Oyama wins Miss Aloha Hula
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Assistant Features Editor
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| Jennifer Kehaulani Oyama of Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu was named Miss Aloha Hula as the 40th Merrie Monarch Festival opened last night in Hilo.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Earlier, Oyama, of Honolulu, chanted strongly and performed a brisk, stomping kahiko hula to "O Kauhike'imakaokalani," exhibiting a haughty grace as the goddess Hi'iaka, reacting to the admiration of another godly figure.
Her clear and beautifully modulated pronunciation of Hawaiian in both numbers made her one of three contestants to be awarded a $1,000 Hawaiian language prize from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; also winning were Kara Leionani Chow of Na Hula O Ka'ohikukapulani of Hanapepe, Kaua'i, and Laura Leiali'iokalanihekilimakaniilunaonapali Mano'i of Ka Pa Hula O Kauanoe O Wa'ahila — the first-ever three-way tie in Merrie Monarch history. A tie-breaker procedure resulted in another tie, so the decision was made to award all three women the prize.
Oyama said it was a lifelong dream of hers to become Miss Aloha Hula and, while her kumu hula William "Sonny" Ching wept, showed the same poise she has exhibited on stage by handling a jostling crowd of reporters and TV cameramen with ease and grace.
Oyama received 1,114 points from the judges.
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| William Sonny Ching, left, Kumu Hula for Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu, congratulates Jennifer Kehaulani Oyama after she won the Miss Aloha Hula title at the 40th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival. Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, right, walks with Ching and Oyama to the stage where Oyama accepted her award.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser |
The other winners:
1st runner-up with 1,108 points — Kara Leonani Chow, performing "Ka Poli Laua'e Ka'u Aloha" kahiko, "Ka Beauty A'o Ha'ena" 'auana, from Na Hula O Kaohikukapulani, kumu hula Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza.
2nd runner-up with 1,107 points — Hi'ileiokalani Costa, performing "Pua Lehua i Ka Makani" kahiko, "No Ke Aha" 'auana from Ka Pa Hula o Kamehameha, na kumu hula Holua Stender, Snowbird Bento, Kaleo Trinidad.
3rd runner-up with 1,104 points — Shelsea Lilia Makanoe Lindsey Ai, performing "Laleikawai" kahiko, "Wailele 'O Akaka" 'auana, from Halau Hula Olana, kumu hula Howard and Olana Ai.
4th runner-up with 1,100 points— Ka'enaalohaokau'ikaukehakeha Aoe Hopkins, performing "Kahikilani" kahiko, "Pua Laha'ole" 'auana, from Halau I Ka Wekiu, kumu hula Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang.
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| First runner-up was Kara Leionani Chow of Na Hula 'O Kaohikukapulani. | Second runner-up was Hi'ileiokalani Costa of Ka Pa Hula O Kamehameha. | |
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| Third runner-up was Shelsea Lilia Makanoe Lindsey Ai of Halau Hula Olana. | Fourth runner-up was Ka'enaalohaokau'ikaukehakeha Aoe Hopkins of Halau I Ka Wekiu. | |
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