‘Kauai’s opportunity’

LIHUE — People from all parts of the world love hula, but until the formation of Ka Aha Hula O Halauaola, resources were scarce, if at all, said L. Kehaulani Kekua.

Kekua, one of the kumu hula on Kauai and the director of Ka Aha Hula O Halauaola, said people’s love for hula and lack of resources forced them to improvise.

Through the insight of three kumu hula — Pualani Kanakaole Kanahele of Hilo, Hawaii; Leinaala Kalama Heine of Oahu; and Hokulani Holt of Kahului, Maui — Ka Aha Hula O Halauaola was born from a common desire to provide a nexus for masters, practitioners and enthusiasts of hula knowledge and Hawaiian culture to share their thoughts and understanding of the sacred Hawaiian art form.

Kauai will be the site of the 4th World Conference on Hula from July 10 to 18, hosting up to 1,000 people from different parts of the world who are anxious to learn about hula and the Hawaiian culture.

“The committee has worked on this for 16 years,” said Randy Francisco, president and CEO of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce, during a press conference Wednesday. “Ka Aha Hula O Halauaola is held every four years, and the Kauai leaders have been anxiously waiting for Kauai’s opportunity.”

Kekua said following the Kauai event, Ka Aha Hula O Halauaola will have completed one cycle of life after starting in Maui in 2005, where 926 conference participants gathered.

Four years later, the number swelled to 1,500 participants converging on Oahu in 2009 at Kapalama. After Kauai completes the cycle, the conference returning to Hilo where the second cycle begins.

“It’ll be another 16 years before people have this opportunity, again,” Kekua said. “We invite everyone to get involved.”

During the eight-day conference, filled with workshops and learning in hula, Hawaii, and Hawaiian culture, participants will be working out of the Kauai Community College and the neighboring Kawaikini Charter School and the Island School campuses.

The announcement, coming on the heels of the 51st annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, demonstrates the improvement in hula from kumu and dancers who attended the previous conferences, Kekua said.

“Because the first conference was in Hilo, home of the Merrie Monarch festival, the festival already shows the levels of excellence being unsurpassed,” Kekua said. “Leinaala Pavao Jardin just returned from her presentations. Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza of Hula Halau O Kaohikukapulani is another of Kauai’s representative to the hula festival, but this year, took a break from participating because of her commitment to Ka Aha Hula O Halauaola.”

Kekua said the conference will be led by Kauai’s kumu hula who have key roles of responsibility.

Nathan Liberato Kahikolu Kahapea Kalama, Hawaiian music composer and Living Treasure, serves as the honorary conference chairperson.

“The reputation of our island is at stake,” said Kalama of the Malie Foundation, the conference’s host organization and fiscal sponsor. “We have to get involved. We’re going to gas and go.”

In the final two months leading up top the 4th World Conference on Hula, organizers are building their pool of volunteers as well as continuing to secure funding to host the conference, Kekua said.

Visit www.hulaconferences.org, or email info@hulaconferences.org for more information on the conference, or on ways to assist.