With one collective breath, 32 dancers from Halau Ka Lei Mokihana ‘o Leina‘ala dived underneath the surface of the ocean, cradling their pa‘u la‘i (ti leaf skirts) against their chests. As they emerged from the ocean, they let the saltwater
With one collective breath, 32 dancers from Halau Ka Lei Mokihana ‘o Leina‘ala dived underneath the surface of the ocean, cradling their pa‘u la‘i (ti leaf skirts) against their chests. As they emerged from the ocean, they let the saltwater wash over them to cleanse and purify their spirits.
The gesture was part of a hiuwai ceremony, which took place Monday evening at Salt Pond Beach.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, a small crowd of 10 people watched from the shoreline as Jade Wai‘ale‘ale led the halau in prayer and the women chanted an oli.
“Hiuwai is a moment where we ask for forgiveness and express our love,” Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Jardin said. “The girls have been wearing these ti leaf skirts for almost two months. The skirts don’t look that great now, but that’s OK. All of their hard work and sweat are in it, so we have brought it back where we started.”
In November, the halau gathered at Polihale Beach to enter in the same ceremony, which marked the beginning of their journey to the Merrie Monarch Festival, one of the most prestigious hula contests.
“They started this journey as one in love and harmony,” Wai‘ale‘ale said. “They made their practice skirts in the beginning, and this is an offering to put it back into the ocean.”
“Some will take it home,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “Some will keep it and let it dry out. Some will give it back to the land. Some may venture off to the beach somewhere and give it back where it came from.”
Ka Lei Mokihana ‘o Leina‘ala is the only halau from Kaua‘i traveling to Hilo for the Merrie Monarch Festival, which runs through Saturday. It also marks the first time the halau will be appearing at the celebrated event.
“Aunty Kapu (Kinimaka-Alquiza) has represented us very well in the past two, so I want to give her all due respect,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “I want Kaua‘i to know we are so honored. We are going for our first time, and that’s very exciting.”
The halau started their journey together last fall as 50 women tried out to be in the halau. Thirty-two were selected, with members ranging from age 14 to 40.
They have been practicing four days a week since November, with the days leading up to the festival being no different.
After the hiuwai ceremony, members of the halau dried themselves and traveled to Kato Gym in Kalaheo to rehearse their kahiko (ancient style dance) and ‘auana (modern style dance).
Their voices sliced through the air as they practiced their kahiko, a new composition about Chiefess Kamaile.
“Not everyone knows about it, so we are bringing that to the stage,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “Chiefess Kamaile is from the Na Pali Coast, and there is a mountain there named Kamaile.”
For the performance, the halau’s costumes will incorporate lots of ti leaf.
“A few years ago up on the Na Pali Coast, botanists found a rare ti leaf that actually came from Tahiti,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “It tells us someone had to have literally planted those here. It tells us a lot of history. Our focus will be on that ti leaf and it will be used for their skirts and leis as well.”
Jayna Shaffer, former Miss Kaua‘i Filipina, will represent the halau in the festival’s Miss Aloha Hula solo competition.
“Jayna’s kahiko talks about kapa making,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “She made all her kapa herself with the help of Aunty Sabra Kauka and some of her hula sisters. Her ‘auana is a medley of beautiful Kaua‘i songs.”
On Monday night, Shaffer commanded the gym with grace and poise as her hula sisters watched the dancer perform her ‘auana.
After the dance was complete, Kumu Leina‘ala looked at Shaffer and the rest of her halau in pride.
“You guys,” Jardin said as she fanned herself to prevent tears from spilling down her face. “You better have fans for me.”
For a complete schedule of events, visit www.merriemonarch.com.
• Andrea Frainier, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or afrainier@ thegardenisland.com.
