Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 7, 1 July 2015 — ROYAL HUIATIMES TWO [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ROYAL HUIATIMES TWO

By Lynn Cook When one day isn't enough the obvious question is, what to do? In the case of the annual Prince

Lot Hula Festival at Moanalua Gardens, the answer was, "Expand!" Titled He Wahi Pana ... Moanaīua, A Sacred Plaee, the 38th annual Prince Lot Hula Festival will be held Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. "We are very pleased to see how mueh the festival is enjoyed by both kama'āina and malihini," says Alika Jamile, Moanalua Gardens Foundation (MGF) executive director and president. "With encouragement fromkumu hula, and supporters including the Hawai'i Tourism Authority and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. we are addinu

another day of great hula to include additional hālau and their dancers from out-of-state branches of their Hawai'ibased hālau." Hālau including their out-of-state dancers are Kumu Lilinoe Lindsey's Ka Pa Nani 'O Lilinoe, Kumu Hōkūlani De Rego's Hālau Hula 'O Hōkūlani, Kumu Charlani Kalama's Halau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua, and Kumu Pumehana Cullen, Kapualani McElroy and Malia Helela's Nā Hula O Puamana. The festival is the largest noncompetitive hula event in Hawai'i, honoring Prince Lot Kapuāiwa who reprised the once-for-bidden hula in the district of Moanalua. For only the second time in 38 years, the MGF will present the Malia Kau Award to hula greats Joan Lindsey and Ed Collier, honoring them as keepers of the culture who have dedicated their life's work perpetuation of hula traditions. Kau, a descendant of the valley's early families, was born in the valley in 1881. Raised by Aunty Mohoano Nui, she was taught the sacred hula of the plaee. When Nui died, Kau was taught by Namakahelu, the last chantress of Moanalua, and charged with carrying the traditions forward. Kau

taught 'Iolani Luahine, Mary Kawena Pukui and her daughters Pele Pukui and Pat Namaka Bacon, Henry Pa, Lokalia Montgomery, Maiki Aiu and Hoakalei Kamauu. Many went on to

establish hālau and continue the traditions handed down for generations. A highlight this year will be the debut presentation of Pele O Moanalua, an oli from the notebook of Namakahelu. Eaeh year one oli from the famed notebook is offered to participating kumu. Kumu Hula Vicky Holt īakamine and her hālau, Pua Ali'i 'Ilima, accepted the challenge. Kimo Kahoano will emeee both days. Opening the 2015 festival will be Kumu Hula Joan Lindsey along with an impressive lineup of premier hālau hula who will perform both kahiko, ancient, and 'auana, contemporary, hula. Closing the festival on Sunday afternoon will be Ed Collier's Hālau O Nā Pua Kukui. Moanalua Gardens is home to famous structures and rare trees, including the famous "Hitachi" tree. The entire viewing and hula mound areas are shaded all day. A heaeh mat or blanket to spread out on the lawn offers great viewing of the raised hula mound. Areas for kūpuna, elders, and folks with chairs are cordoned off in the back of the lawn. No commercial photography is allowed. The festival is free and the normal fee to visit the gardens is waived for

both days. The souvenir button will be on sale by volunteers, along with the annual Prince Lot T-shirt. All funds are used to produce the event. Ample parking is available at Moanalua Middle

School, as is street parking. Fine crafts will be demonstrated, including kapa by Moana Eisele, carving by Umi Kai, ki'i by Keith Maile, ipu making by Dexter Soares and kalo pounding by Daniel Anthony. When hunger strikes food booths are only steps away. Moanalua Lions Club runs the Shave Iee stand, Aloha Pop and Ono Pop join 808 Burgers, Royal Hawaiian Hot Dogs, Kazu's Luneh Wagon, Haili's Hawaiian Food and, Saturday only, Leonard's Bakery Malasada Truck. Named in memory of Prince Lot, who later reigned as King Kamehameha V, the festival was founded in 1978 by MGF and now attracts more than 13,000 residents and visitors eaeh year. Moanalua was a favorite recreation spot for Prince Lot, who is credited with reviving the hula in the district of Moanalua. His summer cottage ean be found on the gardens' grounds. Participating hālau and a festival performance schedule are listed online at moanaluagardensfoundation.org. ■ Lynn Cook is a loeal freelance journalist sharing the arts and culture of Hawai'i with a global audience.

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Dancers of Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, led by Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker and Miehael Casupang, performed at the 201 4 Prince Lot Hula Festival. The annual summertime festival is expanding to two days and for the first time will feature dancers from overseas branches of Hawai'i-based hālau. - Courtesy: Moanalua Gardens Foundation