Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi Takes Overall Titles in 23rd Hula O Nā Keiki

Leah Ka‘umeaaloha Kimi Santiago of Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes took the Overall Wahine Award in the 23rd Hula O Nā Keiki, held Nov. 8-10, 2013. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Two Maui hula dancers from Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, earned the Overall awards at the 23rd Hula O Nā Keiki competition held this weekend at the Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel in West Maui, the hotel said.

Ka‘ala Foster and Leah Ka‘umeaaloha Kimi Santiago, took home the overall Kāne and Wahine titles respectively in this year’s event, according to the announcement. Both are haumana (students) of Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes.

In addition to his Overall Kāne title, Ka‘ala Foster also took first place in the ‘Ōpio Kāne hula and ‘Ōpio Kāne Oli (chant) divisions, and won the award for his Costume and Adornment in the ‘Ōpio Kahiko category.

In addition to her Overall Wahine title, Santiago also took first place in the ‘Ōpio Wahine hula division and ‘Ōpio Interview category.

In the Kieki hula categories, the awards went to: Dorian Golis-Bautista, of the Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, under the direction of Kumu Joan S. Lindsey, who took first place in the Keiki Kāne Hula; and Lauren Rae Healani Kalama of Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua, under the direction of Kumu Kamaka Kukona, who took first place in the Keiki Wahine Hula division.

The children’s competition for keiki between 5 and 17 years old, is held each year to help preserve Hawaiian culture through dance and music.

A total of 14 hula students competed in various categories for awards and titles at this year’s event, and a chance to win nearly $11,750 in cash and prizes, according to event organizers.

Ka‘ala Foster of Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes took the Overall Kāne Award in the 23rd Hula O Nā Keiki, held Nov. 8-10, 2013. Courtesy photo.

Categories included soloist, pālua of 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 evaluated dancers on their style of chanting, interpretation of dances, and cultural appropriateness of clothing and adornments.  Interviews, organizers say, focused on the dancer’s manaʻo or thoughts about the hula that they performed, their selection of clothing, and the proper use of the Hawaiian language.

Head Judge, Hōkūlani Holt was joined by fellow judges: Kapono‘ai Molitau; Shane Kamakaokalani Herrod; Chris Kai‘aokamālie; Kekuhi Kanae Kanahele Keali‘ikanaka‘oleohaililani; Olana A‘i; and Manaiakalani Kalua. Ekela Kaniaupio-Crozier also returned for her seventh year as emcee of the event.

“Congratulations to all the Hula O Nā Keiki winners and participants for their outstanding work celebrating an honored tradition of preserving Hawaiian culture,” said Mike White, General Manager of Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel in a company press release. “It has been wonderful to see the growth through the year and we are grateful to our participating kumu, haumana, esteemed judges, staff, volunteers, sponsors and the local community for their support,” he said.

Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel and event organizers released the following list of 2013 Hula O Nā Keiki winners:

Overall  Award:  Ka‘ala Foster, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes

Overall Wahine Award:  Leah Ka‘umeaaloha Kimi Santiago, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes

‘Ōpio Kāne Hula

• 1st : Ka‘ala Foster, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes
• 2nd : Sidney Skye Ka‘imiponomaikalani Ka‘apana, Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu, Kumu Kūkaho‘omalu Souza

‘Ōpio Wahine Hula

• 1st : Leah Ka‘umeaaloha Kimi Santiago, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes
• 2nd : Ki‘ini Kahaone Ka‘io-Perez, Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu, Kumu Kūkaho‘omalu Souza
• 3rd : Danielle Hi‘ilani Watanabe, Hālau Keali‘i O Nālani, Kumu Keali‘i Ceballos

Keiki Wahine Hula 1st : Lauren Rae Healani Kalama of Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua, under the direction of Kumu Kamaka Kukona. Courtesy photo.

Keiki Kāne Hula

• 1st : Dorian Golis-Bautista, Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, Kumu Joan S. Lindsey
• 2nd : Koichiro Otake, Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu, Kumu Kūkaho‘omalu Souza

Keiki Wahine Hula

• 1st : Lauren Rae Healani Kalama, Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Kamaka Kukona
• 2nd : Kalen Yamamoto, Hālau Keali‘i O Nālani, Kumu Keali‘i Ceballos
• 3rd : Andie Malia Wai‘alae Machida, Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, Kumu Joan S. Lindsey

OLI AWARDS

‘Ōpio Kāne Oli

• 1st : Ka‘ala Foster, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes
• 2nd : Sidney Skye Ka‘imiponomaikalani Ka‘apana, Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu, Kumu Kūkaho‘omalu Souza

‘Ōpio Wahine Oli

• 1st : Ki‘ini Kahaone Ka‘io-Perez, Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu, Kumu Kūkaho‘omalu Souza
• 2nd : Kairi Iino, Lei Hula Studio, Kumu Lei ‘Ihilani Takahashi
• 3rd : Danielle Hi‘ilani Watanabe, Hālau Keali‘i O Nālani, Kumu Keali‘i Ceballos

Keiki Kāne Oli

• 1st : Koichiro Otake, Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu, Kumu Kūkaho‘omalu Souza
• 2nd : Dorian Golis-Bautista, Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, Kumu Joan S. Lindsey

Keiki Wahine Oli

• 1st : Lauren Rae Healani Kalama, Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Kamaka Kukona
• 2nd : Kalen Yamamoto, Hālau Keali‘i O Nālani, Kumu Keali‘i Ceballos
• 3rd : Andie Malia Wai‘alae Machida, Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, Kumu Joan S. Lindsey

PĀLUA AWARDS

• ‘Ōpio Pālua: Sidney Skye Ka‘imiponomaikalani Ka‘apana and Ki‘ini Kahaone Ka‘io-Perez, Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu, Kumu Kūkaho‘omalu Souza
• Keiki Pālua: Dorian Golis-Bautista and Andie Malia Wai‘alae Machida, Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, Kumu Joan S. Lindsey

Keiki Kāne Hula 1st : Dorian Golis-Bautista of Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, under the direction of Kumu Joan S. Lindsey. Courtesy photo.

COSTUME & ADORNMENT AWARDS

• Keiki Kahiko: Lauren Rae Healani Kalama, Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Kamaka Kukona
• ‘Ōpio Kahiko: Ka‘ala Foster, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes
• Keiki ‘Auana: Dorian Golis-Bautista, Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, Kumu Joan S. Lindsey
• ‘Ōpio ‘Auana: Kairi Iino, Lei Hula Studio, Kumu Lei ‘Ihilani Takahashi
• Keiki Pālua: Dorian Golis-Bautista and Andie Malia Wai‘alae Machida, Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio, Kumu Joan S. Lindsey
• ‘Ōpio Pālua: Sidney Skye Ka‘imiponomaikalani Ka‘apana and Ki‘ini Kahaone Ka‘io-Perez, Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu, Kumu Kūkaho‘omalu Souza

INTERVIEW AWARDS

• Keiki Interview: Kalen Yamamoto, Hālau Keali‘i O Nālani, Kumu Keali‘i Ceballos
• ‘Ōpio Interview:  Leah Ka‘umeaaloha Kimi Santiago, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi & Haunani Paredes

Overall Music: Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi

In addition to the hula competition, toehr weekend festivities that were held in conjunction with the event included a Hawaiian Festival of Arts and Crafts featuring island artisans, cultural demonstrations and workshops, and Hawaiian entertainment.

The Hula O Nā Keiki event was established by the staff of Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel in 1990, according to hotel officials.