MERRIE MONARCH HULA FESTIVAL, 2007
ALOHA! Last night (April 11), I attended the 44th annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, which runs from April 8 to April 14. I have many lovely pictures from the ho'ike — in essence, a hula show on the eve of the Miss Aloha Hula Competition — and I will post photos for you to enjoy here during the rest of April. We will see kahiko (ancient hula with mele, or chant, which are records of cultural information) and 'auana (modern, song-accompanied hula). Kahiko portrays the raw life force. Highly primordial, kahiko conveys power, sensuality, sexual prowess, and a deep reverence for natural balance. It is a worship of the gods.
BELOW: Entrance of the ho'opa'a, who chant the text and provide the percussive accompaniment for the 'olapa, who execute the dance movements. This group is Halau O Kekuhi.
And here are two lovely shots of this halau's 'olapa, or dancers. The hula always enhances the mele, rather than replacing it. The dance and chant, then, are integral parts of a unified whole.
I will post more photos from this year's Merrie Monarch Festival tomorrow and beyond, so please check back, or sign up for email updates (using the sidebar element beneath my picture and bio) to see what's new.
Wishing you a beautiful day,
Bill Brent
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