Students of late kumu hula win four top keiki awards

Dancers from Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu perform a contemporary hula in the 'auana phase of the Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition. Their kumu hula is William Sonny Ching. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

By Vickie Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hula Halau 'O Kamuela — the O'ahu halau still grieving the death of its longtime director, kumu hula Paleka Mattos — came away with four top awards from the 2002 Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition that concluded last night at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena.

Dancers from Puka'ikapuaokalani perform in the Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition, which concluded last night at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena. The overall event also included solo competition. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

Halau student Alana Yee was named Miss Keiki Hula after winning the solo dancing competition for kaikamahine (girls).

The halau also won the overall girls award after taking top honors among girls for kahiko, or traditional hula, and for 'auana, or contemporary hula.

Here are the results of the 27th annual competition, which was sponsored by the Kalihi-Palama Culture & Arts Society (kumu hula and halau location in parentheses):

MISS KEIKI HULA

1. Alana Yee, Hula Halau 'O Kamuela (Kauionalani Kamana'o, Kalihi and Waimanalo)
2. Kamalei Chandler, Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka (Aloha Dalire, Kane'ohe)
3. Alyssa Akiyama, Halau Hula Olana (Olana and Howard Ai, Pearl City)
4. Leimomi Kalama, Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu (William Sonny Ching, Honolulu)
5. Krista Lizardi, Halau Hula 'O Napunaheleonapua (Rich Pedrina, Kane'ohe, Kalihi and Hilo)

MASTER KEIKI HULA

1. Seath Cozo-Davis, Halau Hula Olana
2. "JJ" Carlos, Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio (Joan S. Lindsey, Pearl City)
3. Rocco Tramontano, Halau Hula 'O Hokulani (Hokulani and Larry DeRego, Waipahu)
4. Darin Eay, Hula Halau 'O Kaleolani (Benjie Santiago, Hagatna, Guam)
5. Peter Ahnee-Salvador, Kano'eau Dance Academy (Ke'ala Kukona, Lahaina, Maui)

HULA KAHIKO, KAIKAMAHINE (GIRLS)

1. Hula Halau 'O Kamuela
2. Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka
3. Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu
4. Halau Hula Olana
5. Halau Hula 'O Hokulani

HULA KAHIKO, KEIKIKANE (BOYS)

1. Hula Halau 'O Kaleolani
2. Kano'eau Dance Academy
3. Halau Hula 'O Hokulani

HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE, KEIKI DIVISION
(for chants performed by keiki only)

Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu

HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE, HALAU DIVISION
(chants including adults)

Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka

HULA 'AUANA, KAIKAMAHINE

1. Hula Halau 'O Kamuela
2. Halau Hula Olana
3. Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu
4. Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka
5. Halau Hula 'O Hokulani

HULA 'AUANA, KEIKIKANE (BOYS)

1. Halau Hula Olana
2. Halau Hula 'O Hokulani
3. Halau Hula 'O Napunaheleonapua

KAIKAMAHINE OVERALL

Hula Halau 'O Kamuela

KEIKIKANE OVERALL

Hula Halau 'O Kaleolani