PUHI — Nathan Kalama, founder of the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival, never forgot the benevolence of the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children”s Center which allowed him to attend Kamehameha Schools. “I was the only student at Koloa School to pass the Hawaiian language
PUHI — Nathan Kalama, founder of the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival, never forgot the benevolence of the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children”s Center which allowed him to attend Kamehameha Schools.
“I was the only student at Koloa School to pass the Hawaiian language test, but my family was too poor to send me to Kamehameha Schools,” he said while recollecting the roots of the 6th Annual Eo, e Lili‘u song festival, Wednesday. “The QLCC provided me with a six-year scholarship which allowed me the chance to attend Kamehameha Schools.”
Kalama, the founder of the week-long Mokihana Festival, has formed the Malie Scholarship which is provided to students so they can attend Punana Leo Preschool.
That was in 1987 at a Christmas concert when Kalama and two other members of Malie, a musical group, contributed $300 to seed the scholarship fund. In the audience, Buddy McGuire — inspired by the efforts and the Mokihana Festival — matched that contribution.
Since that time, the Malie Scholarship has expanded to include students who want to attend other schools including immersion schools as well as the Kamehameha Schools Summer Explorations.
Kalama said, “The Malie artists began to fund the Malie Awards, a separate entity from the Malie Scholarship, as part of the opportunity to reciprocate to the community, and are provided annually to honor individuals, groups, and businesses that have demonstrated high standards of excellence in the promotion, preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian music on Kaua‘i.”
This reciprocation continued to where Kalama started the Eo, e Lili‘u competition as another venue to expose students to the Hawaiian language.
During the 6th Annual competition Wednesday groups were judged on Ha‘i‘olelo, or the presentation of the Hawaiian language, and Mele, which included judging in harmony, melody, ‘Olelo Hawai‘i, phrasing and presentation.
Each competing group was allowed two numbers, one being a song written for or about King David Kalakaua, and the other from the islands of Moloka‘i, Lana‘i or Kaho‘olawe.
Schools from Kekaha to Anahola took part in the morning’s competition, the final group making its appearance just as the brisk trades served sprinkling showers to the gathering of students, teachers and relatives outside the KCC Performing Arts Center.
When the excitement subsided, Na Opio Aloha o Ni‘ihau, Ke Kula Ni‘ihau o Kekaha emerged with the overall trophy after garnering first place honors in the Ho‘okuku Mele, 6-12 division.
Second place in the Ho‘okuku Mele, 6-12 division was presented to Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawai‘i o Kapa‘a, Ke Kula Ki‘eki‘e with the third place award going to Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawai‘i o Kapa‘a, Ke Kula Waena. Kanuikapono Learning Center rounded out that division in fourth place.
Top honors in the Ho‘okuku Mele, K-5 division went to Na Keiki Aloha o Ni‘ihau, Ke Kula Ni‘ihau o Kekaha Learning Center, that group drawing strong applause after its presentation of “Koni Au I Ka Wai” and “Honomuni” with kumu Doric Yaris providing the accompanying music.
Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kapa‘a, Ke Kula Ha‘aha‘a took second place in the K-5 division, that group opening the competition following ho‘okupu offered by several of the competing groups to Thomas Kaulukukui Jr. and a representative of the QLCC.
Kamalani Hopkins of Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kapa‘a, Ke Kula Ha‘aha‘a was presented top honors in the K-5 division in the Ha‘i‘olelo competition. Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawai‘i o Kapa‘a, Ke Kula Ki‘eki‘e topped the 6-12 division.
Na keiki Aloha o Ni‘ihau, Ke Kula Ni‘ihau o Kekaha earned top honors in the K-5 division of ‘olelo Hawai‘i, with Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawai‘i o Kapa‘a, Ke Kula Ki‘eki‘e taking top honors in the 6-12 division.
The week-long Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival continues today with a Cultural Heritage Documentary, “Preserving Kaua‘i Backyard Music: Na Mele ‘Aina O Kaua‘i,” starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Princeville Golf Course Clubhouse.
Thursday will have the solo and group competition in kahiko hula taking place at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Spa starting at 6 p.m.
The Aloha Festivals Court will make its appearance at the ‘Auana Hula competition, Friday, at the Kaua‘i Marriott starting at 6 p.m., and the Mokihana Festival wraps up Saturday with the solo ‘auana hula competition taking place at noon at the Kaua‘i Marriott.
For more information, visit the Mokihana Festivals Web site at http://mokihana.kauai.net.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
