Kupuna News A Magazine For And About Hawai`i's Seniors (January - March 2010)

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Special Programs Record Numbers for the 27th Annual Kupuna Hula Festival The numbers of participants and attendees to the 27th Annual Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival skyrocketed this year. The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa hosted both the competition and craft fair on September 16th and 17th. Close to 400 participants from 25 halaus, including 6 from Japan, 1 from Okinawa, 1 from Maui, 3 groups from O‘ahu, 1 Moloka‘i Halau 2 California Halau, and 11 groups from the Big Island, gathered to participate in this years “Na Mele Makamae” Songs that are Precious competition. Nearly 2,000 people attended the two day festival to watch the 25 halaus compete for top prizes in 6 categories. The individual Tutu Wahine and Tutu Kane dances took place on Wednesday night, followed by the group competitions in the Mixed, Wahine, Kane and Overall categories on Thursday night. First Place Wahine Group Na Mamo O Kaleimomi This year’s individual winners included; third place in the Kane category Nayland Ahana, with 293.5 points, second place; Robert Kato with 304.9 points, and first place individual Kane winner; Andy Farley with 309.9 points. The individual Wahine winners were; third place Pi`ilani Rodrigues with 313.5 points, second place; Alitha Adlawan scoring 315.6 points. First place individual Wahine dancer was Nu’umealani McKeague with 317.8 points. Thursday night’s Kane group winners were; third place Ke Ola Pono No Na Kupuna with 292.5 points, second place; Na Leo Nahenahe O Na Kupuna scoring 297.2 points, and first place Kane group winners were Na Kupuna O Kohala with 297.5 points. Third place in the group Wahine division was Keolalaulani Halau ‘Olapa O Laka, scoring 311. Second place, scoring 314.5 points was Hula Halau O Kalākaua from Okinawa, and first place winners from Japan, Na Mamo O Kaleimomi won with 316.3 points. The three winning halaus in the mixed group competition were; third place Na Kupuna O Moana with 300.2, second place with 310.6 points; Na Kupuna O Ko`olau, and the overall mixed group winner, scoring 311.5 points, Na Kupuna O Kohala. The title of overall group winner went to Big Island group, Ke Ola Pono No Na Kupuna, with their overall point score of 1,486.8. The 28th Annual Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival is tentatively scheduled for September 15-16, 2010 at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa. Kupuna News 7 January-March 2010