Miss Aloha Hula’s routine focuses on storytelling

HILO >> When Shalia Kapuau‘ionalani Kikuyo Kamakaokalani of Maui stepped on stage Thursday evening, she was completely swept up in her goal — not so much winning, but telling the important stories of royal ancestors such as Queen Kapiolani and Princess Ka‘iulani.

With stellar performances in both the kahiko and auana portions of the competition, she impressed judges and netted the top score of 1,130, winning the title of Miss Aloha Hula on Thursday night.

By Friday the news was still sinking in for Kamakaokalani, a Kamehameha Schools graduate studying Hawaiian language at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

“Honestly, I don’t think it has completely sunk in yet,” Kamakaokalani said Friday afternoon. “I still feel like it’s not real.”

Kamakaokalani, 21, of Haliimaile, Maui, has been dancing for kumu hula Napua Greig’s Halau Na Lei Kaumaka o Uka since she was 4 years old. The youngest of five siblings gravitated to hula at a very young age and has lived and breathed it almost all her life.

Kamakaokalani said when she got on stage Thursday, she just wanted to honor Kapiolani and Ka‘iulani and bring their beauty, strength and grace onto the stage through her hula. As a hula practitioner, she said one’s kuleana is “getting your message across, bringing in your audience, letting them travel with you through your hula.”

For kahiko she performed a hula noho kalaau, a seated number with rhythm sticks to “Lei No Kapi‘olani,” commemorating the queen’s journey around Maui. For auana she celebrated the poise, intelligence and bravery of Princess Ka‘iulani in a velvety blue gown adorned with peacock feathers.

“(Winning)’s always a surprise because I don’t ever think we come in expecting anything,” said Greig, who was satisfied with what Kamakaokalani had already accomplished as a dancer and person. “Before awards we were very happy.”

The kahiko number was chosen, according to Greig, to showcase Kamakaokalani’s beautiful chanting voice and mastery over body control. The auana was special, as it was what Greig performed as a student for her kumu, Johnny Lum Ho of Hilo, back in 1992. She thought Kamakaokalani was the right dancer to pass it along to.

It seems to be a signature year for Greig, who has been teaching hula for more than 20 years and who also won Miss Aloha Hula in 2013 with her solo dancer, Manalani English. She also received nine nominations in eight categories for her most recent album, “Makawalu.”

Kamakaokalani’s family, including a brother who flew in from Las Vegas, was proud of her.

“She just started at a really young age,” said her mother, Karen Kamakaokalani, who had tears in her eyes. “Her aunties all dance. She’s a beautiful dancer.”

Twelve dancers vied for the Miss Aloha Hula title Thursday night at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium. First runner-up Ecstasy Jetta Laverne Kamakalikolehua Ligon of Ka La ‘Onohi Mai o Ha‘eha‘e won the Hawaiian Language Award.

The competition continued with group kahiko Friday night, and concludes with group auana tonight, followed by the announcement of winners and awards.