Kū Mai Ka Hula Kicks Off with Rare Hula Footage

Hālau of ka Hanu Lehua. Photo credit: Marsha Aguon/ MACC.

By Wendy Osher

The three-day Kū Mai Ka Hula festival kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, with a film featuring rare and never-before seen footage from the archives of the Hula Preservation Society.

The presentation, “Celebrating Maui & Hula Through Rare Movies & Images” includes a selection of movies and images of Maui’s hula and musical greats, as well as footage of the legendary Kumu Hula ‘Iolani Luahine.

A discussion of the video in celebration of Maui’s hula and musical greats will be led by MACC cultural programs director Hōkūlani Holt.

The film and talk story session marks the officials start of the Kū Mai Ka Hula festival which also features two days of competition:

• Friday, Sept. 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Castle Theater: soloists compete for the titles of Mr. and Ms. Hula Maui.
• Saturday, Sept. 13, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Castle Theater: hālau or group competition in Wahine and Kāne divisions for both Kahiko (traditional hula) and ʻAuana (modern-day hula) categories.

Among the hālau scheduled to compete at this years event are: Hālau Kekuakalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi under the direction of nā kumu hula ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes of Wailuku Maui; Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua under the direction of nā kumu hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono Padilla from Honolulu, Oʻahu; Hālau Hula Kauluokalā under the direction of kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero of Kahului, Maui; Keʻala ʻO Kamailelauliʻiliʻi under the direction of kumu hula Kamaile Hamada of Federal Way, Washington; and Hālau Hula I Kona Mau Lima under the direction of kumu hula Ualani Makaʻike Calleja of Kahului, Maui.

Tickets to Thursday night’s film are $10. Friday and Saturday performances cost $25 each, or $37 for a two-day competition special package. Tickets for performances are half-price for keiki 12 and under. Tickets are available by calling the MACC Box Office at (808) 242-SHOW (7469) or online at MauiArts.org.