............. ............. Keiki can, too by ashley kahaiā morishita, staff writer
Photos courtesy of Kahu Kalani Wong Master and Miss Keiki Hula Kamaka Ho’opi’i (above), and Keaolani Hosino (right) dance during the 2014 Keiki Hula Competition on O’ahu. Kamaka Ho‘opi‘i and Keaolani Hosino are two up-and-coming hula keiki. They dance for the same hula hālau, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘illiahi under the direction of Nā Kumu ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes. (See “Maui Masters” page 12).
Kamaka Ho‘opi‘i
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11-year-old Kamaka Ho‘opi‘i of Kahakuloa started dancing at eight years old, and at the end of the 39th Annual Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition in
2013, his kumu hula chose him to represent their hālau in the Master Keiki Hula division in the next year’s contest. He won in 2014. “After winning the title for Master Keiki Hula 2014, I felt accomplished, and to me it meant that seven months of hard work and dedication with my Kumu Hula paid off on the Keiki Hula stage,” he said. The competition features talented keiki from 22 hula hālau from Hawai‘i island, Maui, Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, and
Japan with roughly 400 keiki who showcase their hula skills. The competition lasts three days and is held at the Neal Blaisdell Arena on O‘ahu. The first night of competition begins with the solo division. Ho‘opi‘i said in order to be chosen as a contender by Nā Kumu Paredes, he needed good grades and good attendance in school and at papa hula, or hula practices. He also needed to be respectful to everyone and mālama, or take care of, his
hula brothers and sisters, as hula classmates are known. To prepare for these kinds of demanding competitions, hālau members adopt a practice called “kapu,” which means taboo or prohibition. The concept is the same as Lent. The types of things they give up for hula are more than just certain foods or drinks. Students must also give up social media or anything that distracts them from hula. (KEIKI continued on facing page)