Back to Blogging!

It's been way too long since my last post!  I've been trying to figure out how I can get back to blogging but keep it simple and consistent.  After looking at some blogs that I really like I realized that blogging doesn't have to be tons of writing!  Instead, it can be a snapshot of my day, thoughts, ideas, etc.  So, I've decided to get back on the blog wagon and back it up to the beginning of summer with a few posts recapping the month June!

Posts Coming soon . . . Summer Bucket List, Exploring Our Island, Father's Day, and Starlight Starbright.



Make a wish and believe!
Luana Lee

Hōʻike and Lā ʻOhana

Auliʻi and Kuʻumamo of Papa Mailalauliʻi

Hālau Kiliʻoʻopu

On Saturday, November 17th, Hālau Kiliʻoʻopu celebrated our 6 month mark with our first Hōʻike and Lā ʻOhana - Family Day!  It was a wonderful day of hula, ʻohana, music, food, and lots of aloha.  My hālau first opened on October 26th, 1995.  After teaching for over 10 years, I decided to take a break in August of 2006.  Well, that break ended up being 6 years long!  In May of this year, after much prayer and prompting, I re-opened Hālau Kiliʻoʻopu.  It was a memorable day seeing many of my former students who had waited 6 years to return to hula.

The women of Papa ʻŌhiʻa Lehua

Since the opening in May hālau has continued to grow and progress.  One of the new traditions in hālau is to have regular hōʻike, exhibitions of hula.  It is a time to share with our ʻohana the hula and oli that we have been learning.  It is a time to reflect on the progress we have made individually and collectively.  And, it is a time to enjoy together as a hula ʻohana.

The pictures below attest to the beauty of our first hōʻike and lā ʻohana!

Kamalani shared her hula with us as taught by her Kumu, ʻIliahi and Haunani Paredes.  Even though she dances for another hālau, she is such an important part of Hālau Kiliʻoʻopu.  It is her hula foundation.

Hālau Kiliʻoʻopu is an ʻohana!  We are connected through our hula genealogy and many of our haumāna are connected through their family genealogies!  Cousins Lilinoe and Taj pose with Lilinoeʻs little brother, Kaua.

In hālau, the older girls are "Big Sisters" to the younger dancers.  Big Sis Kamlaani poses with Amira of our Papa Mailelauliʻi.

                     

Hula O Nā Keiki 2012

This past weekend was wonderful!  After months of hard work, dedication, and overcoming challenges, Kamaehu and Kuʻuipo shared their hula presentations at Hula O Nā Keiki!  It was such a blessed weekend!  We enjoyed being a mini "staycation" at Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel, but we kept busy preparing Ehu and Kuʻu for their competition.  The kids got to enjoy time at Puʻu Kekaʻa (Black Rock) and in the pool.

Friday morning was a stressful and nerve racking morning for everyone.  One of the hardest parts of this competition is the interview.  Both Ehu and Kuʻu went through rigorous preparation for this.  They had to study their dances, the history and background, the composers of their hapa haole songs, their costumes, adornments, oli - every aspect of their presentation had to be studied and researched and the kids had to be prepared to share their research with the judges in the interview.  They also take all of their costumes and adornments with them to show the judges what they will wear.  They receive separate scores and awards for costumes and adornments.  We were all so nervous, but the kids did great!

Ehu and Kuʻu waiting to be interviewed.

Friday night was hula kahiko (ancient hula).  Kuʻu was number 6 and Kamaehu was number 15, the very last performance of the night.  Kuʻu was beautiful and elegant as she danced for Princess Kaʻiulani.  Her oli (chant) was a genealogical chant she wrote that recites the genealogy of Princess Kaʻiulani.  Kamaehu was strong and powerful as he chanted and danced Mālie ʻo Maui, a very difficult hula passed down from Kumu OʻBrien Eselu who taught Kumu ʻIliahi.

Kamaehu presents "Mālie ʻo Maui" for his hula kahiko.

Saturday afternoon was the hula ʻauana (modern hula) accompanied by beautiful Hawaiian music!  The hula ʻauana for this competition has to be hapa haole (Hawaiian and English lyrics) and be written between 1929 and 1939, the era of hapa haole music.  Kuʻu presented "Dancing Under the Stars" and "Iʻll Weave a Lei of Stars for You".  Her entire costume and adornments complimented the mele.  Kamaehu swung his ti-leaf skirt to "Do the Hula" and "Hula Town", dressed in an Asian-inspired silk Aloha Shirt from the hapa haole era of clothing.  He wore lei plumeria sewn with love by his mother, grandmother, and aunty.

