18 Sunday, April 16, 2017 Hawaii Tribune-Herald 2017 Merrie Monarch Festival VISIT US DURING THE MERRIE MONARCH Pharmaceuticals Personal care products Gifts 301 Makaala St. • Hilo • Open 7am-10pm 24th Annual APRIL 19 Wed 12pm to 4pm APRIL 20, 21, & 22 9am to 4pm New Location Nani Mau Gardens 421 Makalika St., Hilo Admission $2 (Kids 7yr and younger Free) Hawaii Arts & Crafts 981-0518 the kane kahiko (ancient hula). The halau’s women also were rewarded by the judges, garnering fifth place in the wahine ‘auana category. In 2014, the men followed up by taking the runner up spot in kane ‘auana. The men again served notice in 2015 with a second place finish in kane ‘auana and a third-place tie in kane kahiko. If perchance Kahikilaulani was flying under anyone’s radar, last year’s kane performances left no doubt the halau is a force to be reckoned with. The men took first place in kahiko, second in ‘auana and second in kane overall to Halau Na Mamo o Pu‘uanahulu, which won the overall and kane overall titles. Kahikilaulani came in third overall, with another Hilo troupe, Johnny Lum Ho’s Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua, winning the wahine overall title and taking the overall runner-up trophy. “I’m very happy for both of us,” Gaspang said after the results were announced, a nod to her fellow Hilo kumu. Kahikilaulani’s wahine have sat the past couple of years out while the kane bore the standard for the halau’s remarkable run, but this year both genders will compete before the hometown audience at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium. Gaspang said she’ll have 19 women in her line, including “some young ones and new ones I’ve been working with.” The wahine kahiko, “He‘eia,” is in honor of the festival’s namesake, King David Kalakaua, the Merrie Monarch. The best-known version of the mele was recorded in 1973 by Palani Vaughan on “Ia ‘Oe E Ka La, Helu ‘Ekahi,” the first of four albums honoring Kalakaua by the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame inductee who died in December at 72. “We went on a huaka‘i (cultural excursion) in Kona to learn about He‘eia, a surfing spot for Kalakaua,” Gaspang said. “It’s not the one in O‘ahu, but the one in Kona. (Kumu hula and Merrie Monarch judge) Etua Lopes shared his mana‘o (thoughts) with my girls, and also with me, about He‘eia. It was very, very hot. But it was a day of learning about what we were doing. Etua was very, very helpful to my mele. “They learned about the ocean at He‘eia, and when you hear the ocean there, all you hear are the ‘ili‘ili rocks making that sound. So the girls listened to the sound, learning what they could observe from the ocean. And they started picking up ‘ili‘ili rocks from He‘eia, to make it more personal. I told them, ‘When you pick up that, that’s what you’re going to use for your mele.’ “Usually, people use ‘uli‘uli (feathered gourd rattles), but I decided to use ‘ili‘ili because when you go down to He‘eia, there’s nothing but ‘ili‘ili rocks.” The mele for the wahine ‘auana is “Moku Ola,” which means “healing island.” Gaspang said musician Iwalani Apo gave her the idea. Aunty Lilinoe Keliipio Young, whose family used to live on the island in Hilo Bay also known as Coconut Island, educated Gaspang’s women about the island. Sheet music for the song was provided by legendary Hawaiian songstress Nina Keali‘iwahamana. “Because there are no flowers on Moku Ola, I’m thinking about using the hala and the coconut for (adornment) for the girls’ hair,” Gaspang said. “And I’m putting them in a sarong, Rising From page 14 See RISING Page 19
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