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Hawaii Tribune-Herald Sunday, April 16, 2017 21 Congratulations to our Merrie Monarch ‘ohana Mahalo! Hilo... IEG Branch in Hilo 375 Kekuanaoa Street (808) 961.6691 2017 Merrie Monarch Festival Hula Halau O Kou Lima Nani ‘E practices their kahiko routine March 16 at Keaau Elementary School cafeteria. HOLLYN JOHNSON/ Tribune-Herald able to find out who the composer was, but we do know it was from an earlier time, maybe from Kalakaua’s era because it came from Emerson’s book … and because it has a ha‘ina (and so the story is told). Most of the dances that have ha‘ina in them are not prior to Kamehameha,” she said. Kalima described the chant as a mele ho‘o‘ipo‘ipo (love song) and said the kaona (metaphoric subtext) is Hamakua as a woman with a man gazing upon her, infatuated. She said the dance features an implement called ka‘eke‘eke (bamboo pipes). “My uncle was a very good ka‘eke‘eke maker and I got all his instruments when he passed, and my dad would dance with the ka‘eke‘eke,” Kalima said. “Uncle George taught me a dance using the ka‘eke‘eke. I wanted to do this dance because it reminded me of my family and of Uncle George. It’s an unusual instrument and you don’t often see it used. This is why I wanted to use it, to show people that these dances are still alive and will be kept alive.” Kalima chose the song “Kamalani O Keaukaha” as her halau’s hula ‘auana, or modern hula. The song was recorded and popularized by Lena Machado in the first half of the 20th century. It’s commonly accepted “Hawaii’s Songbird” penned the tune, as well. But that might not be the case, according to Kalima. “It is attributed to Lena Machado, but as I did my research, I found out it was gifted to her,” she explained. “This became one of her favorite places when she came to Hilo, and all of the people of Keaukaha were very hospitable and loved when she came to Keaukaha. So a gentleman by the name of Kalei Aiona gifted her with it, I found out from the people of Keaukaha.” Kalima’s sister, Lehua Kalima, will sing, accompanied by Shawn Pimental on guitar and Aaron Sala on piano. The song has special significance to Iwalani Kalima. “When I graduated and became a kumu hula in 1982, Uncle George said I had to learn this hula and it became like a signature hula. Everywhere we went, he would have me dance this hula,” she said. “And because I was born and raised in Keaukaha and am still living here in Keaukaha, I have very special ties with this area. And I really wanted to honor Uncle George because of him also being from Keaukaha. He was born in Kalihi, but he came to live here with his grandmother and was raised here.” Kalima said she’s grateful to Aunty Luana Kawelu, the festival’s president, for inviting her halau to perform, and reiterated that winning a trophy isn’t what she deems important. “If they have accomplished what I have taught them, then that’s success to me,” Kalima concluded. Email John Burnett at jburnett@ hawaiitribune-herald.com. Legacy From page 20


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