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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, December 5, 2009

ISLAND LIFE SHORTS
Immerse yourself in hula, Hawaiiana at 2 concerts


By Wayne Harada
Special to The Advertiser

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kealii Reichel

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'MALUHIA'

7:30 p.m. today

Blaisdell Concert Hall

$30, $40, $50, $68

www.ticketmaster.com

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Nä Pualei O Likolehua

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'NA LANI 'EHA'

(The Royal Four)'

3 p.m. today

Mamiya Theatre,

Saint Louis School

$25

676-0056

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Hula and Hawaiiana rule in two separate events today, offering Island culture at its best.

Leina'ala Heine Kalama and the Ladies of Na Pualei O Likolehua will share mele, oli and hula composed by and for "Na Lani 'Eha (The Royal Four)," at 3 p.m. at Mamiya Theatre, Saint Louis School. The Royal Four refer to Hawai'i's monarchs, who not only boosted culture but contributed to the trove of songs and chants of their time.

Also, Keali'i Reichel and his Maui-based Halau Ke'alaokamaile present "Maluhia," an evening of holiday music and Hawaiiana, at 7:30 p.m. today at Blaisdell Concert Hall. It will be a rare opportunity to see and hear this ensemble's vibrant moves and music.
Both Kalama's and Reichel's hula students count on today's events to help raise funds for their participation in the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo in April.
The particulars:
• "Na Lani 'Eha" refers to ali'i composers King David Kalakaua, his sisters Lydia Kamaka'eha Paki (Queen Lili'uokalani) and Miriam Likelike and his brother William Pitt Leleiohoku, who are widely credited for the riches and popularity of Hawaiian music during the last half of the 1800s. They wrote Island mele and encouraged others to create chants, dances and poetry. Besides Kalama's hula maidens, there will be notable kumu hula and halau participating: Kumu Karl "Veto" Baker and Michael "Lanakila" Casupang's Halau I Ka Wekiu, kumu Manu Boyd's Halau Ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani and kumu Robert Cazimero's Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua. Glen Smith of Ho'okena also will perform. Kalama also features 13 halau graduates who have completed their 'uniki (graduation).
• "Maluhia" assembles the 2009 Miss Aloha Hula from Merrie Monarch, Henohea Kane, from
Reichel's halau, plus guest artists Ho'okena and the Sinfonietta Kamehameha, a classical musical ensemble. There will be a sprinkling of Christmas music from Rei­chel's best-selling CD, but plenty of hula kahiko and 'auana, the core of Reichel's ongoing hula life.