Aloha! :) Last Saturday, June 1st, was Kehulili O Kailani's annual ho'ike performance & luau. Our entire halau worked hard all year long learning new dances and sewing costumes and it turned out to be a wonderful performance! Here are some of the long awaited photos to share with all of you...
It was a warm, sunny afternoon, and below Laylie, Micah & Samuel were ready for the show to start.
I was so thankful to have my family, friends and most importantly, my 3 guys there to support me!
Our first number was performed by the entire halau. After chanting our opening oli, "Eia Kaleponi," we all performed He'e'ia together using ili ili (small smooth stones).
Up next we danced an audience favorite - Hawaiian War Chant with the uli uli.
Our new hula auana, called Ko'olau, was choreographed by our kumu Leimomi. It is beautiful song about the Ko'olau mountains. I just love Nathan Aweau's voice, I could listen to this song over and over... :) I hope you enjoy it too!
My beautiful niece Leia performed with the keiki this year. She did an amazing job! So proud of her!
We also performed a series of Maori songs - Poi Waka, Mehe Manu Rere & Poi Medley. Although it takes years to learn this poi ball routine, its kind of like riding a bike: once you've got it, you'll never really forget.
We performed two Tahitian numbers - first was E Tere E Te Vaka, a very fun Tahitian 'aparima. I've attached a video clip of this number below... not the whole song, just the second half...
And last, was our new Tahitian 'otea: 'Otea 'a Pehe. This was a very long & strenuous routine, but amazing!!! I just love watching all of our skirts and seeing how they move to the music.
I'm attaching a video clip of this one too, but decided not to edit it too much... I love the entire routine, and to get a real appreciation of it, you really need to watch the whole thing. I just love the beats in this otea! The quality of the video is a little fuzzy, but you get the idea! Enjoy!
What a great kickoff to hopefully a summer full of fun performances! Come and check us out at the fair next Friday evening the 14th! Aloha! Mahalo again to everyone for coming and supporting me & our halau. It really means SO much to me!
2 comments:
gorgeous!!! a lovely overview of the halau's annual ho'ike... & your choice of the word *STRENOUS* (for your last tahitian number) is SO apropos, Mapuana. many don't understand (as you make it look so easy!) how strenuous it truly is, if performed properly... they have no idea how heavy that costume is (not only the skirt, but the hei as well). my mother, your nana, got MUCH pleasure watching you & your sister dance as keiki little ones... perhaps she was watching you (& leia!), from heaven? i appreciate all your hard work sewing your costumes, too (as someone who sewed her share of costumes for not one but two dancers, it blesses my socks off, especially as i can't always be right there, now, to help you as much as i'd like). i love you & am SO proud of your professionalism, & am so grateful you have a husband who supports this polynesian passion! xoxo
ps ~ posting your blog entry to my facebook wall...!
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