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24 Sunday, March 27, 2016 Hawaii Tribune-Herald 2016 MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL is on a first-come, first-served basis. Continuing a tradition started in 1997, Hilo hula powerhouse Halau O Kekuhi will perform, under the direction of kumu hula Nalani Kanaka‘ole, daughter of Edith Kanaka‘ole. “This year, we are doing a short set. However, it is an homage to Hi‘iakaikapoliopele as she comes into godhood here at Kilauea,” Kanaka‘ole said. “The mele that honor her personally are called kau, which characteristically is an accounting of her powers and limitations. “Being born an egg, she had charge of all embryonic growth in the life cycle for the Pele family. All of the ritual mele in hula point to her being a seer and a prophet but still connected to the forest like the other hula goddesses Laka and Kapo. The actual veneration of these three gods are important to the well-being of our forest’s growth. It is the prime reason why we dance to offer hookupu or to give a gift of growth.” Nonosina Polynesian Dance Studio of Anaheim, Calif., also will perform. Its director, Tiana Nonosina Liufau, is bringing a contingent of 66 dancers and musicians, including keiki, teens and adults, male and female. The troupe, founded in 1965 by Liufau’s grandmother, Estella Reid, performed at the 2012 Ho‘ike, dedicating its performance to award-winning kumu hula O’Brien Eselu, who died just before the Merrie Monarch that year. “My grandma and him were really, really close,” Liufau said. “We’re extremely humbled that Aunty (Luana Kawelu, Merrie Monarch president) reached out to us to see if we wanted to come back again. Even though we’re predominately a Tahitian dance group, we’re well aware of how prestigious Merrie Monarch is. It’s the biggest competition festival in all Polynesia, so we’re really humbled and excited to come and share before it gets started with Miss Aloha Hula.” Liufau said in Nonosina’s 2012 performance, “The whole cast could feel the energy, the mana.” “Our dancers are well-versed in the history of the Merrie Monarch,” she explained. “My partner was actually Miss Aloha Hula in 2010 (Mahealani Mika Hirao- Solem of Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela). They knew exactly what the HO‘IKE From page 23 See HO‘IKE Page 25 Courtesy photo Nonosina, under the direction of Tiana Nonosina Liufau, will perform Tahitian dance at the free Ho‘ike on Wednesday night at Edith Kanaka’ole Multi-Purpose Stadium.


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