When Dee Coyle sees the bright eyes and beautiful smiles of the dancers, ages 5 through 17, who perform at Hula o na Keiki each year, she feels hopeful for the future of hula.
“Hula o na Keiki is authentic,” said Coyle, the competition’s administrator and the director of training of the Pookela and Hookipa department at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, which launched the event 25 years ago. “It connects contestants with their roots, shares their love for the hula and teaches them about the cultural protocols, instruments and adornments associated with it.”
Although Hula o na Keiki has a hula palua (couples) category, it is essentially a solo competition. Some of its young competitors might be dancing alone, competing for the first time or both.
“Yes, that adds pressure, but the event is designed to ensure a positive experience,” Coyle said. “For example, every participant goes home with something, even if it’s not a trophy. The goal is to motivate children to pursue a higher degree of learning about Hawaiian culture through hula. We’ve seen haumana (students) transition to kumu (teachers). In that way, hula is being perpetuated.”
For the auana (modern) segment of Hula o na Keiki, solo and hula palua contestants dance to hapa-haole songs written between 1929 and 1959. The subject of hapa-haole music is Hawaiian, but the lyrics are usually partially or entirely in English.
During the kahiko (ancient) segment, participants present an oli (chant) of their choice. The girls dance to a mele (song) about Haleakala that their kumu has choreographed. The boys dance to a mele about islands from Hawaii to Mokupapapa (Kure atoll), also choreographed by their kumu. Both songs were written by Kekuhi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, one of the seven judges for this year’s silver-anniversary event.
“We’re honored to have respected kumu hula from throughout Hawaii judge Hula o na Keiki,” Coyle said. “Several of them have judged the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival, including Cy Bridges, Ed Collier, Johnny Lum Ho, Vicky Holt Takamine, Leiana Woodside and Hokulani Holt, who is our head judge this year.”
Judging criteria for the dancers’ oli include pronunciation, phrasing and how well they display an understanding of the chant through voice, facial expressions and body movements. Among the items on the judges’ checklist as they watch the hula performances are posture and precision of gestures and footwork.
During an interview with the contestants, judges evaluate their poise, the clarity of their written applications, their understanding of the songs and their explanation of their costumes and adornments.
“It takes a lot of preparation to learn a hula, and it also takes a lot of practice, knowledge and courage to talk about it,” Coyle said. “The interview can be intimidating; I’ve seen some students cry and clam up and others who’ve shined. Hula o na Keiki is no different from other competitive activities. It builds confidence, character, pride and discipline. It starts with a desire to learn, improve and be challenged. If you win, that’s icing on the cake.”
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IF YOU GO …
Hula o na Keiki
>> Place: Kaanapali Beach Hotel, 2525 Kaanapali Parkway, Kaanapali Resort, Maui
>> Dates: Friday through Nov. 15
>> Tickets: $15 for ages 13 and over, $6 for ages 12 and under (infants and toddlers who sit on someone’s lap are free), $20 for reserved seating, $25 for premium seating. Call to buy tickets, which can be picked up on Thursday and Friday at the Ohana Fun Center in the lobby from 7 a.m. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.
>> Phone: 661-0011
>> Email: dcoyle@kbhmaui.com
>> Website: hawaiiculture.com/cms/View.aspx/Show/HulaONaKeiki
Notes: The hotel is offering a special nightly rate of $176 ($139 for kamaaina) for attendees on Friday and Saturday.
Project Pookela
In his thought-provoking speech at the 1984 Governor’s Tourism Conference, the late state Sen. Kenneth Brown noted that although many visitors are drawn to Hawaii because of its culture, much of that has been lost, and it is critical to preserve what remains.
Michael White, general manager of the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, took Brown’s words to heart. With the late George Kanahele, an esteemed Native Hawaiian historian and author, he designed and implemented Project Pookela in May 1986 “to enhance (employees’) understanding and appreciation of the Hawaiian culture so that we can help to preserve it for future generations.”
Every employee had the opportunity to provide input on the hotel’s mission statement, which emphasizes Hawaiian values such as hookipa (hospitality), aloha (love), kokua (helpfulness) and lokahi (harmony). Offered three times annually, Project Pookela’s classes cover religion, medicine, stewardship of the land and other topics that were important to Hawaiians before Western contact and remain relevant.
An offshoot of Project Pookela, Hula o na Keiki was the brainchild of the late Kanoeau Delatori and the late Akoni Akana, two of Kaanapali Beach Hotel’s cultural resource advisers. Since its premiere in 1990, the competition has drawn participants from Hawaii, California, Las Vegas and Japan. More than $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded for its silver anniversary this year.
Highlights
See accompanying “If You Go” sidebar for Hula o na Keiki admission prices. The activities below are free and in the Tiki Courtyard unless otherwise noted.
Friday
8 a.m.-4 p.m.:
>> Memorabilia display and photo collage, lobby. Through Sunday.
>> Hawaiian Festival of Arts & Crafts, lobby and Tiki Courtyard. Also on Saturday.
>> Friends of Mokuula (mokuula.com) display. Also on Saturday.
9 a.m.- 4 p.m.:
Entertainment. Also on Saturday.
10-10:45 a.m.
Pahu drumming lessons. Also on Saturday.
12-12:45 p.m.
Ukulele lessons. Also on Saturday.
1-3 p.m.
Hula implements workshop, $10 per person
4:30-8:30 p.m.
Kahiko competition, Kanahele Room
Saturday
9-11 a.m.
Hula implements workshop, $10 per person
1-5 p.m.
Auana and hula palua competitions and awards ceremony, Kanahele Room
Nov. 15
8-9 a.m.
Nondenominational workshop service, Hale Hema, fronting the Lanai Wing
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sunday Champagne Brunch, Tiki Terrace (broadcast live on KPOA-93.5 FM)
Also enjoy an arts and crafts fair and entertainment by past Hula o na Keiki participants. Cost is $44.95 for adults and $22.95 for children 6 to 12. Kids 5 and under are free with a paying adult. Reservations are required; receive $2 off the adult price with each adult Hula o na Keiki ticket stub.
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Cheryl Chee-Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.
