WAILUA – Even a newly transplanted mainlander like Eliel Starbright realized the importance of the investiture of Kaua’i Aloha Week’s royal court last Saturday. The ancient prayers, chants and dances that were part of the colorful ceremony had the rapt
WAILUA – Even a newly transplanted mainlander like Eliel Starbright realized
the importance of the investiture of Kaua’i Aloha Week’s royal court last
Saturday.
The ancient prayers, chants and dances that were part of the
colorful ceremony had the rapt attention of Starbright. He arrived on the
island just two days earlier but found his way to Poli’ahu Heiaa Park, where he
and about 60 other spectators—many with cameras to capture the costumes and
rituals—respectfully watched the deeply cultural proceedings enacted by 20
local participants.
“It’s exciting that they’re following their
traditions,” said Starbright, who moved here from San Diego, Calif. to become
an organic farmer. Watching the investiture, he said, would help him “tune into
Hawaiian traditions, so I can be here and understand the island.”
Stella
Burgess had similar feelings, though from the perspective of being a lifetime
resident of Kaua’i.
“This means lots of things to me,” she said as she
watched islanders present gifts to king Donald Kana’ina Smythe and queen Faith
Mahealani Burgess in the manner of Hawaiian ancestors. “The revitalization of
our culture, seeing what would have happened in the beginning—this is all
important.”
Only the sound of automobiles passing the roadside park broke
the reverie and the feeling of how Kaua’i once was. It’s an attitude that Aloha
Week annually tries to preserve.
The investiture, followed by a luncheon
at the Holiday Inn Sun Spree resort, were the first official appearances of
this year’s royal court and were a preliminary to the celebration that’s
planned for Oct. 13-22. The festival’s cultural events will include an all will
include an all-day field trip to sacred sites in Wailua.
Aloha Week, which
also is celebrated on other islands, is funded through the Hawai’i Tourism
Authority, corporate sponsorships, private donations and sales of festival
merchandise.
Editor Pat Jenkins can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 227)
and pjenkins@pulitzer.net
