WAIPOULI — There are more people in Japan practicing hula than the population in the state of Hawaii, said Arthur Umezu Wednesday during the free lunchtime performance by Hui o Mapuana’s Hula Nani at The Coconut Marketplace.
WAIPOULI — There are more people in Japan practicing hula than the population in the state of Hawaii, said Arthur Umezu Wednesday during the free lunchtime performance by Hui o Mapuana’s Hula Nani at The Coconut Marketplace.
“They love hula in Japan,” Umezu, the county’s sports and cultural arts coordinator with the county Office of Economic Opportunity.
Umezu said Mapuana Kazama has about 500 people dancing hula under her leadership, and she brings her dancers only to Kauai, arriving Monday night to perform Wednesday at the second Ho‘onani Kauai Festival at the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach.
Hui o Mapuana is no stranger to Kauai, having participated at the Kauai Mokihana Festival twice, and, in 2013, bringing nearly 90 dancers to perform at The Shops at Kukuiula.
The cross-cultural celebration of music and dance was a fundraiser for the Kauai Japanese Cultural Society.
Today, the group will travel to visit the Japanese buoy at the Port Allen Marina and will return for a 12:15 p.m. performance at the Kukui Grove Center before departing for Japan.
