On 9 December 2018, Ka Pa Hula Ka Lei Maile Hi’ilani and ‘Ori Tahiti Singapore presented a joint ho’ike — Te Taurea: The Transmission of Culture — at the Goodman Arts Centre Black Box from 7.30-8.30pm. It was a wonderful time sharing the stage with our sisters from another Polynesian culture, and presenting a united front to the public as part of our shared mission to uphold and spread an appreciation for both Tahitian dance and Hawaiian hula.
Category Archives: 2018 Events
Te Taure’a: The Transmission of Culture
31st SAFRA Annual Golf Championship celebration dinner
The evening of Sunday, 23 September 2018 saw Alaka’i Puanani and eight other wahine sharing a great time and spreading the aloha at the National Service Resort & Country Club in Changi. The audience mainly comprised golfers who had participated in the day’s golf competition, and the three winners of the Aloha On The Green dress code/theme gamely joined us on stage for a fun number.
Making their stage debut that day were our three hula sisters Miriam, Veronica, and Fazylah; Fazy is probably (as far as we know!) making history by being the first Muslimah in the world to perform with a hula halau, in a carefully modified costume incorporating her tudung. We’re pretty sure this makes this event iconic! One for the history books indeed.
Below are links to videos from the evening’s performance. Enjoy!
2018 Ka ʻAha Hula ʻO Hālauaola Opening Ceremony
On 17 June, Alaka’i Kapuananiokekukui Namiko was part of a small delegation representing Hālau Ka Lei Kukui Hi’ilani at the 5th Ka ʻAha Hula ʻO Hālauaola Hula Conference. Although she was not among the few who were an actual part of the event’s ceremonial opening, it was a great eye-opener and a fantastic learning experience — especially since Kumu Lei was there to provide educational commentary.
This year’s conference runs from 14 to 23 June and expects a total of around 1,200 participants from across the Hawaiian islands and around the world. As in previous iterations of Ka ʻAha Hula ʻO Hālauaola, they will be learning from and studying with various hula masters and experts in high-level workshops, presentations, and related activities, which include huaka’i (excursions/visits) to sacred sites and historically or culturally important places in every district on Hawai’i.
According to a short presentation by Dr M. Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, executive director of the Lālākea Foundation, in the prelude of a video of the above-mentioned Opening Ceremony:
The Conference is a project of the Lālākea Foundation, which itself is a Hilo-based non-profit organisation comprising kumu hula from across the five ‘āina (Hawaiian islands); its purpose is to perpetuate Hawaiian cultural practices, in particular hula, oli, and their attendant arts. It was the brainchild of Dr Pualani Kanaka’ole Kanahele and her sister No’elani Kanaka’ole. Following the path of Hi’iaka in the mo’olelo (legend) of Hi’iaka and Pele, the Conference’s iterations have been: 2001 — Hawai’i; 2005 — Maui; 2009 — O’ahu; 2014 — Kaua’i; 2018 — Hawai’i. This is likely to be last time the Conference will be held in this current form and format.
Kumu Lei’s arrival, and assembly of Hālau delegation, in Hilo, Hawai’i
On 14 June, with Kumu Lei’s arrival in Hilo, Hawai’i, Alaka’i Kapuananiokekukui Namiko was finally able to meet both Kumu and her fellow alaka’i, Aunty Kahanoa (of the Mainland US branch), at the same time. Preparations for our hālau delegation’s participation in the upcoming Ka ʻAha Hula ʻO Hālauaola World Conference, which is running from 14-23 June, throttled into full swing.
Makana preparation for Kupuna ‘Aha in Lanai
Here’s another educational update from Alaka’i Namiko on Kauai:
“On Wednesday, 23 May, I was invited by Kumu Lei to a gathering (‘aha) of kupuna (elders). They were making pua hulu (flowers made out of feathers) and kāhili (see also here, and here) to take with them to Lanai as makana (gifts) to the kupuna on Lanai, who would be hosting the meeting. Big kāhili are made with sticks and mesh, with hulu (feathers) attached to the mesh.
It has been a practice for some time for kupuna from all over Hawai’i to have ‘aha (meetings) on different islands. About 60 to 80 kupuna will meet each time, and the gatherings are hosted by the locals. Discussions and visits to cultural sites of historical significance are the usual itinerary highlights; all these kupuna are practitioners and teachers of Hawaiian culture.
I was honoured to be able to paint some of the kupuna. The first one was Aunty Hana.”
Kōkua for Kaua’i Flood Relief
Ka Pā Hula Ka Lei Maile Hi’ilani, as the Singapore branch of Hālau Ka Lei Kukui Hi’ilani on Kaua’i, took up a collection to donate to the ongoing Kaua’i Flood Relief efforts. We know of friends and hula sisters who have lost their homes and belongings due to the torrential rains that resulted in flooding, landslides, and loss of property.
ʻAnakē Julie is the organiser of May Day by the Bay, which had to be cancelled because Hanalei Bay has been destroyed. Here is a short video of our presentation to ʻAnakē Julie through our Kumu Hula, Kumu Leihi’ilani Kirkpatrick. Mahalo to all who helped out and have been praying for the flood victims.
Live Updates/Running Commentary from Alaka’i Namiko on Kaua’i
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https://www.facebook.com/pg/schoolofhawaiianhula/posts/?ref=page_internal
We’ll also do our best to keep an updated list of all the videos/live updates here:
June 17 | Opening Ceremony of the 2018/5th Ka ʻAha Hula ʻO Hālauaola World Conference in Hilo, Hawai’i; see also this link
June 14 | Kumu Lei’s arrival, and assembly of Hālau Ka Lei Kukui Hi’ilani delegates, on Hawai’i; prelude to the Ka ʻAha Hula ʻO Hālauaola World Conference
June 10 | Presenting The Prayer with Singaporean hula sisters at Uncle Melvin’s birthday celebration; see here for the video
June 1 | Post-poi-making at the Waipā Foundation
May 23 | Meeting with kupuna at the Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center; see also this post
May 19 | Stamping cloth for kihei with hālau sisters
May 18 | Presenting our Kaua’i Flood Relief contribution to ʻAnakē Julie, organiser of May Day by the Bay
May 14 | Video recap of flood relief/fund-raising efforts on Kaua’i
May 13 | Spontaneous rendition of Hanalei Moon with Uncle Ronnie
May 13 | Spontaneous rendition of Beautiful Kaua’i with Uncle Ronnie
May 11 | On the way to the Waipā Foundation to make poi as part of flood relief on Kaua’i
May 10 | On-the-ground update from Hanalei on the recent flooding
May 9 | Greetings from Kaua’i, Hawai’i
Ka Pā Hula Ka Lei Maile Hi'ilani 