RESULTS: Kawa‘a, Guerrero Win 2011 Hula O Nâ Keiki

By Wendy Osher

2011 Hula O Na Keiki Overall Kane winner, Alexander Guerrero. Photo courtesy Kaanapali Beach Hotel.

Maui’s Kamalani Kawa‘a and Alexander Kâwika Guerrero won the overall Wahine and Kâne titles in this year’s Hula O Nâ Keiki competition, held over the weekend at the Kâ‘anapali Beach Hotel.

Children between the ages of five and 17 competed to win nearly $18,000 in cash and prizes.  A total of 16 participants competed for coveted titles as soloists or pâlua (boy and girl pairs) in both kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) hula styles.

Dancers were judged on their style of chanting, interpretation of the dances and cultural appropriateness of costumes and adornments.  They were also scored on an interview with a panel of judges, and on proper use of the language.

The following is a complete list of the 21st Annual Hula O Nâ Keiki winners:

OVERALL AWARDS

• Overall Wahine: Kamalani Kaleimomi Kahalepoli Kawa‘a, 16, from Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā kumu hula ‘lliahi & Haunani Paredes
• Overall Kāne: Alexander Kāwika Guerrero, from Hālau Hula Kauluokalā, under the direction of Kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero.

2011 Hula O Na Keiki Overall Wahine Winner, Kamalani Kawaa. Photo courtesy, Kaanapali Beach Hotel.

INTERVIEW AWARDS

• Keiki Interview: Logan Kainalu Rinichi Takizawa, 12, from Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu, under the direction of Kumu hula “Aloha” Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor
• ʽŌpio Interview: Alexander Kāwika Guerrero, 17, from Hālau Hula Kauluokalā, under the direction of Kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero

COSTUME & ADORNMENT AWARDS

• Keiki Kahiko: Logan Kainalu Rinichi Takizawa, 12, from Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu, under the direction of Kumu hula “Aloha” Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor
• ʽŌpio Kahiko: Kamalani Kaleimomi Kahalepoli Kawa‘a, 16, from Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā kumu hula ‘lliahi & Haunani Paredes
• Keiki ʽAuana: Mahina Akaka, 9, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• ʽŌpio ʽAuana: Kamalani Kaleimomi Kahalepoli Kawa‘a, 16, from Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā kumu hula ‘lliahi & Haunani Paredes

PĀLUA AWARDS

• Keiki Pālua: Lilianani Maya Rae Pi, 10 & Logan Kainalu Rinichi Takizawa, 12, from Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu, under the direction of Kumu hula “Aloha” Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor
• ʽŌpio Pālua: Nicole Punahele Makamai Kahi ‘O Mililani Nakamatsu, 16 & Joshua Kaleikaumaka ‘O Mililani Nakamatsu, 14, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• Keiki Pālua 1st: Lilianani Maya Rae Pi, 10 & Logan Kainalu Rinichi Takizawa, 12, from Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu under the direction of Kumu hula “Aloha” Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor
• Keiki Pālua 2nd: Grace Veda Golis-Bautista, 9 & “Kekupu” Tannon Micheal Kekupuloaokamililani Kim, 9, from Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, under the direction of Kumu Hula Joan S. Lindsey
• Keiki Pālua 3rd: Mahina Akaka, 9 & Joshua Laurence Hochman, 10, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• ʽŌpio Pālua 1st:  Nicole Punahele Makamai Kahi ‘O Mililani Nakamatsu, 16 & Joshua Kaleikaumaka ‘O Mililani Nakamatsu, 14, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado

‘OLI AWARDS

• Keiki Kāne ‘Oli 1st:  CJ Kamuela Rodrigues Jr., 7, from Hālau Hula Nā Mea Makamae ‘O Kapualehua i Kaukeha, under the direction of Nā kumu hula Kamuela & Mahailani Rodrigues
• Keiki Kāne ‘Oli 2nd::  Logan Kainalu Rinichi Takizawa, 12, from Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu, under the direction of Kumu hula “Aloha” Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor
• Keiki Kāne ‘Oli 3rd: “Kekupu” Tannon Micheal Kekupuloaokamililani Kim, 9, from Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, under the direction of Kumu hula Joan S. Lindsey
• Keiki Wahine ‘Oli 1st: Chaunte Ku‘ulei Pumehana Dela Cruz, 12, from Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu, under the direction of Kumu hula “Aloha” Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor
• Keiki Wahine ‘Oli 2nd: Mahina Akaka, 9, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• Keiki Wahine ‘Oli 3rd: Grace Veda Golis-Bautista, 9, from Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, under the direction of Kumu hula Joan S. Lindsey
• ‘Ōpio Kāne ‘Oli 1st: Alexander Kāwika Guerrero, 17, from Hālau Hula Kauluokalā, under the direction of Kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero
• ‘Ōpio Kāne ‘Oli 2nd: Joshua Kaleikaumaka ‘O Mililani Nakamatsu, 14, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• ‘Ōpio Wahine ‘Oli 1st: Kamalani Kaleimomi Kahalepoli Kawa‘a, 16, from Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā kumu hula ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes
• ‘Ōpio Wahine ‘Oli 2nd: Nicole Punahele Makamai Kahi ‘O Mililani Nakamatsu, 16, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• ‘Ōpio Wahine ‘Oli 3rd: Māhealanikau‘iokamoku Taitague-Laforga, 14, from Ka Pā Nani ‘O Lilinoe, under the direction of Kumu hula Lilinoe Lindsey

OVERALL MUSIC

• Hālau Hula Kualuokala, Kuma hula Uluwehi Guerrero

HULA AWARDS

• Keiki Kāne Hula 1st: Logan Kainalu Rinichi Takizawa, 12, from Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu, under the direction of Kumu hula “Aloha” Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor
• Keiki Kāne Hula 2nd: “Kekupu” Tannon Micheal Kekupuloaokamililani Kim, 9, from Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, under the direction of Kumu hula Joan S. Lindsey
• Keiki Kāne Hula 3rd: Joshua Laurence Hochman, 10, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• Keiki Wahine Hula 1st: Chaunte Ku‘ulei Pumehana Dela Cruz, 12, from Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu, under the direction of Kumu hula “Aloha” Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor
• Keiki Wahine Hula 2nd: Mahina Akaka, 9, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• Keiki Wahine Hula 3rd: Grace Veda Golis-Bautista, 9, from Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, under the direction of Kumu hula Joan S. Lindsey
• ‘Ōpio Kāne Hula 1st: Alexander Kāwika Guerrero, 17, from Hālau Hula Kauluokalā, under the direction of Kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero
• ‘Ōpio Kāne Hul 2nd: Joshua Kaleikaumaka ‘O Mililani Nakamatsu, 14, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• ‘Ōpio Wahine Hula 1st: Kamalani Kaleimomi Kahalepoli Kawa‘a, 16, from Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā kumu hula ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes
• ‘Ōpio Wahine Hula 2nd: Nicole Punahele Makamai Kahi ‘O Mililani Nakamatsu, 16, from Ka Hale I o Kahala, under the direction of Kumu hula Leimomi Maldonado
• ‘Ōpio Wahine Hula 3rd: Māhealanikau‘iokamoku Taitague-Laforga, 14, from Ka Pā Nani ‘O Lilinoe, under the direction of Kumu hula Lilinoe Lindsey

‘Ōpio Wahine ‘Oli