For kumu hula O'Brian Eselu, whose halau, Ke Kai o Kahiki, placed first overall at the Merrie Monarch Festival this year, the key to winning comes from the heart.

“;I think the language is really important, but I think the heart is just as important—the Hawaiian heart,”; he said. “;You can have the language, but if you don't have the heart, what good is the language?”;

Eselu and his halau will make a special, first-time guest appearance at Chai's Island Bistro tonight. Reservations are recommended; diners will receive a copy of his Na Hoku Hanohano Award-nominated album, “;Aloha E, Aloha E, Aloha E,”; to take home after their meals.

Ke Kai o Kahiki translates to English as “;seas of the ancestral lands,”; which could refer to Tahiti, Samoa and beyond. With just six members, the halau placed first in the kahiko and 'auana categories and was also named men's overall winners and top overall halau at April's 47th annual Merrie Monarch Festival on the Big Island.

The kahiko they performed at the festival, “;A Ka'uku,”; depicted a land battle between Pele and half-man, half-pig demigod Kamapua'a in a vigorous, stage-stomping performance that showcased a new step—ke nakulu—which involves a jump to reflect the resounding clap of Akaka Falls.

Eselu said his halau is the only one that performs the move, but he was nervous about including it because he wasn't sure how the judges would react. So he wrote up a fact sheet explaining it, and luckily the judges accepted it.

“;We as kumu hula have the right to be creative and innovate within reason,”; Eselu said, noting it was also important to respect the traditions of the Merrie Monarch competition.

Ke Kai o Kahiki's 'auana, “;E Koa'e E,”; celebrates the Samoan middle name of Auntie Mary Kawena Pukui's cherished granddaughter Dodie. The mele tells the story of a beautiful white-tailed tropic bird that nests in the sheer cliffs, glides over the sea and plunges into the ocean to dive for fish.

In Samoan the bird's name is tava'e toto—Dodie's given middle name—and it is the same as the koa'e in Hawaii. When Eselu learned of this, he was inspired to compose the song. Even though he had two other songs in mind for the 'auana, “;E Koa'e E”; ended up being the right one for the competition and will also be shared tonight at Chai's.

EVEN WITH the wins, Eselu, 55, remains humble.

He credited his mentors, who had confidence in him in his earliest years when he did not, and reminisced fondly of his late hula partner, Thaddius Wilson, who first competed at the festival with him 31 years ago when the name of the halau was Na Wai Eha o Puna, in honor of the four waters of Puna in Opihikao. Wilson died in 2003.

He also credited Wilson's mother, Verna Wilson, and her mother, Keoho Oda, who were very supportive, setting him on the path of a kumu hula in those early years.

“;I still get emotional at times,”; said Eselu, remembering when Wilson stood next to him onstage and how they used to walk shoulder to shoulder.

“;I can hear him say, 'Well done,'”; he said.

Upon learning that his halau won first overall, plus swept the men's divisions, Eselu was overcome with a feeling of peace and gratitude. Born in Aiea to Samoan parents and raised in Halawa public housing, he returned to the Merrie Monarch competition two years ago after a hiatus due to health problems. He credited his students for inspiring him to return, and plans to compete again next year.

Ke Kai o Kahiki practices once a week at Lanikuhonua, which he describes as the perfect place for hula, with its ocean, breezes and coconut trees. According to Eselu, practice takes place no matter what—in sun, wind and rain.

As part of their warm-up regimen, his students are required to climb coconut trees to strengthen their legs. It's an inspiring sight, he said, sort of like ballet, particularly when all of the students do it at the same time.

When asked what the halau will perform next year at Merrie Monarch, Eselu remained elusive—or actually, he might just not know yet, as inspiration has yet to come to him.

But just like the waves of the ocean, Eselu knows it will come at the right time.

Watch Ke Kai o Kahiki's winning performances from this year's Merrie Monarch:
» www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmcrqGoRa5I
» www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrIpBXAafmk