HULA DANCING IN HAWAII
The fragrance of flowers and the sound of music filled thePolynesian Cultural Center’s (PCC) Pacific Theater recently as gorgeous lei and live music accentuated the beauty of hula at the 23rd Annual Moanikeala Hula Festival.
Every January, many of the world’s premier halau hula (hula schools) from Hawaii and Japan take the stage in this hoike (exhibition) to honor PCC’s first Hawaiian instructor, "Aunty" Sally Wood Naluai and her 60-year dedication to hula.
Originally a keiki hula competition, Moanikeala has since evolved into an annual hoike that allows dancers of all ages – from keiki to kupuna – to share the spirit of hula without the pressure of competition. This year’s festival featured a new element, the kupuna solo competition. Kumu Hula (hula instructors) of participating halau selected one haumana (student) to demonstrate their mastery of the art, and it was JoAnn Evalei Loa of Hula Halau O Kawananakoa whose hula won the heart of the judges.
“Aunty Sally would be so proud to know that hula is thriving in today’s modern world," said Cy Bridges, cultural director at the PCC, and one of Aunty Sally’s former haumana (student). "In the last few decades we have really seen a reclamation and revival of the Hawaiian culture, and hula is great way to perpetuate and celebrate the culture. Not only is hula thriving in Hawaii, but it is immensely popular internationally as seen by the many dancers from Japan, Russia and the Ukraine that joined us this year.”
Originally a keiki hula competition, Moanikeala has since evolved into an annual hoike that allows dancers of all ages – from keiki to kupuna – to share the spirit of hula without the pressure of competition. This year’s festival featured a new element, the kupuna solo competition. Kumu Hula (hula instructors) of participating halau selected one haumana (student) to demonstrate their mastery of the art, and it was JoAnn Evalei Loa of Hula Halau O Kawananakoa whose hula won the heart of the judges.
“Aunty Sally would be so proud to know that hula is thriving in today’s modern world," said Cy Bridges, cultural director at the PCC, and one of Aunty Sally’s former haumana (student). "In the last few decades we have really seen a reclamation and revival of the Hawaiian culture, and hula is great way to perpetuate and celebrate the culture. Not only is hula thriving in Hawaii, but it is immensely popular internationally as seen by the many dancers from Japan, Russia and the Ukraine that joined us this year.”
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