HONOLULU — The beautiful art of hula took to the streets of New York City Saturday for thousands of onlookers, courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines and Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu hula halau. A special Hawaiian Airlines bus wrapped in
HONOLULU — The beautiful art of hula took to the streets of New York City Saturday for thousands of onlookers, courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines and Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu hula halau.
A special Hawaiian Airlines bus wrapped in colorful aloha print with the message, “Feel free to hula about the cabin,” pulled up unannounced at the High Line Elevated Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Washington Square Park, Times Square, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a 5th Avenue crosswalk.
From there, the performers engaged in a “hit-and-run hula” to the delight of bystanders. Except for the abbreviated hula while crossing 5th Avenue, each performance lasted about 15 minutes.
“We wanted to surprise our new friends in New York City with the enjoyment of hula and give them another reason to dream about coming to Hawai‘i,” said Blaine Miyasato, Hawaiian’s vice president of product development.
The event was created to celebrate Hawaiian Airlines’ June 4 launch of daily nonstop service between Honolulu and New York’s JFK Airport.
Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu also gave a hula performance at Pershing Square on Thursday as part of Hawaiian Airlines’ presentation of free concerts by headlining Hawai‘i entertainers in New York City during June. This week, the Brothers Cazimero will perform at Pershing Square.
