Hula ‘Auana Festival Honors PCC's First Kumu Hula
La‘ie, HI – January 17, 2009 – While the weather was unusually chilly on Oahu's North Shore today, hula halau from across Hawai‘i and Japan stayed warm and came together for the Polynesian Cultural Center's (PCC) Pacific Theater for the 19th Annual Moanikeala Hula Festival. The festival is the first of PCC's cultural events for 2009, which includes the popular World Fireknife Competition in May, attracting more than 10,000 visitors every year.
Originally a keiki hula festival, this ho'ike (exhibition) event welcomed dancers of all ages this year to share the beautiful dance of Hawai'i. Held each January, the festival honors the late Aunty Sally Wood Nalua'i, who was the PCC's first kumu hula (hula instructor) when it opened in 1963 until 1980, after which she was a consultant until she passed away in 2000.
"This event has such a great history and some of the halau, such as the Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, have been at the Moanikeala Hula Festival every single year since it began," said Cy Bridges, artistic director of the Center, and one of the Aunty Sally's former haumana (students). "We were so pleased to welcome two hula halau from Japan this year and hope they return and continue to perpetuate Aunty Sally's legacy."
Following the performances by the two Japan halau, members from the other participating halau surprised them with special gifts and an oli or chant in their honor.
"If you can believe it, there are actually more hula halau in Japan than there are here in Hawai‘i," said Ellen Gay Dela Rosa, PCC's theater director and Aunty Sally's niece. "I'm always amazed and grateful to see that there is such a deep appreciation for Hawaiian culture and the hula across the world."
Along with the beautiful dancing, Several Na Hanohano Hoku award winners also shared their talents including Hoku Zuttermeister who performed with the Hu‘i Park Hula Studio. Hoku Award winner Olana A‘i also performed with her halau, Halau Hula Olana.
The hula halau participating in the 2009 Moanikeala Hula Festival included:
- Hu'i Park Hula Studio – Corianne Park Chun
- Ka Pa Nani ‘O Lilinoe – Lilinoe Lindsey
- Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio – Joan Lindsey
- Na Mele Hula ‘Ohana (Japan) – Tamaki Miyahara
- Hula Halau O Hokulani – Hokulani DeRego
- Kaleo O Laka Ia Iapana/Ka Pa Hula O Ka‘ie‘ie (Japan) – Sayuri Kasugai
- Halau Kawaipuhilani- Keith Kalanikau Awai
- Halau Hula Olana – Howard & Olana A'i
- Kaleikaumaka O Ko‘olauloa – Maria Bridges Nakila
- Napuananionapalionako‘olau – Sunday Mariteragi
- Halau Hali‘alaulani – Ellen Gay Dela Rosa
- Halau Hula O Kekela – Lucy Kekela Miller
Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 33 million visitors, while preserving and portraying the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance to nearly 17,000 young people from over 70 different countries while they attend Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i. As a non-profit organization, 100 percent of PCC's revenue is used for daily operations and to support education.
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