KAILUA-KONA — A decade ago, a newly formed Moku O Keawe Foundation made it a mission to promote hula education at all levels — from the casual observer to the lifelong devotee — and to share its artistry across the Pacific.
This week, the foundation will celebrate years of success fulfilling that dream.
“The last 10 years of workshop classes have given students experiences to expand their repertoire,” said Moku O Keawe Foundation president Sig Zane about the Moku O Keawe International Hula Festival that kicks off Wednesday at Hilton Waikoloa Village. “Classes of hula, learned from esteemed judges of this distinguished competition, honor their unique generational styles.”
How it got here is an interesting tale.
In May 2005, the Big Island Visitors Bureau sponsored a trip to Aiichi, Japan, for the World Expo. Representing Hawaii Island were kumu hula Nani Lim Yap and Nalani Kanakaole, Zane, artist Kathy Long and Margo Mau-Bunnell.
More than 5,000 dancers in 60 different halau came to see them.
Blown away by the response, recognizing the immediate need to help expand hula teaching from its source, the Hawaii group had an idea. And by July of that year, the first-ever Moku O Keawe International Festival took place in Nagoya, Japan. The winner would be invited to the Big Island to compete with Hawaiian halau.
A decade later, the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary, with a new event, “Aahu, An Exploration of Fashion and Art Rooted in Culture,” Wednesday at the Water’s Edge Ballroom. All proceeds benefit MOK Foundation’s mission of education.
“Aahu” showcases the next generation, with the latest line by Manaola Yap, son of Ed and Nani Lim Yap, and “Forest Cloud by Sig,” by Kuhao Zane, son of Sig Zane and Nalani Kanakaole. Tickets are $60, which includes pupu, entertainment and silent auction, featuring limited edition prints by each of the designers.
Thursday through Nov. 14, MOK presents three nights of high-level hula competition in the Monarchy Ballroom, where halau from Japan, Hawaii and elsewhere vie for group and solo titles. Dancers will be judged on hula kahiko (ancient) and hula auana (modern), as well as costume, lei and adornments, language and chant. Friday’s Kupuna Night is always a favorite as island families come to cheer on their aunties, moms and grandmothers.
Students can sign up for hula workshops taught by notable kumu hula, many of whom serve as competition judges. All classes will be invited to perform at Saturday’s hoike, before the final competition.
Dancers will be taught select hula about special places across the islands. Kumu hula Olana Ai of Halau O Olana chose the wedding song “Haliilua” by Albert Nahalea.
“He wrote this song for Hannah Parish of Kona,” said Zane. “Names of the bride and groom are mentioned in the words, along with place names on the island of Hawaii. Haliilua is the name of a spring at Kaawaloa at Kealakekua where Queen Kapiolani enjoyed bathing in the pool, as it sits below the Sacred Cliffs of Keoua.”
Ai has been teaching hula all her life as her first lessons were from “Waipio Paeaea,” with lyrics by Kuana Torres Kanahele, was chosen by kumu hula Cy Bridges to honor his kupuna through gestures linking genealogy to place.
“Uncle Cy speaks of his connection to Waipio with his great-grandmother who was born there,” said Zane. “It is with these emotions that he has pulled the imagery for this hula auana.”
A Kauai song, “Pua Hahani” by Kuana Torres Kahele, will be taught by kumu hula Nani Lim Yap, one of the founders of MOK, both in Japan and Hawaii.
“Nani brings a special style to her choreography and choice songs,” said Zane. “Each composition is a reflection of her musical foundation and upbringing in the countryside of Kohala. Pure and fluid, her dance is the soft breeze at the shore and the pleasant mists of the uplands.”
Kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero will teach “Aloha Ia No O Maui,” a composition by Alice Johnson, a prolific songwriter. Referred to as a “mele pana,” the words praise the beautiful sights and special characteristics of Maui.
Fourth generation kumu hula of the venerable Halau O Kekuhi, Nalani Kanakaole, will teach “Ku Oe Kou Wahi Ohelo Nei,” a hula performed with pahu, drum and puniu, or knee drum.
“Nalani is the fourth generation kumu hula, beginning with her grandmother,” said Zane. “She says it is a privilege to have had a grandmother who was dedicated at birth and taken hula kapu until the age of 8 years old. It is this commitment in Nalani’s DNA that has formed her ideology and teachings for her entire life.”
Workshop registration is available at MOKIF.com, and a $60 per person donation is requested.
Moku O Keawe International Festival takes place Wednesday through Saturday at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Hula competition tickets are $25 for VIP seating and $15 for open seating. Keiki 5 years old and younger enter free, when accompanied by an adult. Workshop fees vary. Admission to the Moku O Keawe MarketPlace is free. There is a special rate of $5 for self-parking.
Info and to purchase tickets, visit mokif.com.
Moku O Keawe International Festival Schedule of Events
Wednesday, Nov. 11
6 to 10 p.m.: “Aahu, An Exploration of Fashion and Art Rooted in Culture” at Water’s Edge Ballroom. Cost is $60, and includes entertainment, fashion showcase by Manaola, Sig Zane and Kuhao Zane, plus pupu and silent auction.
Thursday, Nov. 12
9 a.m. to noon: Workshop: “Pua Hahani,” Kumu Hula Nani Lim, $60 donation
1 to 4 p.m.: Workshop: “Waipio Paeaea,” Kumu Hula Cy Bridges, $60 donation
1 to 4 p.m.: Workshop: “Haliilua,” Kumu Hula Olana Ai, $60 donation
6 to 9 p.m.: Competition: Wahine Kahiko, group and solo
Friday, Nov. 13
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Moku O Keawe MarketPlace
9 a.m. to noon: Hula workshop: “Ku Oe Kou Wahi,” Nalani Kanakaole, $60 donation
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Implement workshop: uliuli, Iliahi Anthony, $125 includes kit
1 to 4 p.m.: Hula workshop: “Aloha Ia No O Maui,” Kumu Hula Uluwehi Guerrero, $60 donation
6 to 10 p.m.: Hula competition: Kupuna hula, group and solo. Awards presentation to follow.
Saturday, Nov. 14
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Moku O Keawe MarketPlace
9 to 11 a.m.: Cultural workshop: Lecture, “The Hula Goddesses,” Nalani Kanakaole, $25 donation
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Cultural workshop: Lecture, “Ke Kuahu,” Pualani Kanahele, $25 donation
1 to 7 p.m.: Hoike including performances by the Workshop students. Competition: wahine auana, makua wahine, and Miss Hula Pakahi Waikoloa (solo). Awards presentation to follow.