Relieved and excited after his hula ʻauana

One of the highlights this year was watching Kamalani do her farewell performance as Miss Hula O Nā Keiki 2011.  She did a medley of Hawaiʻi Calls, sung by Holunape, Roselani Blossoms, sung by her hula brothers of Papa ʻIliahi (including her brothers Kamaehu and Kamahiwa), and The One They Call Hawaiʻi, sung by her brother, Kamalei.  It was truly a heartwarming, tear-jerking, memorable performance that will last in my heart and mind forever!  

After her farewell, the winners were announced and boy did the hard work pay off!  Kuʻuipo won ʻŌpio Interview Award, ʻAuana Costume and Adornment Award, 1st place Oli Award, 1st place Hula Award, and Overall Winner - Miss Hula O Nā Keiki!  Kamaehu won Kahiko Costume Award, 1st place Oli Award, 1st place Hula Award and Overall Winner - Master Hula O Nā Keiki!  The hālau also won the Kumu Hula Award and Music Award.

The new winners pose with Kamalani!

As the new Miss and Master Hula O Nā Keiki 2012, their very first commitment is an early morning photo shoot with Randy J. Braun on the beach.  They woke up at 4:30 am to prepare.  The perfect picture of each will be selected for the Hula O Nā Keiki wall of fame at the hotel.  We feel so very blessed and we thank Ke Akua, God, for this wonderful accomplishment!

A bond between hula brother and sister.

Kamaehu, "Mālie ʻo Maui"

Ehu and Kuʻu

Men dance hula, too!

Kuhi nō ka lima, hele nō ka maka.

                                                                                                             

Birthday Blessings!

This year I turned 39, the last year in my thirties!  It was another blessed and beautiful birthday!  My students made me feel like a queen.  Brieanna had balloons and cake for me.

My desk filled up with gifts!

Kawena got me roses, Mom, Dad, and Kama gave me balloons and beautiful flowers.  Haaheo made me a full sheet of cake, 48 cupcakes for the class.  Kushaia got me a cake and Mikaela made me a huge cupcake!  Period 3 sang Happy Birthday and we celebrated in all periods together.

Period 3 singing "Happy Birthday"

It was a beautiful and blessed day.  My own kids said, "Wow, Mom, your students really love you.  We donʻt see other teachers getting stuff like that on their birthday!"  That sure made me feel good!  I try my best everyday to let my students know that I love them.  Just as I do with my own children.

Haʻaheo Kekona, one of my punahele.

Cake from Kushaia!

Llewellyn took me out for my birthday dinner.  We decided this year to go to the Waterfront restaurant in Maʻalaea.  It was fabulous!  Our table overlooked the harbor and ocean.  The moon was out and the sky filled with stars.  It was so beautiful!

We had a fabulous dinner that started off with pan fried oysters and Japanese clams for appetizers.
We then had caesar salad made table side. Waterfront is the only restaurant in Hawaiʻi that still makes your

Filet Mignon and Lobster Tail

caesar salad table side.  For the main course I had filet mignon and lobster tail and Llewellyn had the Rib Eye steak.  We topped it all off with an incredible chocolate souffle dessert.  We were so full after eating that meal, but we savored every bite!

The atmosphere, food, view, and service made it a relaxing and enjoyable evening.  The best part was that I had the hottest date in the house!

Saturday morning I went to hula and was surprised yet again!  The ladies had a birthday cake, candles, gifts, and leis to share with me!  I was totally shocked!  Haʻaheo then surprised me with the most beautiful gift - a Polynesian style bracelet with all four of my childrenʻs names on it, praying hands, and ipu heke!  I have wanted one of these for so long!  It was even my favorite color - PURPLE!  I couldnʻt believe how well she knew me, she picked the things that are the dearest to me - my children, my faith, my hula.

When I opened my birthday card, though, I couldnʻt hold back the tears.  My beautiful haumāna had collected funds to purchase a new ipu heke for their kumu!  So blessed!  I contacted Kalim as soon as papa hula was over and ordered my new ipu heke!

My beautiful Cheryle!  Papa ʻŌhiʻa Lehua

This birthday I have been reminded that when you give love, you get love.  I am surrounded by people who love me for who I am.  For that, I am eternally grateful!