Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 7, 1 July 2015 — Hula Preservation Society honors Molokaʻi hula elders [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hula Preservation Society honors Molokaʻi hula elders

By Cheryl Corbiell

The Hula Preservation Society made its first puhlie visit to Moloka'i to honor four of the island's hula icons. HPS focused the spotlight on Anna Lou Ne Arakaki, daughter of Harriet Ne; Pilipo Solatorio, native of Hālawa Valley and student of Harriet Ne; Kauila Poaha Reyes, eldest Moloka'i kumu at 89 years old; and Pearl Keawe Souza, daughter of Kumu Pearl Keawe and an esteemed Kent Ghirard Hula Nani Girls dancer in the early 1950s. The "Let's Celebrate Hula" event, June 2 at Kūlana 'Ōiwi Hālau, also shared a sample of HPS archived photographs and video footage of interviews and performances of Kumu John Ka'imikaua, founder of the annual Moloka'i Ka Hula

Piko, and Kumu lolam Luahine, student of Mary Kawena Pukui. Luahine was often referred to as a high priestess of the ancient hula. HPS is a nonprofit dedicated to documenting and sharing the personal life stories of the eldest living hula masters and their efforts to perpetuate hula, so their legacies live on to inspire and educate future generations in the authentic culture of Hawai'i. "It was special to have all four Moloka'i hula elders together in the same plaee, and over the last 10 years we've interviewed all these kūpuna," said Maile Loo-Ching, HPS executive director.

Loo-Ching reflected on the importance of recording the kūpuna: "Hula kahiko, ancient hula, and its accompanying practices were lost during the 1800s, a time of unprecedented change. Elders in their 70s, 80s and 90s are the last direct link to their grandparents who lived during the time of the Hawaiian Kingdom and were firsthand witnesses to the traditional hula of the ancestors. "These kūpuna are men and women who devoted their lives to hula when it was difficult to do so. They were trained traditionally but needed to make a living in a changing Hawai'i. They successfully carried on ancient traditions

by weaving them into their daily work through their own hula studios and puhlie performances. Most importantly, they have given their lives to teaching hula." The evening provided a rare glimpse into the elders' relationship with hula. "When I was 4 years old, I watched hula and learned to keep time to the beat," Arakaki recalled. "I watched how graceful the dancers were in their movements. Dedicated teachers like my mom (Harriet Ne) made us good dancers and filled us with the spirit of carrying on the culture." The audience was mesmerized by a nostalgic video elip of Harriet Ne's recollections of learning hula as a child and information about the hula work of Ioela Kao'o from Pelekunu Valley. Another student of Harriet Ne is Pilipo Solatorio. "When I started hula with Harriet Ne, hula was more than a dance. Hula taught me understanding

and respect for the Hawaiian culture. Auntie Harriet Ne said hula is from the heart and is a story with feelings. I understood the Hawaiian words and their meaning, so the dance had great mana," said Solatorio. Reyes stressed the importance of the Hawaiian language in hula. "Father made us read the

Hawaiian Bible out loud. He brought home Hawaiian songs, whieh we translated into Hawaiian. Hula was duck soup to me because I understood the words. Hawaiian is a special language, and the language is inside you. I dance the Hawaiian dance because I am Hawaiian," said Reyes. Then Reyes used precision footwork in the hula "Kaulana Na Pua" (Famous are the Flowers) for the captivated audience. HPS was formed in 2000, and it has conducted 80 hula elder interviews and over 1,200 hours of documentation. "The digitally recorded interviews capture the voices and gestures of the elders as they share cultural insights and words of wisdom about hula," said LooChing. "The hula elders provide a broad perspective of the different ways hula was taught and shared within families, in small remote communities, between

islands and beyond Hawai ī. 1 admire and appreciate how the hula elders perpetuated the hula traditions." If your family knows a hula elder born before 1932 who should be interviewed, eall HPS at (808) 247-9440 or visit hulapreservation.org to learn more. To view photographs or video archives, individuals ean make an appointment at the HPS office, 46-022 Alaloa St., Unit G, in Kāne'ohe, O'ahu. ■

Chervl Corhiell is an instructor at the University ofHawai'i Maui. College-Moloka'i. and coordi.nator for TeenACE and ACE Readi.ng programs.

The Hula Preservation Society honored four kūpuna it has worked with on Moloka'i, from left, Anna Lou Ne Amkaki, Pilipo Solatorio, Kauila Poaha Reyes and Pearl Keawe Souza. - Courtesy photos: Hula Preservation Society

Auntie Kauila Poaha Reyes thrilled attendees with her hula to "Kaulana Na Pua." Said Maile Loo of H PS: "Fancy footwork, even at 89!"