LIHU‘E — The ladies of Kumu Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin’s Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala of Kalaheo were honored on a world stage as they placed fourth in the Wahine ‘Auana during the 49th annual Merrie Monarch Festival. “I am
LIHU‘E — The ladies of Kumu Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin’s Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala of Kalaheo were honored on a world stage as they placed fourth in the Wahine ‘Auana during the 49th annual Merrie Monarch Festival.
“I am on cloud nine,” Kumu Leina‘ala said Monday. “It was such an amazing experience. The girls did excellent. My Miss Aloha Hula did wonderful, our kahiko was great and I’m just so pleased with the outcome. To place at Merrie Monarch is very, very tough. We are just so overwhelmed and so happy. We could feel the love from Kaua‘i, and that was what was amazing.”
The dancers scored 568 points on Saturday night, one point shy from placing third and eight points away from taking first.
Their ‘auana incorporated three mele, each honoring a different woman of Ni‘ihau. One mele, Ta Pua ‘Elama, was sung in the Ni‘ihau dialect. The ka‘i, Ka U‘i O Kahelelani, and the ho‘i, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i, were both written by Ni‘ihau composers.
“It is really only fitting that we acknowledge and honor the people that live the true Hawaiian lifestyle there,” Kumu Leina‘ala said in an interview before the performance.
During the ‘auana, the 32-member halau wore flowing white dresses and Ni‘ihau shell lei.
“A lot of (the shell lei) were from their kupuna,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “A lot of these girls didn’t know the value and how special Ni‘ihau shell leis are until this journey we took.”
The dancers went to their mothers, grandmothers and aunts, asking for the shell lei, Kumu Leina‘ala said, and during the process, the dancers learned about their family’s history.
“There was a lot of family history and love on their chests,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “A lot of my girls also made their own. They actually went and picked shells from a couple of beaches on Kaua‘i.”
The lei po‘o (head lei) was made from the halau’s Ni‘ihau ‘ohana, Kumu Leina‘ala said.
Dane Wai‘ale‘ale flew with the group to help with hair and makeup, and his sister, Jade Wai‘ale‘ale, traveled with the halau as the group’s spiritual leader.
“It’s one thing to do the hula, but the girls felt really beautiful because of Dane,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “Jade came to Hilo with us, too, and that was a big part of what kept us grounded and believing and trusting in our Lord and that all is going to be well.”
Musicians Willie Cummings, Debbie Cummings, Fred Aki, Butter Defries and Kalani Dabin also traveled with the halau to Hilo.
“They surely helped the dancers,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “The music drives you to express and share. It sets the foundation of the hula.”
For the group’s kahiko, they performed a mele about Chiefess Kamaile. According to the judges scorecards, the halau was two points shy from placing fifth place in the kahiko.
“The competition was very close,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “I spoke with the judges after, and they were very complimentary about our tribute to Ni‘ihau and Kamaile.”
Jayna Shaffer represented the halau as she vied for the Miss Aloha Hula crown, which was awarded to Rebecca Lilinoekekapahauomaunakea Sterling.
“This has been an amazing journey,” Kumu Leina‘ala said. “Today, it’s almost like I’m missing the girls. Although we accomplished something incredible in Hilo, it’s sad in a way because the journey for this has ended.”
Next year, the Merrie Monarch Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary, but Kumu Leina‘ala plans on taking it one day at a time.
“I haven’t even thought about (next year) yet,” Kumu Leina‘ala said.
“I have the Queen Lili‘uoklani Keiki Hula Competition in July, and we were the overall winners last year. My focus is now on that and to bring my keiki back to that event.”
