Hawaii Tribune-Herald Sunday, April 16, 2017 29 2017 Merrie Monarch Festival ROYAL DESTINY Husband, wife honored The mo‘i wahine of this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival, Lokelani Kipilii, thinks her selection and that of her real-life husband, Eli, to represent King Kalakaua and Queen Kapi‘olani in this year’s festival is part of a plan for their lives that’s larger than themselves. She cited a Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The 36-year-old Lokelani and her 38-year-old husband both work for Kamehameha Schools, he as a lifeguard on the Hawaii campus in Keaau and she as an administrator in the Preschools Division East Hawaii office in Hilo. She was approached about portraying Kapi‘olani by a previous mo‘i wahine, Leilani Kerr, a hula sister of Lokelani’s in New Hope Christian Fellowship’s dance ministry. “Leilani had presented Lokelani to be considered and ironically I had asked Eli, through a business relationship, if I could add his name into our pool to be considered as mo‘i kane,” said U‘i Peralto, the festival’s Royal Court chairwoman. Usually the men are shy about participating. When I met Loke and Eli together, as a couple, then I presented the idea of this husband and wife representation. Beautiful couple!” Eli and Lokelani, the parents of two young daughters, 10-year-old Grace-Makena and 6-year-old Hope-Anuhea, researched Kalakaua and Kapi‘olani to better understand the roles they’ll portray. “I found out when she started her tenure, which was on Feb. 12, 1874 — Feb. 12 is my birthday, so I thought, ‘Wow, that’s pretty cool.’” she said. “Her tenure started in 1874; I was born 107 years later. And 36 years after that, bringing us up to 2017, here I get to represent her and portray her. And for me, that just brings chicken skin. I also found out how kind she was, how generous she was and how much she loved her people. We’ve got Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children and she brought that about. That was her legacy. “When we stepped into (the period clothes) and did the photo shoot, which was back in February, it took me to a different time and place than just being ourselves. That brought everything to life for me and how privileged we are to represent Kalakaua and Kapi‘olani.” The couple took its research a step further, doing something many halau dancing in the competition do: going on a huaka‘i — a journey of discovery. When Lokelani Kipilii spoke to the Tribune- Herald, she and her husband were set to travel to ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu, the sumptuous royal home Kalakaua built for about $350,000, a kingly fortune when it was completed in 1882. “We wanted to get a really good feel for the past monarchs who have graced the palace. We’re really excited about it,” she said. As always, the royal By JOHN BURNETT Hawaii Tribune-Herald to serve as mo‘i kane, wahine See ROYAL Page 30 Eli and Lokelani Kipilii as King Kalakaua and Queen Kapi‘olani. Photo: Reed & Jay Photography/ Action Photos of Hawaii-Hilo
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