WAIPOULI — The essence of “backyard hula” sums up Ka U‘i O Ka ‘Aina, which celebrated its first anniversary Monday night at the Coconut MarketPlace in Waipouli. “Everyone needs to learn how to make pa‘u la‘i, or hula skirt,” said
WAIPOULI — The essence of “backyard hula” sums up Ka U‘i O Ka ‘Aina, which celebrated its first anniversary Monday night at the Coconut MarketPlace in Waipouli.
“Everyone needs to learn how to make pa‘u la‘i, or hula skirt,” said Leilani Low, kumu hula of Halau Hula O Leilani and director of Ka U‘i O Ka ‘Aina. “Even parents need to learn how to do it, and the best way is to do it is like backyard hula, or an informal setting.”
Throughout the day, Darryl and Leilani Low, directors of the Hawaiian cultural center, hosted shoppers from nearby resorts and the Coconut MarketPlace to a variety of traditional Hawaiian crafts, culminating in a blessing by ‘Anake Valetta Jeremiah, a retired Maori practitioner from the Polynesian Cultural Center on O‘ahu.
Jeremiah, from whom Leilani learned Maori dance, opened up the center with a Maori dance workshop following the pa‘ina, which followed the blessing.
The informal backyard setting overflowed Ka U‘i O Ka ‘Aina, which translates to “the Hawaiian cultural center for perpetuating the Arts of our Land” as parent groups and hula performers set up their stations for creating ti leaf hula skirts, lei of different styles and mingled with practitioners of other arts including coconut frond weaving, lauhala and holei ‘upena, or throw net weaving, all the while enjoying the music of Haunani Kaui, punctuated by impromptu dance performances led by Leilani.
“The good thing about this place is it offers all of these people with knowledge a place they can come to and feel comfortable about what they do,” Darryl said. “They are all volunteers.”
Nelson Ka‘ai, demonstrating the art of coconut frond weaving, pointed out Charlie Perreira, a net maker, who comes religiously on Fridays, demonstrating his holei ‘upena, or throw net weaving, craft.
On another table, Margaret Lovett worked on a developing lauhala handbag, having sufficient time to explain the different fibers used in creating hats and bags in the traditional manner.
“Is this where we do the lei making?” a guest from the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach inquired of Leilani who quickly set up the guest with a coconut bowl filled with fragrant plumeria and the necessary implements to create a lei.
“Uncle” Larry Rivera, Leilani’s father, pulled in his wide range of experience from the days of the Coco Palms Resort and working with Elvis Presley, culminating with several contemporary compositions.
But he quickly disappeared, heading to another engagement, missing the appearance of his granddaughter Kamalani, the inspiration of one of his musical compositions.
Kamalani, the daughter of Leilani, is currently one of the dance instructors, the dancing being expanded to include Maori and Tahitian as well as hula.
“The good thing about this place is there is something for people every day of the week,” Darryl said.
Ka U‘i O Ka ‘Aina is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday hours being limited to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Coconut MarketPlace.
Additionally, Halau Hula O Leilani performs free at center stage on Wednesdays at 5 p.m., the dancers being joined by Larry Rivera on Fridays at 5 p.m. Saturdays, Leilani returns her dancers for a 1 p.m. performance.
Call Leilani at 651-0682 or Darryl at 651-0864 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
