HOLOKU EVENTS FEATURE HISTORIC ALOHA ATTIRE
Ivy Sanchez & Wendy Osher were among the models at the Princess Ka'iulani Fashion Show.
The historic Holoku garment takes center stage at two events this weekend. The first is the Princess Ka’iulani Fashion show being held this morning (Friday, May 08, 2009) at the Kaunoa Senior Center. A separate event is planned for this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. the Maui Beach Hotel. The Celebration of the Holoku event is hosted by the Association of Hawaiina Civic Clubs Maui Council. Pacific Radio Group’s own Alakai Paleka will be honored with a Kupa Maka-ainana award along with Maui residents Sarah Keahi and Adelaide Sylva for their lifetime achievements.
Pacific Radio Group’s Alaka’i Paleka is one of three women to be honored with the Kupa Maka’ainana Award. Paleka, along with Maui residents Sarah Keahi and Adelaide Sylva are being recognized by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs for their lifetime achievements within the Hawaiian community and community-at-large.
The women will be honored at the Club’s 4th Annual Celebration of the Holoku event to be held Saturday, May 9th from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Maui Beach Hotel Elleair Ballroom in Kahului.
Paleka, also known as the “Morning Goddess” on KPOA 93.5 FM, has been working in local radio for two decades. Outside of radio programming, Paleka has stayed equally busy with hosting various events for non-profit organizations in addition to organizing softball tournaments and chairing the Maui Relay for Life event.
(from left to right: Pacific Radio Group News Director, Wendy Osher; Leina’ala Kuloloio Vedder, Ivy Jean Sanchez, and Edwina Wilson Snyder model holoku in the Princess Ka’iulani Fashion Show and Luncheon)
Fellow recipient, Sarah Keahi is being recognized for the 35-plus years she served as a Hawaiian language instructor at Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama campus.
Sylva, now 94-years-old, continues her art of passing down the knowledge and skill of ku’i i ka poi- pounding taro. She is renowned for her poi palaoa, or poi that is combined with flour to stretch its yield and her poi ‘ulu, poi that is combined with breadfruit. Also in her repertoire: ‘olelo hawai’i; Sylva is the last known mänaleo or Native Hawaiian speaker of Olowalu where she raised her family.
Themed, “He Lani Ko Luna”, or “A Heaven Above” the gala event will also commemorate Hawaiian Civic Club founder, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole and the Hawaiian formal gown, the Holokü.
The holokü, originated in 1820 as an adaptation of an American day gown; in its introduction, the holokü was accompanied by a chemise referred to as the mu’umu’u. First adopted by the Hawaiian queens, other Hawaiian women wore the holokü. The contemporary holokü is a long formal gown with a train; it is definitive of Hawaiian ethnicity. Both garments continue to be important in Hawai’i. While the mu’umu’u is regarded by those from outside the islands as Hawaiian dress, the lesser known holokü is more closely associated with Hawaiian ethnicity although it is virtually unknown outside of Hawai’i. Once worn by Hawaiian women as everyday wear, the holokü is now formal wear worn for ritual events to Hawaiian events.
The evening will feature a lavish dinner buffet, live Hawaiian music by the Kamehameha Schools Maui Hawaiian Ensemble and Jason Sadang and Friends; dancing, silent auction, Parade of Holokü and no-host bar.
The event is open to the public; cost is $60 per person. While holokü for the women are encouraged, it is not a requirement. Tickets are available in advance through Hawaiian Civic Club members or by phone at (808) 283-2411. Ticket purchase or reservations are advised as due to limited capacity; it is anticipated to be a sold-out event.
The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, founded by Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalani’anaole in 1918, is a confederation of fifty-two Hawaiian Civic Clubs throughout Hawaii and the continental United States whose objectives are to have an active interest in the civic, economic, health and social welfare of our community; work together in preserving and perpetuation the Hawaiian culture; and offer scholarships for post-high school education.
The Maui Council is comprised of the Central Maui, Ho’olehua, Kuini Pi’olani, Lana’i and Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Clubs. Collectively, the Maui Council awarded $5,000 in high school scholarships last year.
(Posted by Wendy OSHER © 2009)
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