Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 9, 1 September 2015 — Celebrating 40 years of perpetuating the Hawaiian culture [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Celebrating 40 years of perpetuating the Hawaiian culture

By Francine Kananionapua Murray j J love that hula connects me to my 'ohana, to my kūpuna and to Ke Akua," said 10-year-old Faith Kealohapau'ole Paredes, whose grace charmed the audience and judges. "When I dance hula, I know that I am surrounded by love and positive energy, and it makes me feel so blessed." Faith, who dances with Hālau Kekuaokalā'au'ala'iliahi, won Miss Keiki Hula 2015 under the tutelage of her kumu, 'Iliahi and Haunani Paredes, her parents. The 2015 Master Keiki Hula winner, Inoalani Aloiau, 12, also dances with Hālau Kekuaokalā'au'ala'iliahi of Wailuku, Maui. "My hula family is so important to me, and I know that they will always be there for me," he said. "Hula allows me to bond with my hula brothers and sisters. We are 'ohana. We learn together, work

hard together, and most importantly, we have fun together." The largest children's dance competition in Hawai'i, the Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition started by the Kalihi-Pālama

Culture & Arts Society in 1976, with the help of George Naope, who also helped establish the Merrie Monarch Festivals. To commemorate the 40th Anniversary, the Society broadcast

all three days of the competition instead of a condensed two-day

version, like in the past. They published a special anniversary commemorative program featuring profiles of past Miss Keiki Hula winners that went on to heeome Miss Aloha Hula winners. Among those winners profiled were the very talented Jasmine Kaleihiwa Dunlap (2001 Keiki & 2015 Miss Aloha Hula), Keolalaulani Dalire ( 1990 & 1999), Malia Ann Kawailanamalie Petersen (1988 & 2002), Allison Kailihiwa Kaha'ipi'ilani Vaughn (1985 & 1995), and Lissa Ku'uipo Doi Paresa (1979 & 1987). The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been a proud sponsor of the Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition for decades, and would like to congratulate and mahalo the KalihiPālama Culture & Arts Society for continuing to highlight the traditions of the Hawaiian culture, and all the past and present participants of the event for showing us that through discipline, hard work and a love of hula even the youngest members of our community ean kūlia i ka nu'u, strive to reach the summit. ■

0THER KEIKI HULA FIRST PLACE WINNERS: Hula Kahiko Kaikamāhine Hula Hālau '0 Kamuela Hula Kahiko Keiki Kāne Hālau Kekuaokalā 'au'ala 'iliahi Hula 'Auana Kaikamāhine Hula Hālau '0 Kamuela Hula 'Auana Keiki Kāne Hālau Kekuaokalā 'au'ala 'iliahi Malia Craver Hawaiian Language Trophy: Keiki Division Hula Hui 0 Kapunahala 0 Nu'uanu YMCA Mary Kawena Pukui Hawaiian Language: Hālau Division Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā'ala

j MO'OMEHEU v > CULTURE /

www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

Kumu Haunani Paredes, Inoalani Aloiau - 201 5 Master Keiki Hula winner, Faith Kealohapau'ole Paredes - Miss Keiki Hula 201 5, and Kumu 'lliahi Paredes all of Hōlau Kekuaokalō'au'ala'iliahi from Wailuku, Maui, after accepting their awards at the 40th Annual Queen Liliu'okalani Keiki Hula Competition. - Photo: James Kimo Garrett