Hapa Haole, Miz Kaua‘i Tita contests on

Organizers of the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival’s Hapa Haole Hula Competition and the Miz Kaua‘i Tita Pageant announced in a press release that the competitions are 7 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday, respectively, at the Kauai Beach Hotel & Resort at Nukoli‘i.

The Hapa Haole Hula Competition allows those from hotels and businesses to showcase their talents.

Chanell Flores, the reigning Miz Kaua‘i Tita, will hand over her title in the unique competition where ladies create local-food dishes, blow conch shells, and perform other functions for the right to be called Miz Kaua‘i Tita 2006.

Both events help kick off the 22nd anniversary celebration of the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival.

Nathan Kalama, festival coordinator, defines a hapa-haole song as one with a Hawaiian theme, in terms of the land, its people or places and things, with a majority of lyrics in English.

“Hapa” translates to “half,” Kalama explained, “so the music and dance are half-Hawaiian and half-haole (foreigner or Caucasian).” There are divisions for hotel and other business entrants.

The annual fund-raiser for the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival is designed to expand cultural awareness and generate early interest in the festival and the May 20 Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk.

Tickets are $10 per person for each event, available at Blockbuster in Kukui Grove Center and Waipouli Town Center, Hanalei Video & Music, and Menehune Plantation in the Port Allen Marina Center.

Crafters interested in participating in one or both days of the events may call Edee Bandmann, 634-5352.

More information on the competitions and festival is available from Kalama, 822-2166 or KMFKauai@msn.com, or Jodi Omo for Miz Kaua‘i Tita applications, 246-5515, or jomo@kauaibeachhotelandresort.com.

The event is sponsored in part by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and County of Kaua‘i Office of Economic Development.