Tuesday, April 26

Hugs and Honis, an apparel shop, opened just in the nick of time this week.
“They were inundated with Japanese halau throughout the day. Most of the
halau were wearing local wear and flowers in their hair,” reports Zontian Sheila
Evans. who works at Day Lum next door to Hugs and Honis.

Flowers in the hair and around hats increased dramatically around town.

It may have happened before but to my experience, for the first time ever, there
wasn’t a single parking spot at Imiloa Astronomy Center and buses were lined at
the door. A Maui halau performed in the morning (“I love the male dancers and
the story telling was wonderful,” says Wendy Peskin.) Educational and cultural
enrichment sessions followed and continue through Friday.

Local folks are talking about Stephanie Puakea Whitehall from Glenn
Vasconcellos’ halau. She’s our island’s only chance for Miss Aloha Hula.