Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 12, 1 December 1985 — 13th Annual Na Mele O Maui [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

13th Annual Na Mele O Maui

Hula Performances Give Crowds Chicken Skin

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA "A most beautiful, gorgeous, moving and flawless performanee" was the way visitors and kamaainas alike described the Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival Nov. 9 before an overflow crowd of 800 in the grand ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Maui. It was the second program in a three-event schedule of activities marking the 13th annual Na Mele O Maui Festival held Nov. 8-10 at three different locations in Kaanapali. The hula festivai featured the first Na Mele O Maui appearance of Frank Kawai Hewett's Kuhai Halau O Kawaikapuokalani from Kaneohe; a return engagement by Howard and Olana Ai's Halau Hula Olana keikis (ages 8 to 12) from Pearl City; and Maui's own Alexa Vaught and her Hula Halau O Keaunui also making their first appearance. The program got off to a regal start with the appearance of the Maui Aloha Week royal court and performances by its dancers. Betsy Hinau, popular hostess of the Sheraton Maui aloha activities luau, was a first class entertainer herself while keepir>g the program going as mistress of ceremonies in a flawless manner. There was no break in the lively smooth-paced program as members of the three halau turned in brilliant performances in thrilling and entertaining the capacity crowd. The costuming was beautiful and the dancing and singing were honed to a precision edge. The evening reached an emotional and "ehieken skin" high point when Auntie Emma joined the 28 keikis on stage, kissed and hugged eaeh one of them and together they danced to her beloved family song, Puamana, written for her most cherished seaside home of Puamana in Lahaina. It was a moment to behold, cherish and remember for a long time as the crowd gave her a long standing ovation. The 81-year-old Auntie Emma, born Sept. 4, 1904, responded in kind by blowing kisses to the crowd and gracefully aeknowledging the heart-warming ovation. The same poignant moments, complete with the Aloha Week court appearance, were virtually repeated the next day Nov. 10 when the three-day festivities were climaxed t>y a luau and stage show in the Lokelani Room of the Maui Surf Hotel. In addition to the Hula Halau Olana and Kuhai Halau O Kawaikapuokalani, others appearing at the Maui Surf affair included Pua Kane, known as Maui's lady of aloha; George Paoa, Mr. Kaanapali; Ali'i Noa, a professional entertainer on both the mainland and Maui; his sister, Ihilani Miller of the Royal Hawaiian Band; and Danny Couch, winner of the 1985

Hoku award winner for song of the year, From My Heart. Onee more Auntie Emma treated the capacity Maui Surf crowd of 650 to another thrilling experience as she danced gracefully with the keikis of Hula Halau Olana. She again literally brought the house down with her appearance and performance. A school teacher for 41 years, counselor, kumu hula and friend, Auntie Emma stands out as one of Hawaii's living treasures. In tribute to the deep respect accorded to her by the people of Hawaii, Na Mele O Maui in 1983 elected to perpetually honor this outstanding lady of the hula by naming the hula festival the Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival. Dick Bacon, general manager of Na Mele O Maui, served as master of ceremonies at the luau during whieh time he presented an envelope on behalf of Auntie Emma to Olani Ai and her keikis. She dashed from the stage to a table immediately up front and hugged and kissed Auntie Emma in thanking her. Another surprise presentation was made by Bacon to Lori Sablas, managing director of the Kaanapali Beach Operators

Association whieh four years ago assumed responsibility for the festival through the use of its facilities, manpower and money. The envelope was presented to Miss Sablas "for her untiring work with Na Mele O Maui for these last eight or nine years." Maui Mayor Hannibal Tavares addressed the crowd briefly and alluded to "how so beautiful and inspiring to watch an event like this." "This is what we in Hawaii eall ehieken skin. You neweomers or visitors eall it goose pimples or goose bumps," he declared. "I don't have Hawaiian b!ood in me but I have Hawaiian soul. It doesn't matter whether you were born here and it doesn't matter what race you belong to — its the feeling we have inside," Tavares went on. "The spirit of no ka oi starts at cradle time," he concluded. Also recognized were Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairman Joseph G. Kealoha Jr. and Dana Feneck, Bill Rhodes and Karl Rathgeb, general managers respectively of the Royal Lahaina Resort, Hyatt Regency Maui and Maui Surf.

■■■■hmhi n nn i— iiiiiiiiiimn niiiinwni ■— ii iiiiii—i «hm Auntie Emma Farden Sharpe is as graceful as ever as she does the hula with the keikis of Halau Hula Olana at Na Mele O Maui Hula Festival perpetually named in her honor.