Polynesian Cultural Center Rings In The New Year With A Celebration Of Hawaiian Music and Dance
La‘ie – Hawaiian culture took center stage this weekend at the Polynesian Cultural Center as the annual Hawaiian Festival kicked off a yearlong calendar of cultural events. The celebration began Friday with the legendary Makaha Sons returning for a fifth year as the marquee entertainment for the E Luana Kakou Concert at the Hale Aloha Theater. A sharing of hula highlighted Saturday's festivities with halau from across O‘ahu taking the stage at the PCC's Pacific Theater for the 16th Annual Moanikeala Hula Festival. The tribute of song and dance to the host culture of Hawai‘i marked the start of the PCC's cultural events for the year.
E Luana Kakou Concert featured The Makaha Sons performing music from their new album and signing autographs for fans after the show. Joining the legendary Makaha Sons on stage that night was 2006 Na Hoku Hanohano Female Vocalist of the Year and former Miss Aloha Hula Natalie Ai Kamauu, as well as the up-and-coming artist Hoku Zuttermeister, whose debut album is being produced by The Makaha Sons.
The weekend-long Hawaiian festival culminated with the Moanikeala Hula Festival as eight hula halau celebrated the memory of the late Aunty Sally Wood Nalua‘i. Aunty Sally was the PCC's first hula instructor when it opened in 1963 and continued until 1980, after which she was a consultant until she passed away in 2000.
"At the PCC, Aunty Sally will always be remembered and celebrated as a beloved kumu hula," said Ellen Gay Dela Rosa, senior manager of special events and promotions and Aunty Sally's niece. "But her legacy lives on in Hawai‘i at this festival that brings together kupuna and keiki to share and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture."
New to this year's celebration, but not new to the hula taught by Aunty Sally is Charlene Lum's Dance Studio under the direction of Kumu Hula Charlene Lum. Lum unikied (studied) under Aunty Sally in the 1960s.
"I'm excited to bring my halau to celebrate Aunty Sally's memory and the hula she loved so much," said Charlene Lum.
Other halau that performed at the Moanikeala Hula Festival include:
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Ka Pa Nani O Lilinoe (Lilinoe Lindsey)
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Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio (Joan S. Lindsey)
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Halau Hula O Kekela (Kela Miller)
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Hu‘i Park's Hula Studio (Corianne "Pumps" Park-Chun)
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Halau O Kamalani (Virginia "Gigi" Kidder Paleka and Mamo Kawaiaea)
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Halau Hula Olana (Olana ‘Ai)
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Halau Hula O Hokulani (Hokulani DeRego)
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 15,000 young people from more than 70 different countries while they have attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii. As a non-profit organization, all funds generated by the PCC are used for its daily operations and to support its cultural and educational missions.
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