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30 Years of Music Hula and Memories <br /> <br />441 participants from 22 halaus, including 5 from Japan, <br />1 from Okinawa, 2 from California, 2 from Maui, <br />1 group from O‘ahu, 1 Moloka‘i Halau and 10 groups <br />from the Big Island, gathered to participate in this <br />years “Eo e Lanakilakeikiahiali‘i” This year’s festival <br />paid tribute to the music of one of its founders, George <br />Naope. The Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa hosted <br />both the competition and craft fair on September 12th <br />and 13th. <br />Over 1,300 people attended the two day festival to <br />watch the 22 halaus compete for top prizes in 6 categories. <br />The individual Tutu Wahine and Tutu Kane <br />dances took place on Wednesday night, followed by <br />the group competitions in the Mixed, Wahine, Kane <br />and Overall categories on Thursday night. <br /> <br />Na Kupuna O Ko‘olau <br /> <br />During each performance, 5 judges rated the dancers <br />on overall appearance, presentation, hand gestures and <br />costumes, among other categories, using a 1-10 point <br />scale. The top three winners in each of the competitions <br />received prizes generously donated by local <br />sponsors: First Hawaiian Bank, Big Island Candies, <br />Kukio Resorts, LLC., Akamai Photographics, Hawai‘i <br />Island Festivals, Kona Aerial Gymnastics, Halau <br />Kala‘akeakauikawekiu, County of Hawai‘i Parks and <br />Recreation Elderly Activities Division, and the Kupuna <br />Hula Festival. <br />This year’s individual winners included; third place in <br />the Kane category Kananiokalani Neizman with Na <br />Kupuna O Ka‘ū, second place; Kealoha Sugiyama <br />dancing with Na Kupuna O Kohala, and first place <br />individual Kane winner from Na Kupuna O Moana in <br />Moloka‘i; Allen Diorec with 308.5 points. <br />The individual Wahine winners were; third place <br />Louise Alina performing for O‘ahu’s Na Kupuna O <br />Ko‘olau, second place; Big Island’s Momi Sheehan <br />from Halau Hula O Kawaimaluhia First place individual <br />Wahine dancer from Kailua-Kona was Halaua <br /> <br />Na Pua U‘i O Hawai‘i Julie Viloria with 311 points. <br />Thursday night’s Kane group winners were; third <br />place Ke Ola Pono No Na Kupuna, second place; Na <br />Kupuna O Moana, and first place Kane group winners <br />were Na Kupuna O Ko‘olau scoring 310.9 <br />points. <br />Third place in the group Wahine division was first <br />time participant, Hula Halau O Kawananakoa from <br />Keaukaha. Second place awards went to Kailua <br />Kona’s Halau Hula Na Pua U‘i O Hawai‘i, and first <br />place winners from O‘ahu, Na Kupuna O Ko‘olau <br />won with 309.6 points. <br /> <br />The three winning halaus in the mixed group competition <br />were; third place Na Kupuna O Moana, second <br />place; Na Kupuna O Ko‘olau, and the overall mixed <br />group winner, scoring 308.7 points, Na Kupuna O <br />Kohala from the Big Island. <br />The title of overall group winner went to O‘ahu <br />group, Na Kupuna O Ko‘olau, with their overall <br />point score of 1,494.8. <br /> <br />Na Kupuna O Ko‘olau <br /> <br />The 31st Anniversary Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival <br />is tentatively scheduled for September 11-12, 2013 <br />at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa. <br /> <br /> <br />Kupuna News 7 January-March 2013 <br /> <br />