Festivals Best Luau Fest, Smith's Paradise Luau Gardens, 6 p.m., Wednesday » Falsetto Contest, Sheraton Kauai Resort, 7 p.m., Sept. 15 » Hawaiiana Festival, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, 10 a.m., Oct. 20 For the most current list of events, visit alohafestivals.com. To purchase an Aloha Festivals ribbon ($5) and receive the official 2006 program guide, call 589-1771.