| Most of us are familiar with the story of the original Olympics:
centuries ago, youth in ancient Greece gathered once every four years to compete
for honor and glory and the prized olive branch. But what few of us know is that
a similar kind of athletic competition was taking place annually on the other side
of the planet. For four months every year this "Olympiad" took place — in
the Hawaiian islands.
From October through March, the ancient Hawaiians celebrated the Makahiki season:
a celebration of the New Year held in honor of the agriculture/fertility god, Lono,
to ensure peace and ongoing productivity. Makahiki is the Hawaiian version
of "first fruits" festivals common to many of the world's cultures — the
change from harvest time to the beginning of the agricultural season.
This
months-long holiday began with religious ceremonies and allowed the earth to
rest from food planting and harvesting. It was a time of rest and renewal, when
the people first offered tributes to their chiefs and kings, and then spent their
time in light-hearted daily activities – hula dancing, singing, feasting,
and sports: boxing, tobogganing, surfing, canoe racing, relays, and swimming. [Read
more about Makahiki
on Wikipedia].
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| Depiction of hula combat. (photo courtesy of Derik Poquiz Photography) |
Sporting
events celebrated during Makahiki were held in a fun-loving atmosphere
that nonetheless sanctioned a competitive spirit. In the centuries preceding Western
contact, Hawaiians worked and played hard but under a cultural umbrella that we
call "aloha," characterized
by a pleasantly joyful approach to life. The
early Hawaiians also loved competition, however, even within the spirit of aloha.
This
love of competition is still a part of the Hawaiian community of today... It's
no accident that with its sizeable ex-patriot Hawaiian population, the city of
Las Vegas is affectionately referred to as "the ninth island." Ask a
resident Hawaiian why they live in the desert, and the answer is likely to be "Because
we like the heat. And we like to gamble!"
Modern Day Hula Competitions
Another current expression of this joyfully combative spirit is the hula competition.
It may sound like an oxymoron to the uninitiated, but competitive hula is an extremely
popular past time for Hawaiian dance fans. The most renowned of these events (found
both in the islands and on the mainland), the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, is
often referred to as the "Olympics" of hula.
Like other tournaments, hula competition are customarily judged by select panels
of hula masters and teachers, historians, and linguists, reviewing categories such
as suitable attire or appropriate instrumental accompaniment to classic or contemporary
Hawaiian chants and songs. (Classic
hula is performed to the accompaniment of percussion instruments and chanting;
contemporary hula is performed to the accompaniment of stringed instruments,
including the piano, and melodic singing).
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| AHA
Kane entertains with a contemporary
hula. |
Great attention
is consequently paid to what dancers wear, and whether the percussive instrument
chosen for a hula, or dance, is considered traditionally correct. According to
some, however, one important element of the dance presentations is rarely considered
in the judging process: how effectively did the performance entertain its audience?
Kumu Hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu,
Artistic Director of Oakland's Academy of Hawaiian Arts, takes issue with
this. "Hula is meant to do three things: educate, inspire, and entertain.
Somewhere along the way, people have lost sight of the basic entertainment factor,
and are caught up in the details," he notes. He suspects that unlike the
judges, who often have a more academic agenda to consider in their judging process,
audiences at hula competition have a more basic approach: they simply want to see
a good show.
After
reflecting upon this dichotomy, Kumu Mark came upon an idea which may well become
a milestone in the history of Hawaiian hula competitions.
A New Kind of Hula Challenge
In
the spirit of the competitions of old Hawai'i, this Makahiki, MKH
Productions inaugurates "Ka Hula Hou: Pride
on the Line".
Dancers from four respected mainland hula schools will challenge each other in
tournament style bouts, until only one group remains: but there will be no panel
of hula experts determining the outcome. Winners will be chosen by the audience,
the cheers and applause of those on the sidelines determining who wins.
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| AHA
Kane do battle on the floor in Japan. |
In
true tournament style, competing dancers won't
leave the dance floor to prepare for the next round. Instead, they'll have
to watch their opponents and decide and prepare on the spot for the hula their kumu chooses
as the best comeback to their opponent.
One
thing that Kumu Mark wants clearly
understood, however, is that he has no desire to replace such venerable institutions
as the Merrie Monarch competition. "I
love Merrie Monarch," he declares. "I love it just the way it is. I
would never want Merrie Monarch, or any of the other competitions, to change. What
they do is good, and important."
His
perspective is simple: there should be room for more than one type of hula competition.
"I want to see what happens when kumu hula, and the dancers, are challenged to best each other on
the floor with just their dance."
This
event promises to be exciting and fun, with the anticipated give-and-take between
dancers and audiences stimulating high energy and excitement for the entire family,
young and old alike. Popular Hawaiian radio personality and comedienne "Mento
Mele" Apana will emcee the event adding to the antics on and off-stage.
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| Hawai'i
comedienne "Mento Mele" Apana will emcee the event. Read more about Mele
and Ka Hula Hou participating halau in future issues. |
Ka Hula Hou 2008 Challengers
MKH Productions presents "Ka
Hula Hou:
Pride on the Line" on
Saturday, February 16, 2008, at Centennial Hall in Hayward, CA.
This inaugural
event will feature the men of the Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Na Kane O Manawaiopuna,
Halau na Pualehua I Ka Ua Noe, and Halau Hula o Kawika Laua A Leinani. The evening's
activities will be emceed by popular Hawaiian radio personality and performer,
Mele "Mento Mele" Apana, promotions director for Hawai'i radio
stations Hot 93.9 and Island Rhythm 98.5.
Tickets are going fast for Ka Hula Hou, especially in the first two
sections of seats closest to center stage. Don't miss the fun and action of
this first-ever event. Buy
your tickets today
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