LIHUE — When Jeslie Pavao gives away her Miss Keiki Hula title, she’ll be joined on stage by her sister and cousin. All are past winners, so sharing the stage is only natural, said Leinaala Pavao-Jardin, kumu hula of Ka
LIHUE — When Jeslie Pavao gives away her Miss Keiki Hula title, she’ll be joined on stage by her sister and cousin.
All are past winners, so sharing the stage is only natural, said Leinaala Pavao-Jardin, kumu hula of Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala.
“They are all Miss Keiki Hula,” Leinaala said. “Breeze was Miss Keiki Hula in 2009, and Jaiden was the title holder in 2010. They’ll all be dancing together on the same stage as Jeslie turns over her title.”
The halau has won numerous awards and top honors at the Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula competition. They’re returning to the 39th annual competition this week at the Neal Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu with a contingent of 23 dancers, including Xarika Castisimo, who represents the halau in the Miss Keiki Hula soloist competition. It starts at 6 p.m. Thursday and runs through Sunday.
“We have a fairly young group,” Leinaala said. “There are only five or six of the 23 dancers who are returning to the stage. Most of the dancers are dancing at the competition for the first time, and they are ready.”
Luke Hunadi, reigning Master Kane title holder, is also from the Kalaheo-based halau.
“Luke is the only kane going this year,” Leinaala said. “He’ll be dancing when he gives up his title. We have a large group of kane, but they are still too young. Next year, they should be ready.”
The kumu hula said she appreciates the mahalo and support from the people of Kauai and Niihau as they depart on their journey.
“Last year, we were blessed,” Leinaala said. “This year, our focus is to celebrate the hula, and to celebrate being able to dance the hula. The students will dance from their hearts.”
The group did exceptionally well last year. Ka Lei Mokihana, during the 2013 competition, captured the Miss Keiki Hula title with Jeslie Ann Pavao, the Master Kane title with Hunadi. The halau also earned first place in the Kahiko, Keiki Kane Division, Kahiko, Kaikamahine Division, Hula Auana, Keiki Kane Division, Hula Auana, Kaikamahine Division, en route to earning the Overall Wendell Kalanikapuaenui Silva Overall Perpetual Trophy (for kane dancers), and the Pat Namaka Bacon Overall Perpetual Trophy.
The Queen Liliuokalani keiki hula competition was organized by the Kalihi-Palama Culture and Arts Society in 1976 as a festival to honor Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani.
