Merrie Monarch 2010: Looking back

Eselu full of gratitude in victory

Dennis Oda / doda@starbulletin.com

Ke Kai O Kahiki kumu hula O’Brien Eselu, right, accepted three awards, including overall winner, on behalf of his halau at the Merrie Monarch festival last weekend.

By Nina Wu
nwu@starbulletin.com

HILO, Hawaii » Kumu hula O‘Brian Eselu has proven once again that a small group of hula dancers can be just as powerful as halau three or four times its size.

Eselu’s six-member halau, Waianae’s Ke Kai O Kahiki, won not only its second overall title at the 47th annual Merrie Monarch Festival last weekend, but also best kane overall as well as awards for best kane kahiko and kane ‘auana.

Originally from Samoa, Eselu returned to the Merrie Monarch festival two years ago after a hiatus due to health problems and surprised everyone by taking the overall title last year. The 54-year old entered his first Merrie Monarch competition 31 years ago with his late partner, Thaddius Wilson; the halau was known then as Na Wai ‘Eha O Puna.

Always humble, Eselu said he was full of gratitude when he learned his halau had won on Saturday.

“I just want to thank the Merrie Monarch Festival, Auntie Dottie and Uncle George,” he said. “Thirty-one years ago they were so kind to me, and so encouraging. I’m here to celebrate them and their legacy.”

Eselu said he was surprised at the wins because he introduced a new step in his kahiko number, “A Ka‘uku,” which is only used by his halau. It’s a step that involves jumping in the air, clapping, then coming back down with a waterfall movement. Eselu learned it from his own kumu decades ago.

It was a bold move and risk, one which the Merrie Monarch judges might not have approved of. Still, Eselu — also the director of a Polynesian show at Paradise Cove Luau and a Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning musician — is known for taking risks. Read more

Merrie Monarch 2010 winners announced

Eselu, Reichel win big in Hilo

By Nina Wu
nwu@starbulletin.com

HILO, Hawaii » Once again, it was kumu hula O‘Brian Eselu’s halau, Ke Kai O Kahiki, that swept all categories for a second year in a row at the 27th Merrie Monarch Festival.

Ke Kai O Kahiki was the overall winner, as well as the winner of the kane kahiko, kane ‘auana and kane overall categories — a clean sweep. Last year, Eselu’s halau did not win the kane ‘auana category, which went to kumu hula William “Sonny” Ching.

Keali‘i Reichel’s Halau Ke‘alaokamaile, meanwhile, won the wahine overall title, as well as wahine kahiko and wahine ‘auana.

Eselu’s halau, made up of just six male dancers, was the last to perform out of 28 contestants. They did not disappoint, with a rendition of “A Ka‘uku,” a tale about the land battle between Pele and Kamapua‘a in the hula kahiko competition on Friday night. The halau also delighted the crowd last night with a lively performance of “E Koa‘e E,” a tale about a white tropic bird that nest upon sheer cliffs, while fishing from the sea.

Ching’s halau took third place in the wahine kahiko as well as the kane ‘auana categories. Read more

[PICS] Merrie Monarch 2010: Group Hula ‘Auana Competition

More Merrie Monarch moments

Photos by Dennis Oda
doda@starbulletin.com

>> Halau Hula O Kaleimomi
Kumu hula: Sheldeen Kaleimomi Kaleohano Haleamau (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Read more

Merrie Monarch 2010: Group Hula Kahiko Competition

Kahiko performances awe, inspire

By Nina Wu
nwu@starbulletin.com

HILO, Hawaii » In an online Merrie Monarch poll, 41.1 percent of participants voted the Hula Kahiko competition on Friday night as their favorite night at the festival. The kahiko (ancient-style) segment of the 47th annual Merrie Monarch Festival did not disappoint.

It was an evening full of entrancing rhythms from the guttural beat of the pahu drums that guided movements, in addition to mesmerizing chants, story-telling and drama. Read more

[PICS] Merrie Monarch 2010: Group Hula Kahiko Competition

Merrie Monarch moments

Photos by Dennis Oda
doda@starbulletin.com

>> Nā Pualei O Likolehua
Kumu hula: Leinaʻala Kalama Heine (Kapālama, Oʻahu)

Read more

Merrie Monarch 2010: Miss Aloha Hula

Miss Aloha Hula full of color, emotion

Photos by Dennis Oda / doda@starbulletin.com

Mahealani Mika Hirao-Solem from Hula Halau O Kamuela reacts in her dressing room after it was announced that she won the Miss Aloha Hula title. She is flanked by her kumu, Kau’i Kamana’o, left, and Kunewa Mook.

By Nina Wu
nwu@starbulletin.com

HILO, Hawaii » The evening was full of applause, emotion and anticipation as 13 dancers vied for the title of Miss Aloha Hula at this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival. Every performance was unique, telling yet another story, in a different voice as many-colored and varied as the hues of the pa‘u skirts.

Three hours into the competition, there was no clear winner. Read more

Merrie Monarch 2010: Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu visits Halema‘uma‘u

Paying homage to Pele

Photos by Dennis Oda / doda@starbulletin.com

By Nina Wu
nwu@starbulletin.com

VOLCANO, Hawaii » There was a peaceful quiet and calm over Halema‘uma‘u at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Wednesday, as smoke from the caldera spouted upward into the vast horizon.

From a lookout spot before a healthy Ohia lehua tree in full bloom at the crater’s edge, kumu hula William “Sonny” Ching and his halau, Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, offered chants to Pele and danced in full costume — first the men, then the women.

Miss Aloha Hula contender Ashlynne Kahoapilianakupuna Jingao stepped out onto a lauhala mat, chanted out to the caldera and performed her kahiko (an homage to her own ancestors) to the natural elements, completely in the moment.

In the stillness, there was no other sound except for the song of birds in the background (and people snapping photos). It was a spiritual moment — an offering — rather than a competition or a performance.

Then one by one, each member of the halau went up to the edge, and offered first their lei po‘o (head lei) and lei a‘i (neck lei) in a neat pile. Read more