Kahalu'u men's halau tops at hula festival

Advertiser Staff

Ka Ua Kilihune, a men's hula halau from Kahalu'u, claimed top honors in last weekend's World Invitational Hula Festival, E Ho'i Mai I Ka Piko Hula, held at the Waikiki Shell.

The halau, under the direction of kumu hula La'ie Gasper and Kalani Au, won overall achievement honors for its Hawai'i dancers, as well as soloist awards for Victor Kekama Valdez of Mexico City, who represented the halau in the non-Hawai'i division of hula competition. Valdez won the language and combined hula/language men's soloist awards in the "visiting" division.

A Kane'ohe soloist from the halau, Warren Kia'i Islip, won the solo award for combined 'olapa (ancient hula) and 'auana (contemporary hula) performances. And the halau won top awards for men's group competition in both 'olapa and 'auana categories.

Hula Halau Ka No'eau, Michael Pili Pang's Kamuela troupe, collected 'olapa and 'auana prizes in the Hawai'i halau division.

The top-scoring women's soloist is Pohaikau'ilani Nu'uhiwa, representing Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka of Kane'ohe. Nu'uhiwa also won the Hawai'i language award, and her halau's mixed Japan-California troupe was honored for its 'auana performance in the combined (men and women) category.

Here are the complete results for the three-day event that concluded last Saturday:

Solo hula/language, kane: Warren Kia'i Islip, Ka Ua Kilihune, Kane'ohe, Hawai'i division; Victor Kekama Valdez, Ka Ua Kilihune, Mexico City, visiting division.

Overall achievement: Ka Ua Kilihune.

Solo hula/language, wahine: Pohaikau'ilani Nu'uhiwa, Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka, Kane'ohe, Hawai'i division; Malika Benevidez, Hula Halau Na Mahina Kikaha, Chicago, visiting division.

Language award, kane: Joshua Kupono Helm, Puamana Hula Studio, Kailua, Hawai'i division; Victor Kekama Valdez, Ka Ua Kilihune, visiting division.

Language award, wahine: Pohaikau'ilani Nu'uhiwa, Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka, Hawai'i division; Malika Benevidez, Hula Halau Na Mahina Kikaha, visiting division.

Language award, halau: Kaulakahi, Kaimuki, and Puamana Hula Studio, Kailua (tie), Hawai'i division; Kiawekupono O Ka Ua, Guam/Mariana Islands, visiting division.

Hula 'olapa and hula 'auana awards, wahine halau: Hula Halau Ka No'eau, Kamuela, Hawai'i division; Na Mamo O Kaleinani, Tokyo, visiting division.

Hula 'olapa and hula 'auana awards, kane halau: Ka Ua Kilihune.

Combined (kane and wahine) hula 'olapa: Hula Halau 'O Kaleolani, Agana, Guam.

Combined (kane and wahine) hula 'auana: Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka, Japan and California.

Musical achievement: Ka Ua Kilihune.

Spirit of aloha and kokua: Hula Halau Ka No'eau.