Saturday the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival culminated with a hula finale at Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort. This was the 25th anniversary of the festival hosted by the Malie Foundation, an organization dedicated to the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture. Breaking all prior
Saturday the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival culminated with a hula finale at Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort. This was the 25th anniversary of the festival hosted by the Malie Foundation, an organization dedicated to the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture.
Breaking all prior year’s records despite tough economic times, $16,600 in cash prizes and awards were given to the winning participants of the festival. Awards for the hula competition alone totaled $11,500 when halau from Maui, Hawai‘i, O‘ahu and Kaua‘i received recognition at the concluding ceremony.
For the first time, a $5,000 grant from Hawai‘i Community Foundation designated to specifically support hula.
Contributed photos by Joe Olivas
1: The Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival culminated Saturday with a hula finale. First place for Solo Opio Wahine went to Kuliaikananikamaha‘oikapo‘aimoku Murray representing Halau Nawaipunalei of Maui dancing to ‘Pualena.’
2: Winner of Mrs. Mokihana Hula 2009 was Gena Kuualoha Dutro of Kekaiulu Hula Studio Hawai‘i dancing to ‘Ka Ipo Mokihana.’
3: Winning points for creativity, Halau Hula Kauluokala from Maui performs ‘Ka Ho’oopa‘i O ka Nalu ‘Eu ‘Eu’ (roughly translated flyswatter dance) which won first place in the Group Kane Auana.
4: First place for Kupuna Mokihana Hula went to Sharon Ako of Halau Nawaipunalei from Maui dancing to the song ‘Lumaha‘i.’
5: Winning the title 2009 Miss Mokihana Hula Kahiko is Ramie Mahina Rosa Lasco of Kekalulu Hula Studio Hawai‘i, dancing to ‘Aia I Nu‘uanau I Ko Lei Nani.’ The Hawai’i Community Foundation provided a grant that supported cash awards for the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival hula competition this year.
6: Halau Nawaipunanlei from Maui performs ‘Hula Hoe Wa‘a,’ taking first place in Group Wahine.
