E HO'I MAI I KA PIKO HULA
THE 2000 WORLD INVITATIONAL HULA FESTIVAL

 

The 10th annual World Invitational Hula Festival, funded in part by the Hawai’I Tourism Authority, wrapped its final night under breezy, but dry skies at the Waikiki Shell this past Saturday.  Halau hula and haumana from Aloha Dalire’s Keolaulani Halau Olapa O Laka and Benjie Santiago’s Hula Halau O Kaleolani walked away with the lion’s share of the awards.  Also taking multiple awards were Brad & Mi’ilani Cooper’s Kihene Pua Uluwehi and Karla Akiona’s Na Mea Hula O Kahikinaolalani from Japan.  David Tiave’s Halau Hali’alaulani South Korea and Samoa haumana and Ed Collier’s Halau ‘O Na Pua Kukui from Honolulu,  Sha Nia from Tehran, Iran received the George Holokai Aloha Award for demonstrating the truest spirit of Aloha and Kokua throughout the festival’s weeklong activities. 

          Halau hula and haumana (students) from Iran, South Korea, Samoa, US Mainland, Japan, Guam and Germany returned to the source to join with halau hula from Hawai’i to share their love of ancient and modern hula, Hawaiian language and culture that began November 4th with the Ho’olauna workshop at Kamehameha Schools. 

          Saturday night featured a music and dance performance from kumu hula Frank Kawaikapu Hewett during tally time with special guest Erisa Okada, kumu hula Naupaka Hula Studio from Tokyo, Japan.  Intermission featured a special appearance from kumu hula Benjie Santiago’s award winning keiki kane from this year’s Queen Lili’uokalani Keiki Hula Competition. 

          Friday night featured a special performance from master kumu hula Nona Beamer and kumu hula Maile Beamer Loo on the work the Hula Preservation Society has done over the past year.

           Thursday night honored kumu hula Alice Pulu’elo Naipo Park for her lifetime of achievements in perpetuating hula and Hawaiian culture.  Born in Hoea, Kohala on the Big Island, hula was an integral part of her life since childhood.  One of her early teachers was Katie Nakaula, a court dancer for King Kaläkaua.  She did her uniki under the direction of Lokalia Montgomery and opened her halau in 1952.  A talented singer as well as performer, Pulu’elo entertained in many of Hawai’i’s finest hotels taught hula in Japan.

 

10th Annual World Invitational Hula Festival Results:

KULUWAIMAKA ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Kane soloists with highest achievement in combined language scores.
Hawai’i          Tino Moe
Aloha Dalire & Keolalaulani Hälau ‘Ölapa O Laka - Kailua, O’ahu

Visiting          Kyu Cho - Seoul, Korea
David Tiave & Hälau Hali’alaulani

MARY KAWENA PUKU’I ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Wahine soloists with the highest achievement in combined language scores
Hawai’i           Kapualokeokalani’akea Dalire
Aloha Dalire & Keolalaulani Hälau ‘Ölapa O Laka - Kailua, Oahu

Visiting          Yumiko Pierce - Yokohama, Japan
Karla Akiona & Na Mea O Kahikinaolalani

EDITH KAKUHI KANAKA’OLE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Halau with highest achievement in combined language scores.

Hawai’i          Ed Collier & Halau ‘O Na Pua Kukui - Honolulu, Oahu

Visiting          Ulukoa Duhaylonsod & Kiawekupono O Ka Ua - Mangilao, Guam

PUA HA’AHEO ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Hawai’I kane soloist with highest achievement in combined scores of the traditional and contemporary hula and language performance.

Tino Moe
Aloha Dalire & Keolalaulani Hälau ‘Olapa O Laka - Kailua, O’ahu

MAIKI AIU ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Hawai’i wahine soloist with highest achievement in combined scores of traditional and contemporary hula and language performance.

   Kapualokeokalani’akea Dalire
Aloha Dalire & Keolalaulani Hälau ‘Olapa O Laka - Kailua, Oahu

HENRY MO’IKEHA O KAHIKI PA  ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Visiting kane soloist with highest achievement in combined scores of the traditional and contemporary hula and language performance.

Carlos Kapukinila’au Aguon – Barrigada, Guam
Benjie Santiago & Hula Halau O Kaleolani

EMMA KAPI’OLANI SHARPE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Visiting wahine soloist with highest achievement in combined scores of the traditional and contemporary hula and language performance.

Yumiko Pierce - Yokohama, Japan
Karla Akiona & Na Mea O Kahikinaolalani

ROSE KAPI’OLANI JOSHUA  ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Combined halau with the highest achievement in traditional hula and language performance.

Hawai’i          Ed Collier & Halau ‘O Na Pua Kukui - Honolulu, O’ahu

Visiting          Benjie Santiago & Hula Halau O Kaleolani - Barrigada, Guam

 Combined halau with the highest achievement in contemporary hula and language performance.

Hawai’i          Aloha Dalire & Keolalaulani Halau ‘Olapa O Laka - Kailua, O’ahu

Visiting            Benjie Santiago & Hula Halau O Kaleolani - Barrigada, Guam

KAU’I ZUTTERMEISTER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Visiting kane halau with highest achievement in traditional hula and language performance.

Benjie Santiago & Hula Halau O Kaleolani - Barrigada, Guam

 Visiting kane halau with highest achievement in contemporary hula and language performance.

David Tiave & Ellen Dela Rosa & Halau Hali’alaulani - Mapusagafou, Samoa

HELEN DESHA BEAMER ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Wahine halau with the highest achievement in traditional hula and language.

Hawai’i          Ed Collier & Halau ‘O Na Pua Kukui - Honolulu, O’ahu

Visiting            Brad & Mi’ilani Cooper &  Kihene Pua Uluwehi – Tokyo, Japan

FARDEN FAMILY LANGUAGE & MUSICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Musicians with the highest achievement in Hawaiian language and music in the ‘auana performance.

            Aloha Dalire & Keolalaulani Halau ‘Olapa O Laka - Kailua, O’ahu

 ‘IOLANI LUAHINE OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Halau with the highest achievement in combined scores of the traditional and contemporary hula and language performance.

          Aloha Dalire & Keolalaulani Halau ‘Olapa O Laka - Kailua, O’ahu

 GEORGE HOLOKAI ALOHA AWARD

Individual demonstrating the truest spirit of Aloha and Kokua throughout the festival’s weeklong activities.

Shah Nia - Tehran, Iran

 

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