Tradition, Wonder & FUN!

Aloha! Welcome!

Click on photos to enlarge

King Kalakaua's coronation pavillion, Iolani Palace, Honolulu

"Hula is the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people."

King Kalakaua

Comfort Sprial's Cousin

“A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril”
Winston Churchill quotes

Distant Cousin Swirl

“We learn simply by the exposure of living, and what we learn most natively is the tradition in which we live.”
David P. Gardner

Come on in, sit down and SHUSH.

Look, the Merrie Monarch is about to begin on TV!

The 46th year of Hula's annual party in Hilo Town, my 22nd watching.

This is the real stuff

the way we do it for ourselves.

To honor Kalakaua the Merrie Monarch

who saved Hula, Chant & so much more

as it trembled on the brink

of nonexistence.

He's still our King,

Some people say.

And the year turns on the weekend after Easter.

It has all led up to this.

The practice, fundraisers, laughter & tears

together in the Halau.

Auntie's gone all gray,

and Uncle George Naope is too frail to dance

while the judges tally on final night.

But I hope the Kumu, the teachers, the "source"

will all dance impromptu that night.

This is a family reunion, after all.

The goddess Pele,

sister Hi`iaka,

and the beloved royals all come

in the chants

and the adornments

red lehua blossoms,

fragrant maile from the uplands.

And when the young men dance

all the ladies squeal with delight

at their sheer manly beauty.

So sit by me

(via the link below)

and eat some kaki mochi.

Get planny grindz

and room fo' you

Brudah, Sistah

here on da floor

before da big screen.

Cause dis weekend

we ALL stay

Local

!

Info, streaming video, Hula Terms Dictionary & MORE here:
http://www.kitv.com/merriemonarch/index.html

A L O H A! Cloudia