Merrie Monarch 2010 winners announced

Eselu, Reichel win big in Hilo

By Nina Wu
nwu@starbulletin.com

HILO, Hawaii » Once again, it was kumu hula O‘Brian Eselu’s halau, Ke Kai O Kahiki, that swept all categories for a second year in a row at the 27th Merrie Monarch Festival.

Ke Kai O Kahiki was the overall winner, as well as the winner of the kane kahiko, kane ‘auana and kane overall categories — a clean sweep. Last year, Eselu’s halau did not win the kane ‘auana category, which went to kumu hula William “Sonny” Ching.

Keali‘i Reichel’s Halau Ke‘alaokamaile, meanwhile, won the wahine overall title, as well as wahine kahiko and wahine ‘auana.

Eselu’s halau, made up of just six male dancers, was the last to perform out of 28 contestants. They did not disappoint, with a rendition of “A Ka‘uku,” a tale about the land battle between Pele and Kamapua‘a in the hula kahiko competition on Friday night. The halau also delighted the crowd last night with a lively performance of “E Koa‘e E,” a tale about a white tropic bird that nest upon sheer cliffs, while fishing from the sea.

Ching’s halau took third place in the wahine kahiko as well as the kane ‘auana categories.

A total of 28 halau — including three from the mainland — competed in the kahiko and ‘auana segments of the competition on Friday and Saturday nights, performing a wide array of mele celebrating all the ali‘i, as well as the beauty of places stretching from Ni‘ihau to Kilauea. There were, or course, plenty of love songs, celebrating lovely lehua blooms, as well as mele on the more flirtatious side, as well as the mystery of romance, in the more modern ‘auana segment last night.

Though many were innovative and creative, the halau this year gave a nod to tradition as well as those who came before them. The men of Na Pua Me Kealoha under the direction of Sissy and Lilinoe Kaio of Carson, Calif. performed a powerful mele telling of Kohala warriors uniting in battle. The largest male halau participating in the festival (with 18 kane) danced in memory of Uncle George, who taught it to them.

The men and women of Halau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani, under the direction of the late kumu hula Rae Fonseca, was a crowd favorite, drawing intense cheers every time they got on stage, bringing bittersweet emotions. It was, in its own way, a moving tribute to Fonseca, who would have been proud of his halau’s performances, which were solid and clean. Leading the chant were Nahoku Gaspang, Awapuhi Duldulao and Roxanne Kamelamela.

For the kahiko segment, the kane placed fourth with a performance of “Ka Nalu Ke‘e O Makaiwa” telling the story of the beautiful Ka‘ililauokekoa as she thinks of her parents’ migration from their homeland, Kahiki, kumu’s given name.

It was a solid, strong performance, full of mana. For ‘auana, the group danced a fun, lively song comparing a steamship to a secret love affair.

For kahiko, the women of Halau Hula ‘o Kahikilaulani paid homage to Queen Emma, telling of her journey to many places on Kauai. through “Maika‘i Kawaikini.” Wearing striped skirts and brown blouses, they moved smoothly and gracefully, while singing, even weaving flawlessly between one another without losing a beat.

In ‘auana, the halau was dressed in shimmering, blue gowns and long strands of pikake lei for a grafceful performance of Nalani, a love song recorded by Nat King Cole. Joshua No‘eau Kalima, an alaka‘i in the halau, said though emotions have been running high, Fonseca would have wanted the halau to compete and do their best.

Fonseca was in good spirits at the last class with the halau before he departed for Ko Olina, where he collapsed from a heart attack on March 20.

“He was in good spirits, and happy with everything we had accomplished,” said Kalima.

Kumu hula Mapuana de Silva, who placed fourth in the wahine kahiko, second in wahine ‘auana and third in wahine overall, has participated in the festival for more than 30 consecutive years, and always puts on a strong performance, with unique mele, such as “Hanohano Wailea.”

Several kumu hula returned to the festival this year after a hiatus — among them, Leina‘ala Kalama Heine of Kapalama, Oahu, Hulali Solomon Covington of Waimea, Hawaii, and Johnny Lum Ho of Hilo.

Heine plaed fifth in the wahine kahiko as well as the wahine ‘auana categories. Ho returned to festival this year after a seven-year hiatus.

Though his halau did not place, they drew cheers from the audience. His Miss Aloha Hula contestant, Taysha-Lei Kapuau‘iokalehuamamomae‘ole De Sa took second place, dancing about healing powers of Hawaiian la‘au lapa‘au and a playful game of hide-and-seek with a butterfly. For kahiko, his Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua performed a choreographically creative mele about a visit to Kalaupapa, including how the patients adjusted to life and were finally cured of the disease.

The halau, dressed in earthy, brown pa‘u and shiny green blouses, made an entrance diagonal across the stage, down the ramp, reflecting the journey down the cliff. The lyrics described the individual accounts of people afflicted with leprosy – with plenty of o‘opa (crouching step), writhing and twisting.

This year there were eight male halau, compared to nine last year, but they made a strong showing, demonstrating versatility. Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela, which swept three categories throughout the 2000s, already took the Miss Aloha Hula title Thursday evening with performances by Mahealani Mika Hirao-Solem. The halau won second place in wahine kahiko and wahine overall, and third in wahine ‘auana by a narrow, one-point tiebreaker.

The judges for Merrie Monarch this year were a formidable group, including: Pat Namaka Bacon, Nalani Kanaka’ole, Joan S. Lindsey, Kalena Silva, Alicia Smith, Leiana Woodside and Noenoelani Zuttermeister Lewis.

Kane Kahiko

>> 4th place
Kalau I Ka Wekiu

>> 3rd place
Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La

>> 2nd place
Kawaili‘ula

>> 1st place
Ke Kai O Kahiki

Wahine Kahiko

>> 5th place
Na Pualei O Likolehua

>> 4th place
Halau Mohala ‘Ilima

>> 3rd place
Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu

>> 2nd place
Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela

>> 1st place
Halau Ke ‘Alaokamaile

Kane ‘Auana

>> 4th place
Halau Hula O Kahikilaulani

>> 3rd place
Halau I Ka Wekiu

>> 2nd place
Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu

>> 1st place
Ke Kai O Kahiki

Wahine ‘Auana

>> 5th place
Na Pualei O Likolehua

>> 4th place
Halau Hula Olana

>> 3rd place
Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela

>> 2nd place
Halau Mohala Ilima

>> 1st place
Halau Ke ‘Alaokamaile

Overall Awards

Kane

>> 3rd place
Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu

>>2nd place
Kawaili‘ula

>> 1st place
Ke Kai O Kahiki

Wahine

>> 3rd place
Halau Mohala Ilima

>> 2nd place
Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela

>> 1st place
Halau Ke ‘Alaokamaile

Overall Group Winner

>> 2nd place
Halau Ke ‘Alaokamaile

>> 1st place
Ke Kai O Kahiki