KOKE‘E — Queen Emma is coming to the Alaka‘i when the 32nd annual Eo e Emalani unwraps on Oct. 10, hosted by Hui o Laka and the Koke‘e Natural History Museum with support from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will go virtual, starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10 through the link youtu.be/VDLCh0FIEKc.
“Creativity overcame the challenges as a dozen halau and performers participated in creating the virtual event during this time of quarantine and limited social gatherings,” said Chris Faye of Hui o Laka and the Koke‘e Natural History Museum.
Because of the event’s popularity during previous live presentations, ample time is allowed so watch parties can be scheduled to coincide with the arrival of Emalani to the meadows in Koke‘e.
“Queen Emma, who lived between 1845 and 1885, was consort to King Kamehameha IV,” Faye said. “During his reign, the two resolved to aid their people with a modern hospital in Honolulu which they personally solicited funds to build. That hospital stands today as the Queen’s Hospital. The Queen is an exceptional role model and we honor her memory by holding this event even during a global pandemic — something the Queen was well familiar with as waves of foreign disease swept the Islands and killed so many people.”
Eo e Emalani i Alaka‘i tells the story of the Queen’s journey to Kaua‘i in the midst of her mourning for the deaths of her husband and only child.
Her brother-in-law, King Lot Kamehama V, was concerned for her health and lingering depression and sent her on many trips hoping she would recover. To entice her to visit Kaua‘i he told her tails of a hunting trip he and her husband had made as young princes into the mountains and the beautiful view they encountered that overlooked the northern end of the island.
While staying at her cottage in Lawa‘i, friends came to visit and they decided to visit the special places of the island starting with Nohili, the famous Barking Sands. They stopped in Waimea, where they were treated to a feast. In the merriment, she told her host about the hunting trip and wished she could see the view. Soon a guide was found and what started out as a small party swelled to 100 including dancers, chanters, friends, and more that just wanted to be with their Queen.
At one point on the journey just past the famous Waineke pond, the party came on a large flat rock with a sweeping view of Wai‘ale‘ale where they would enter the Alaka‘i. They were overcome and expressed their delight by singing and dancing. Their sojourn delayed their journey enough that they ended up spending the night in the Alaka‘i.
It was January. It was cold and miserable.
The followers huddled in their clothes on the wet ground. Kaluahi the guide had cut fern fronds for the Queen to sit on as comfortably as possible. It was too wet to have a fire.
In that cold, the Queen began to sing and cajole her followers. Her cheerful spirit returned to her as she rallied the spirits of those around her. The next morning, she was overjoyed to find clear skies at Kilohana, the beautiful viewpoint. The party returned to Waimea with many tales. Within a week, the newspapers told the story of the mountain climbing queen.
This year’s event is funded in part by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Hui o Laka, James and Sylvia Thacker, Waiawa Holdings, Corteva Agrisciences, Aqua Engineers, Garden Island Auto Sales, Tire Warehouse Kaua‘i, M &H Painting, Bali Hai Realty, and the Lawa‘i Beach Resort.
