Award winners perform at Saturday hoike

Tickets for the 2011 Hoike hosted by Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala are still available for the event which starts at 6 p.m., Saturday, at the War Memorial Convention Hall.

Doors to the event open at 5 p.m. and tickets are available at Kujo’s Mini Mart in Kalaheo, The Wine Shop in Koloa, Mokihana Travel in Lihu‘e and at Vicky’s Fabrics in Kapa‘a.

Admission is $20 and includes performances by almost 200 students of Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin. Dancers from Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala perform both Hula Kahiko and Hula ‘Auana from the keiki, opio, wahine and kupuna groups.

Saturday’s hoike celebrates the 15th anniversary of hula instruction by Kumu Hula Leina‘ala and, along with the hula performances, will feature musical presentations from O‘ahu and Maui.

Male and female Vocalists of the Year and Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners Nathan Aweau and Napua Makua will join the hoike.

“I am very proud of all my dancers and I teach them to share our Hawaiian culture through the stories their dances relay as well as give 100 percent during each performance,” Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin said in a release. “The wahine dancers are preparing for their first trip to Hilo in April to compete in the 2012 Merrie Monarch Hula Competition. It is a very exciting time for all of our dancers and we are proud to represent Kaua‘i whenever we are asked to dance.”

Recently, halau dancers captured the Best Overall Keiki Halau for Hula during the 2011 Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula Competition on O‘ahu in July. This most recent award comes on the heels of other awards the halau dancers have earned in previous competitions.

New to the hoike is a silent auction with items from local businesses, the proceeds helping with the trip to the Merrie Monarch competition in April, 2012.

Visit www.leimokihana.com or call 639-9033 for more information.