Merrie Monarch… misc.
April 5th, 2008 by WandaHILO, Hawai’i— Merrie Monarch Friday. Kahiko night, my favorite. And was there some awesome dancing, or what?
I screamed and screamed while other members of the media sitting near me remained silent, sitting back (or in some cases, so busy with filing photographs digitally online that they couldn’t pay any attention to what was going on). Am I easily amused? Yes. Are they missing something? Well, yes, IMHO. Because if you can sit at Merrie Monarch and not go nuts for the experience, why go?
One thing I noticed … several halau used song-style mele that actually involved three- or four-part harmony. You know, Kamehameha Schools, Ho”’okena style? On kahiko night? Did they have harmony then, in kahiko times? Just a question. They sounded great. I’m not criticizing.
But let’s go back to Thursday night for a moment. Miss Aloha Hula. Just as I was leaving the stadium at midnight Thursay, I noticed Miss AH 2007, Keonilei Fairbanks, in the midst of a group of friends who were loving her up for her heart-stirring performance (wearing a gown she bought at Nordstrom that was a knockout, a halter top, diaphanous silk with some sort of back action that looked like a train but wasn’t, in shades that went from white at the beaded collar to sea-blue turquoise at the hem).
(And by the way, diaphanous, shimmery, iridescent … those were costume trends this year for sure.)
I was tired. It was late. But I had to grab a notebook and a pen and ask her, as the new Miss Aloha Hula was doing one photo-op after another across the room (and between Big Island, Honolulu and Japanese media, the press press is heavy at MM): How did it feel to do that final dance?
Said the longtime member of Ka Pa Hula O Kauanoe O Waahila, “It was definitely bittersweet. It felt really good to be back on stage. I wanted to change my clothes and go do a kahiko.”
But Fairbanks, who is in college and working in child counseling, enjoyed her Miss Aloha Hula year and wouldn’t trade it for anything. She knows it’s time to move on. But not on from hula completely: “Hula is great. It doesn’t ever end,” she said.
Speaking of the first Miss Aloha Hula, kumu Aloha Dalire, whose girl had just won Miss Aloha Hula (and don’t be offended at the use of the now-sexist word “girl” — here, it’s always “Aloha’s girl” or “Sonny’s girl”…meaning the Miss AH contestant they have chosen): Dalire said, “Once a Miss Aloha Hula, always a Miss Aloha Hula.”
Back to last night…
This is not going to make me popular with traditionalists, but I think Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu, the controversial California kumu, for all his in-your-face Attitude, is the Johnny Lum Ho of the day. I notice something: Even though he gets bad-mouthed left and right for this and that — the way he dresses, the way he chants, “untraditional” behavior — he keeps getting invited back. This would be, I think, because what he’s doing is very, very interesting. From the first moment I heard him chant on the radio years ago, I didn’t just go, “Who is that??” — the way you do when you think maybe you wanna buy the CD. No, I said, “WHAT is that?” His style is so different and distinct. It’s chanting, but it’s somehow contemporary and arresting. And although I recognize how adolescent his attitude sometimes seems (OK, we DON’T wear sunglasses on the hula pa, even in rehearsal, brah), when he and his haumana come on stage, I sit up, take notice and take names.
This is pretty much all I got for now. I gotta go buy major omiyage for the office and stuff, and I need to sleep before tonight’s marathon. … And for the first time in covering MM 5 years, I have no idea, none, puka, a’ole, who is going to win tonight. So I gotta get my game face on.
Mahalo for reading The Honolulu Advertiser and my blog and enjoy the hula tonight!!!!
April 5th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Mahalo, Wanda, for your post. So much fun to get some of the insights into the Festival when we’re not there.
Yes, Ho’omalu’s style is not traditional, but it’s arresting. Get’s you excited to see the new stuff he does. My Kumu says he hits the ipu heke on the head, bad boy, but I did see Kumu Cazimero do the same in the documentary about Na Kamalei when he was standing and playing for his dancers at a practice. Traditionally, that’s a no-no. I agree with you that Mark is the next Johnny Lum Ho. Notice, he got new glasses this year; he wasn’t wearing sunglasses. Maybe he has a vision/light problem?
I went to a program in Cupertino, CA several years ago, and Mark’s kane did a dance using 6 or 8 temple pahu. It was spectacular! That would be a cool piece to put in the Wednesday night pre-competition program.
