Posted on: Friday, April 1, 2005

Miss Aloha Hula results

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Features Editor

HILO, Hawai'i — Last night, Maile Francisco answered the question that had been on the minds of many hula enthusiasts: Can Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu bring in yet another Miss Aloha Hula winner in the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition?

Her answer was "Ae, hiki no!" (Yes, of course!) Francisco, daughter of Damien and Ke'ano Francisco, bested her nearest competitor by 6 points to win the Miss Aloha Hula title for her halau for the third year in a row — a feat that's been performed before (by Johnny Lum Ho's Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua) but not for a while.

Francisco's performance numbers, both related to Kohala, where her family has roots, showed her strength in all facets of hula performance: powerful and expressive chanting, graceful and technically skilled dancing and the ability to convey the story both verbally and in movement.

Throughout the months of preparation, her hula sisters, Miss Aloha Hula 2003 Jennifer Oyama and Miss Aloha Hula 2004 Natasha Akau, supported her with encouragement, advice and gentle critiquing. And kumu hula Sonny Ching, though he admits now he was worried about how she would stand the "three-peat" stress, trusted her to put the pressure aside and just do what she needed to do.

Trembling and brushing away tears after the announcement, Ching sent some credit to a group that will be his competitors in the women's group hula competition Friday and Saturday nights: the Lim family.

Kumu hula Nani Lim Yap and others in her 'ohana took time out to escort Francisco and the rest of the halau around Kohala on Wednesday, joining them aboard the bus at 2:30 p.m. and remaining with them until 9 p.m. — even though they, too, have a halau to prepare for competition.

"It was such a wonderful expression of the Hawaiian sense of kokua," Ching said while he watched Francisco accept hugs from a mob of well-wishers that included kumu hula Kaui Kamana'o of Hula Halau 'O Kamuela, whose candidate came in fifth.

(The Advertiser will visit Ching's halau Friday morning during rehearsal, and spend some time talking with the Miss Aloha Hulas — look for a story in the print edition on Saturday.)

Below are the winners, points earned, with halau name, kumu hula and the numbers they performed.

Overall winners

First Place, 1139 points — Maile Emily Kau'ilaniona'opuaehi'ipoiokeanuenueokeola Francisco, Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanuhulu

Kumu hula: William Kahakuleilehua Hanau'u "Sonny" Ching

Kahiko: "Aia I Kohala Ka'u Aloha" — A love chant set in Kohala with an air of sadness, for the beloved is untrue.

'Auana: "Aloha e Kohala/Maika'i Ka Makani O Kohala" — Songs celebrating the dancer's family connections to Kohala, Niuli'i, Ponimoi

Second Place,1133 points — Jeri-Lynn Kealolahilahi Koko, Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La

Kumu hula: Kaleo Trinidad

Kahiko: "He Inoa No Keopuolani" — A birth chant for Kamehameha's most sacred wife.

'Auana: "Ke Aloha" — A mele of love written for newlyweds

Third Place, 1114 points — Kaiwipunikauikawekiu Punihei Anthony, Halau O Ke A'ali'i Ku Makani

Kumu hula: Manu Boyd

Kahiko: "Aloha Wale 'Oe e Nanahuki e" — Chant of goddess Hi'iaka to her beloved companion Hopoe.

'Auana: "Aloha 'Oe" — Queen Lili'uokalani's famous love song

Fourth Place, 1109 points — Pohaikau'ilani Nu'uhiwa, Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka

Kumu hula: Aloha Dalire

Kahiko: "Keaomelemele" — A chant of the beauty and deeds of the goddess Keaomelemele.

'Auana: "Laua'e o Nu'uanu" — A song of the entrancing uplands of Nu'uanu.

Fifth Place, 1108 points — Jasmine Orlando, Hula Halau O Kamuela

Na kumu hula: Kaui Kamana'o and Kunewa Mook

Kahiko: "He Inoa Nou I Ka Lani Hanohano" — A name chant for Queen Emma, praising her virtues.

'Auana: "Na Hala O Naue" — J. Kahinu's song praises a place, Naue by the sea, but is a reference to Queen Emma.

Hawaiian Language Award (50 points)

Oramanuitaumaitera'i Brault, Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka

Na kumu hula: Kahulu Maluo-Huber and Napua Greig

Kahiko: "Aia i Lihau Ko Lei Nani" — A Maui lei chant, written as a gift for Queen Kapi'olani

'Auana: "Waika" — Mele based on traditional chant Hole Waimea, a name song for Kamehameha.