Love for home, or Hawaii, is woven throughout Halau i ka Wekiu’s 18th annual fundraiser show, this weekend at the Hawaii Theatre.
The two-hour show, “Gotta Love Our Home,” transports the audience from the halau’s base of Pauoa on Oahu to the majestic beauty of Mauna Kea on Hawaii island. It showcases about 100 of the halau’s dancers, from keiki to kupuna, who constantly strive for the wekiu, or summit that is part of the halau’s name.
‘Gotta Love Our Home’ Halau i ka Wekiu
Where: Hawaii Theatre, 1130 Bethel St.
When: 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $20-$40
Info: hawaiitheatre.com or 528-0506
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“It’s always based around love,” said kumu hula Karl Veto Baker, explaining that the show always falls close to Valentine’s Day. “You think about love, and hey, what about this place we love so much? Our home, Hawaii.”
Home can be a physical house or place, he said, but it can also be a feeling of belonging or of a nurturing place we strive to create for our families.
A bit of Broadway-style musical fun starts off the show, followed by more solemn kahiko pieces. Overall, each piece celebrates the love for one’s home, and of belonging, Baker says.
He will open the show singing “Home,” from “The Wiz,” followed by the younger dancers performing an auana (modern-style hula) about Muolaulani, Queen Liliuokalani’s favorite place of refuge in Kapalama, which is now the site of a children’s center.
In a nod to Disney, dancers will sing the “Mickey Mouse” song, leading to a hula celebrating princess characters like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty but also Princess Kaiulani and her royal estate at Ainahau.
The halau, under the direction of Baker and kumu hula Michael Casupang, took overall winner titles at the Merrie Monarch Festival in 2007 and 2012, and has taken top honors in both the kane (men) and wahine (women) divisions, but is taking a break this year. The halau plans to return to competition in 2017.
Guest artis Lehua Kalima will perform. Among the songs she will present is “Hawai‘i Akea,” which she sang for Keo Woolford’s film “The Haumana.”
Kumu Casupang wrote the lyrics to “Hawai‘i Akea” after Woolford relayed how he felt when he missed home. It’s a mele that speaks of returning to Hawaii after being away for a long time, with newfound love and appreciation.
Right before intermission, dancers will perform a special number to a medley of “Hawaii 78” and “Beauty of Maunakea.” It is intended to give the audience something to talk about during intermission, Baker said.
Kahiko numbers in the second half honor Pele’s home in Kilauea, the snow goddesses that dwell on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. A special kahiko performance of “Hawai‘i Akea” honors Robert Cazimero, who was kumu hula to both Baker and Casupang.
The funds raised go to the Kauakoko Foundation, which support the students in their endeavors, whether it’s competing at Merrie Monarch or going on knowledge-gathering field trips and other hula events throughout the year.
“If you love Hawaii,” said Baker, “please come and enjoy the music and dance, which speaks of our love of her.”