30 Sunday, April 1, 2018 Hawaii Tribune-Herald
A calling
FROM KAUAI
Kumu’s Washington halau first to represent state
HAMADA
A l o h a !
H i l o
Congratulations to our
Merrie Monarch ‘ohana!
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2018 Merrie Monarch Festival
When Ke‘ala ‘O
Kamailelauli‘ili‘i
takes the stage Friday
evening for group hula kahiko
(ancient hula), it will mark
the first time a halau from
Washington state dances in the
Merrie Monarch competition.
Kumu hula Kamaile Hamada
is bringing 16 wahine dancers
ranging in age from 14-49 for
his halau’s historic performance
on hula’s biggest stage.
“We are very excited,” he
said. “We fundraised, and fundraised,
and did
shows and more
fundraisers.”
Hamada, who
hails from Waimea
Valley, Kauai,
first learned hula
as a child from
his late mother,
Agnes Kama‘i.
“It was ‘learn this’ and
‘learn that’ before you go out
By JOHN BURNETT
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Courtesy photo
Ke‘ala ‘O Kamailelauli‘li‘i, under the direction of kumu hula Kamaile Hamada, is the first
See CALLING Page 31 hula halau from the state of Washington to compete in the Merrie Monarch Festival.