"Nona Beamer: A Legacy of Aloha"

Aloha....I'm posting this flyer today of the movie my dear friend at Chameleon Productions created of Hawaii's dear Aunty Nona Beamer.  The premiere of the movie to be shown Saturday after the Merrie Monarch Parade.  For those that knew her or those that admired her from afar, if you can make it I highly recommend you see this film.  You can view some trailers here:
http://chameleon-chameleonproductions.blogspot.com/

    I haven't seen the movie yet, but you will see me among many who loved her.
Let me know what you think. This is a great time for the film to make its public debut during the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival week.

  Unfortunately on a sad note, another precious treasure has left us, Kumu Hula O'Brian Eselu of  Halau Ke Kai O Kahiki.
His halau from Waianae, Ke Kai O Kahiki, was among the leading halau in the past several years, taking first place overall at the Merrie Monarch in 2009 and 2010.  

Ke Kai O Kahiki swept the male categories in 2010, taking first place overall and first for male halau, for male hula kahiko (ancient hula) and male hula 'auana (modern hula).

  It was in 2010 that Kahula O Na Mamo O Mo'ikeha performed before Kumu O'Brian and his men at the Kalakaua Park during MM week. He was such a kind and gentle man and I wished I could have spoken to him, but we were all very busy with the events of the day.  He did mention to the audience that day about a young boy that was dancing with us to keep up the good work because he could see the boy had a lot of potential.  Well, that made the young dancer very happy.

A very gifted musician, but even a better Kumu so I have heard said. You can find O'Brian Eselu and his music on itunes.  He will be greatly missed.
         Have a great Merrie Monarch Week!

Merrie Monarch Hula Festival 2012

Aloha kakou!
Yes, its that time again when hula permeates Hilo! April 8 - 14.
Starting with the Ho'olaulea, Sunday April 8 at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium 9am.  This has Free admission so be sure to catch it.  They will feature local halau that you won't want to miss.

One of my personal favorites is on April 11; the Arts and Crafts Fair will have started, but be sure to bring lots on kala ($), your gonna need it!
 This is a wonderful event that lets you see the local talent out here in the Islands and you can always find some new fabric from Polynesia and of course hula implements too.

Also be sure to check out The Music Exchange http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Music-Exchange/121186501226560  across from the Edith Kanaka'ole stadium will have some of my Ipuheke for sale. (ka'u kane makes!)  These ipu are the best handmade in all the islands of course! And yes, they come with the pale and kaula.
Next is the free exhibition night of hula, international performers, and music.
 6:00 pm, Wednesday, April 11th at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium.   This is truly a pleasure to experience, even if the crowd is huge!  I think doors open at 4pm, which means you need to get in line at 2p?!
Ha! You figure it out, only be prepared for the wait.

 Follow this link; http://www.merriemonarch.com/the-festival   for more information on the week's activities.  Also, a not to be missed program at  www.imiloahawaii.org  that will offer some very enriching cultural workshops for locals and malihini alike! You will love it!
Okay, after some sadness comes the gladness and happy-to-be-Hawaiian-ness!
So get out there and enjoy some Hula!!!

Merrie Monarch 2010

Me and Aunties Kawaiʻula and Ulalia on Miss Aloha hula night.

Yes, we had a fun time at Merrie Monarch Hula Competition and Norene and I had great seats next to Tomo and Maiko. Most folks were packed in like little sardines, but we were lucky and not too crowded. Not like some areas that looked really uncomfortable.Was I uncomfortable, you ask? Well, to be honest, yes. The little stadium seats we brought were rather a bit small and well, Norene can fit her little self just fine on one, but moi? I mean Moʻi? Ha! Anyway, that didnʻt stop us from having a fun and exciting time. If you didnʻt get to see the hula action on t.v. I hope you got to see it on streaming live on the net. If you didnʻt catch that then you can wait for the DVDʻs to come out at $50 each, when ever that will be. I just hope my friend Judy can get me a copy from her Tevo like she said she would. Bless you Judy, and so glad we got to hook up on Sunday night.
Seeing Oʻbrian Eselu with Ke Kai o Kahiki and Kealiʻi Reichel with Halau Kealaʻokamaile out on top again is super maikaʻi. They are two of my favorite competitive halau.

Check this site for all the winners of Merrie Monarch 2010:
http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2010/04/11/2010-merrie-monarch-festival-results
(sorry, blogger wouldnʻt link this right, so just typed it in)

I will post more fun pics as they come up...all of us so busy, no time to empty the digital camera! ʻAuwe!
A hui hou,
Moʻikeha

Me with Norene,Maiko, and Tomo.


Junko,Tomo,Maiko, and Ahonui.

Merrie Monarch week has arrived!

Do you smell that? You know, that smell, yes that one...Thatʻs the smell of hula in the air! This is the week that folks come from all over the world to witness and experience the largest hula extravaganza anywhere in the world. In Hilo one can find a variety of hula performances or discussions of hula that will satisfy anyone's palette.
Plus this is when all the Hawaiian art and crafts, usually pertaining to hula objects can be found made right here in Hawaii. Today at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center the students of Ke Kula ʻo Nawahiokalaniʻopuʻu will be offering a presentation of the traditional stories of Keaomelemele. The show will tell the epic story of gods, humans and hula. And of course it will be all done in Hawaiian. On Wednesday, Kumuhula Leinaʻala Heine will share in the connection of the Keaomelemele with genealogical ties in hula. Also, later on that day there will be a panel of former Miss Aloha Hula winners from the famous Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua of Uncle Johnny Lum Ho. Sure to be an interesting discussion. Throughout the week there will be numerous hula halau performing for the community either at the Civic Auditorium, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, or the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort. So everyone will have a chance to catch some hula! If you donʻt have tickets by now for the Merrie Monarch Hula competition you can always attend the free night on Wednesday evening. Always the crowd favorite, but again, go early, because there will be a ʻcrowdʻ. Besides the Royal court dancers of Halau o Kekuhi, the featured performers are of Halau Hula o Hokulani, one of my personal favorites.
Our halau Kahula o na Mamo o Moʻikeha was asked to perform on Monday and Tuesday, once at the Hilo Hawaiian and the other for the Naniloa, but unfortunately when I found out it was not enough time for us to plan for it and the timing was not good for most of the dancers. I consider it a privilege to be asked of such a thing and I hope the office will call us again for next year, and apparently our performance dates were already printed in the Merrie Monarch program too, so hey itʻs cool to see our name in there!
Okay, well I can not help but mention the losses we have had in our hula world before closing. The co-founder of Merrie Monarch Uncle George Naʻope this past year has truly been felt by all. His legacy of hula has been so profound to his students and to all associated with hula. This was a hula master, maybe the last of the ʻold school kineʻ, but with the other loss of founder Aunty Dotty Thompson one canʻt help to see how fast life can pass us by and before you know it our loved ones and mentors are gone. Hilo is also still is shock over the passing of Kumuhula Rae Fonseca, a big local competitor and a protege of Uncle George. Kumu Raeʻs halau will still compete this year as he would want them to. Surely a crowd favorite. Okay, besides all that, Kahula o na mamo o Moʻikeha is still practicing for the ʻUniki of Lei Hulu of Hiloʻ on Sunday at 1pm at Sangha Hall in Hilo. Of course you must come and see us hula! Only $25 at the door for a luʻau style course meal and entertainment. I will try and post again before the week is out. Yours in hula!