24th Annual Hula O Nā Keiki Features 23 Dancers

2013 Overall Kane Award Ka`ala Foster Hālau Kekuaokalā`au`ala`iliahi Nā Kumu `Iliahi & Haunani Paredes. Photo credit: Randy J. Braun.

By Wendy Osher

The 24th Annual Hula O Nā Keiki hula competition takes place this weekend, Nov. 14-16, 2014 at the Kā’anapali Beach Hotel in West Maui.

The children’s hula competition is the only one of its kind on Maui and features hula dancers between the ages of 5 and 17.

The competition is held annually to help preserve Hawaiian culture through dance and music.

A total of eight hālau featuring 23 hula dancers will compete in various categories for awards and titles at this year’s event, and a chance to win prizes valued at over $12,500.

Categories include: soloist, pālua or boy and girl pairs, the ancient kahiko style of hula, modern hula styles classified as ‘auana, oli or chant, Hawaiian language, and clothing and adornments.

A panel of judges will evaluate dancers on their style of chanting, interpretation of dances, and cultural appropriateness of clothing and adornments.  Interviews will focus on the dancer’s manaʻo or thoughts about the hula that they perform, their selection of clothing, and the proper use of the Hawaiian language.

To complement the hula competition, organizers say weekend festivities at the hotel also include arts and crafts, food booths, cultural workshops, and Hawaiian entertainment for the whole family.

2103 Overall Wahine Award Leah Ka`umeaaloha Kimi Santiago Hālau Kekuaokalā`au`ala`iliahi Nā Kumu `Iliahi & Haunani Paredes Photo credit: Randy J. Braun.

Featured dancers at the 2014 event include the following:

• Hālau Hula ʻO Kawaihoʻomalu under the direction of Kumu Kūkahoʻomalu Souza:
  • Koby Kainalu Ichimasa
  • Kaleookalani Pinto
• Hālau Kealiʻi O Nālani under the direction of Kumu Kealiʻi Ceballos:
  • Kahōkūliʻiliʻi Tanaka
  • Kalen Kaleʻalauliʻimakamae Yamamoto
  • Jordan Keoni Brache
  • Danielle Hiʻilani Watanabe
• Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi under the direction of Nā Kumu ʻIliahi & Haunani Paredes:
  • Lamakūokanaʻauao Kauikawēkiu Hosino
  • Leimakamae Maura Kea
• 

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  Ka Pā Nani ʻO Līlīnoe under the direction of Kumu Līlīnoe Lindsey

  • Danielle Sasuga
  • Nyssa Kamālamalama Dela Cruz
  • Māhealani-kauʻiokamoku Taitague-Laforga
• Hālau Nā Pua ʻO Uluhaimālama under the direction of Kumu Emery Aceret:
  • Ty Silva
  • Gisele Dakota S. Ramelb
  • Kenan Shaw-Demello
  • Lahela Makamae Rosario
  • Mary Pratt
• Hālau Kauluokalā under the direction of Nā Kumu Uluwehi Guerrero & Pōmaikaʻi Krueger:
  • Teva Medeiros
  • Kahakumele Hāmākua
• Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio under the direction of Kumu Joan S. Lindsey:
  • Haliʻa ʻOhuʻohupūʻololeimokihanaikealoha Sniffen
  • Jonah Kawehiwaokawēkiuehanomauikananiokohala Sniffen
  • Noah Kuaolalaumailemoanimauikamakaniokohala Sniffen
  • Kapuauʻionālani Aiwohi
• Nani Ola Hawaiian Dance Company under the direction of Kumu Kanani Pharr-Cadaoas:
  • Jenna Chiemi Anuhea Ubando Matsuyama

To purchase tickets, call Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel at (800) 262-8450.

The 432-room Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel, also known as “Hawaiʻi’s Most Hawaiian Hotel,” offers a variety of cultural activities throughout the year including live Hawaiian entertainment, ʻukulele lessons, lei making, and garden tours.