It is an event that only happens once a year, so for members of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinaala, their annual Hoike is a special time for sharing and celebration. “Hoike basically means … to showcase, to show off,
It is an event that only happens once a year, so for members of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinaala, their annual Hoike is a special time for sharing and celebration.
“Hoike basically means … to showcase, to show off, or put on display, so this is really the halau’s recital of the year,” said Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, kumu hula of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinaala. “This is what the students have studied for the past year, and unfortunately, in one night, we can’t share everything, but we highlight some of the different things we have done throughout the year and celebrate some of the accomplishments by my students as far as Merrie Monarch and the Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula competition — we celebrate that and share the performances live that evening.”
Among the first performances scheduled for the Hoike on Saturday at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall is a hula kahiko, called “Aloha Ka Luna O Keolewa,” which was written by Westside native Keao NeSmith and performed by the halau’s wahine dancers at the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo.
The event will also highlight performances from the Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula competition in August, where Jardin’s halau danced to a mele (song) called “Kamawailualani,” the ancient name of Kauai island, which was written by Manu Boyd.
“At each Hoike, we tend to have a lot of visitors in the audience, and what I want them to remember is, hopefully when they’re in there and watching our program, that they understand our culture and take a little back home with them, meaning more respect for the aina, because in everything we do in the hula, we speak about our love for the land and everything that surrounds it,” Jardin said.
The special, musical guests at the Hoike will include Kauai group Na Molokama, consisting of Fred Aki, Bradford Nelmida, Kahanu Smith, Alberto Genovia and Pali Carbonel, and Hilo native Kuana Torres Kahele, a Na Hoku Hanohano Award winning artist.
A total of 20 crafters will also be present at the Hoike outside of the event hall.
Tickets are available in advance for $20 or $30 at the door.
Info: Jardin, 639-9033