April 5th, 2008 at 10:48 am
[…] emKemnHAnd though I discern how someone his noesis sometimes seems (okay we DON’T dress spectacles on the hula pa, add in rehearsal, brah), when he and his haumana embellish on stage, I ordered up, avow present and avow names. … […]
April 5th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Well, I think Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu is a great innovator. He gets a lot of bad rap for it, but I think it’s great that we can point to his work and say “Look, our generation can create new Hawaiian things.” We have something that those that come after us can remember us by. The Merrie Monarch Hula Competition is in honor of King Kaläkaua, a lover of innovation. I bet you Kalakaua would love Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu’s work. The MM committee should consider a “would Kalakaua like it?” award. Anyhow, just some crazy thoughts from a crazy hula dancer. Aloha.
April 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
[…] webtutes wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptOne thing I noticed…several halau used song-style mele that actually involved three- or four-part harmony. You know, Kamehameha Schools, Ho’okena style? On kahiko night? Did they have harmony then, in kahiko times? Just a question. … […]
April 5th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
thanks Wanda - you are a very funny lady - in print at least - the inside tidbits are great - wondered about Keonelei’s dress - gotta go to my dye tubs - now! Aloha…
April 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Aloha mai kaua!!!
Yes indeed last nights competition was AWESOME and every single halau did their BEST and I enjoyed every performance!!! (In between me teaching and what not, but I did see the groups I wanted to see lol)
NA KANE O WAIMAPUNA were definitely present last night and Uncle Darrell Lupenui is smiling down upon them! Kumu Mark Keali`i Ho`omalu, Kumu Chinky Mahoe, and my cousin Kumu O’Brien Eselu, represented their hula line, hula `ohana, and halau very proudly!!! Each of them showcased a bit of Uncle Darrells Legacy in their performances!!! EO!!!
In regards to my good friend and one of my inspirations for hula, Kumu Hula Mark Keali`i Ho`omalu. Those people who criticize him should just keep their comments to themselves and RESPECT him for what he does and how he teaches and cultivates the Hawaiian Culture!!! Who are these people to disrespect a man who reaches out into a community and touches and educates everyone he comes into conact with a little or a lot about the Hawaiian culture. These people who criticize and talk smack about him should be ashamed of themselves!!! Kumu Pualani Kanaka’ole said it Live on TV and Webcast last night that Hula evolves and grows. And you know what, YES IT DOES and nothing and no one will stop that PROGRESSIVE change and growth! So what about his sunglasses, I perform with my sunglasses all the time, he chooses to use it at the MM and that should be no biggie!
Now for those people who talk about his dances, HELLO I see HELA, I see ‘UWeHE, I see KAHOLO, I see KU’I, and if you people cannot see it then you must not know hula!
Thank You Wanda for your blogs and comments on this years festival and festivals in the past! As like you, I am looking forward to this evenings performances and the results!!!
Aloha No,
Leato
April 7th, 2008 at 11:26 am
My husband, who sits through MM, because it takes over all television time in our household, loved Mark Ho’omalu’s performance. He (husband) was actually upset when they did not win for their Kahiko performance.
Have you ever noticed that the same halau always win? Don’t get me wrong, Kaui Kamana’o’s halau was awesome, but, it seems that the same people always win…and halaus like Ho’omalu’s were deserving but not recognized.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I have been a fan of Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu since his halau performed at the Merrie Monarch over ten years ago under the name “Na Mele Hula Ohana” . I was disappointed when his Kane took only 4th place for Kahiko then and I still am disappointed with the judges ten years later.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
This was an awesome Merry Monarch, howere like others I didn’t think the camera work was all that great…Especially the fade in and out of that white hibiscus….ugh…
The halau were maika’i loa…..and to hear the olelo hawaii…I too thought that Keali’i Ho’omalu’s Kane were awesome…and I feel that they should’ve placed….
Kaui Kamanao’s halau was awesome…in both their Kahiko and Auana…their song choice and their depictions of their mele were breathtaking….to me they danced from the heart…I don’t know hard to describe…
April 15th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Aloha Everyone … This is Michele From NY of Canandaigua .. I really was native Hawaii from grow up and get used to lived in Oahu ..long a time ago .. I m deaf and If I can hear that Merry Monarch Hula anyone will be sing or themselves and i love Hawaiian hula songs really very beautiful and aloha spirit .. anyway ..
I really am gonna miss in Hawaii of Oahu because I am native .. that was why ..
Aloha .. Michele
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