This weekend, Moanalua Gardens, once home to Prince Lot, will once again be filled with the art that made him most happy: hula. All are invited to stroll Moanalua Gardens, relaxing in the shade of its giant monkeypod trees, as 20 hula halau honor the Hawaiian royal Prince Lot Liholiho Kaupaiwa, who reigned as Kamehameha V from 1863 to 1872.
In its 39th year, the free festival is a gift, hosted by the Moanalua Gardens Foundation. This year’s theme, reflected in the mele or chants of the halau, is “Mo‘olelo o Moanalua,” the stories of Moanalua.
PRINCE LOT HULA FESTIVAL
Where: Moanalua Gardens
When: 9 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-noon, 1-3 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free
Info: moanaluagardensfoundation.org
Note: Bring mats or towels for lawn seating; low-back folding chairs are allowed at the back of the lawn. In addition to on-street availability, visitors may park at Moanalua Middle School on Saturday only. Both days: Moanalua Elementary School; Moanalua Road, near Moanalua Community Park; First Hawaiian Bank, Mapunapuna branch, and adjacent street parking, with a free shuttle to Moanalua Gardens.
The festival will open with a ceremony that mirrors the days of royal reign, as the Kamehameha Alumni Glee Club performs, followed by the Royal Order of Kamehameha receiving honors and a special citation on its 150th anniversary, presented by the foundation’s executive director, Alika Jamile, and secretary/treasurer, Charles M Cooke IV.
Kumu hula Coline Aiu and Kimo Kealuana will be recognized with a Malie Kau Award. The awards are given to kumu who, over their lifetime, have made lasting contributions to the perpetuation of hula.
Aiu is the daughter of Maiki Aiu Lake, who is credited with helping to spur the Hawaiian renaissance of hula and music. Known as Miss Coline, Aiu mirrors her mother’s gentle style of hula.
Kealuana has been kumu of Hula Lei Hulu Hula School for 45 years, and his halau performed in the early years of the festival. He comes from generations of musicians, composers, teachers and dancers, and is the keeper of his families’ collection of rare and long-standing Hawaiian music.
New to the festival, kumu Puna Kalama Dawson and halau Ka Ipu Ha‘a o Kekau‘ilani — Na Pua Hala o Kauai will visit Oahu from their home island of Kauai. Kumu hula Lelehua Maunahina Bray and Halau Hula Maunalei, based in Kailua-Kona, will appear. And kumu Makalapua Bernard brings Halau Hula o Kaleipuaimilia from Waianae.
Kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine and Jeffrey Kanekaiwilani Takamine’s Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima halau will perform for a 39th year. The halau holds the record for presenting hula every year since 1978.
Kumu Mapuana de Silva and Halau Mohala ‘Ilima plan a rare hula treat, with the men and women dancing together. De Silva’s halau has danced nearly every year.
Kumu Niuli‘i Heine and Halau Pualei o Likolehua will honor the hula of the halau’s founder and Heine’s mother, the late Leina‘ala Kalama Heine.
Two other festival traditions – shopping and eating — also continue. Both are offered on the broad lawn behind the seating areas.
The folks from Native Hawaiian-owned ‘Ai Manuahi Farms will teach poi pounding. Haili’s Hawaiian Foods serves Hawaiian food.
Moana K.M. Eisele, kapa practitioner, will demonstrate the intricate and ancient art of making kapa and stamps. She invites onlookers to try pounding the bark of a mulberry tree or creating a design with ohe kapala bamboo strips, which Eisele designs and carves as stamps to decorate the kapa.
Move on to watch Keith Maile make an ukulele. Visit the gallery display by Shannon Weaver McKay, creator of the 39th festival poster and T-shirt design. Dexter Soares will demonstrate the preparation of gourds used for Hawaiian hula implements. Mu‘olaulani will make lei as visitors watch.
SCHEDULE
Saturday
>> 9 a.m.: Opening procession, Malia Kau awards presentation
>> 9:30 a.m.: Halau Hula o Maiki, kumu hula Coline Aiu
>> 9:55 a.m.: Na Pualei o Likolehua, kumu hula Niulii Heine
>> 10:20 a.m.: Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, kumu hula Joan Lindsey
>> 10:45 a.m.: Ka Pa Nani o Lilinoe, kumu hula Lilinoe Lindsey
>> 11:10 a.m.: Halau Na Mamo o ka Liko Maile o Kohala, kumu hula Kapua Francisco
>> 11:35 a.m.: Ka Hale I o Kahala Halau Hula, kumu hula Leimomi I-Maldonado
>> 1 p.m.: Welcome, proclamations, Kimo Kahoano
>> 1:10 p.m.: Ka Ipu Haa o Kekauilani Na Pua Hala o Kauai, kumu hula Puna Kalama Dawson
>> 1:35 p.m.: Halau Hula o Namakahulali, kumu hula Shirley Recca
>> 2 p.m.: Halau Hula o Kukunaokala, hoopa Elsie Ryder
>> 2:25 p.m.: Halau Mohala Ilima, kumu hula Mapuana De Silva
>> 2:50 p.m.: Ka La Onohi Mai o Haehae Halau, kumu hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes
>> 3:15 p.m.: Halau Hooulu i ke Kapa, kumu hula Leimomi Kiyono
>> 3:35 p.m.: Hawaii Aloha
Sunday
>> 10 a.m.: Welcome, sponsor acknowledgements, recognition of Malia Kau awardees Kimo Kahoano
>> 10:05 a.m.: Opening procession Knights of the Orthodox Order of St. John, Hawaii Priory
>> 10:10 a.m.: Concert by Raiatea Helm
>> 10:30 a.m.: Halau Maunalei, kumu hula Lelehua Bray
>> 10:55 a.m.: Halau Hula Kamamolikolehua, kumu hula Pohai Souza
>> 11:20 a.m.: Halau Hula o Kaleipuaimilia, kumu hula Makalapua Bernard
>> 11:45 a.m.: Pua Alii Ilima, kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine and Jeffrey Kanekaiwilani Takamine
>> 1 p.m.: Halau Hula Ka Noeau, kumu hula Michael Pili Pang
>> 1:30 p.m.: Halau Haa Hula o Kekauilani Na Pua Hala o Kailua, kumu hula Charlani Kalama
>> 1:55 p.m.: Halau Hoola o Waipao, kumu hula Kapualani McElroy
>> 2:15 p.m.: Halau Hula o Hokulani, kumu hula Hokulani De Rego
>> 2:35 p.m.: Hawaii Aloha
