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2014 Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival <br />32 Years of Music Hula and Memories <br /> <br />500 participants from 26 halaus, including 5 from <br />Japan, 1 from Okinawa, 1 from California, 2 from <br />Maui, 1 Moloka‘i Halau, 2 groups from Oahu and 14 <br />groups from the Big Island, gathered to celebrate this <br />years theme “Na Mele O Na Moku O Oahu” Songs <br />of the Districts of Oahu. The Sheraton Kona Resort <br />and Spa hosted both the competition and craft fair on <br />September 10th and 11th. <br />Over 1,200 people attended the two day festival to <br />watch the 26 halau compete <br />for top prizes in 6 categories. <br />The individual Tutu Wahine <br />and Tutu Kane dances took <br />place on Wednesday night, <br />followed by the group <br />competitions in the Mixed, <br />Wahine, Kane and Overall <br />categories on Thursday night. <br />During each performance, <br />5 judges rated the dancers <br />on overall appearance, <br />presentation, hand gestures <br />and costumes, among other <br />categories, using a 5-10 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 Photo, Hawai‘i Island <br />Festivals, Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu, County of <br />Hawai‘i Parks and Recreation Elderly Activities <br />Division, and the Kupuna Hula Festival. This year’s <br />individual winners included; third place in the Kane <br />category Allen Diorec Na Kupuna O Moana, second <br />place; Mickey Norvell dancing with Ka Pa Hula O <br />Maui, and first place individual Kane winner from Na <br />Kupuna O Ka‘u; Kananiokalani Neizman. <br /> <br />The individual Wahine <br />winners were; third <br />place Diana Suganuma <br />performing for Waimea’s <br />Kalikokalehua Hula Studio, <br />second place; Moloka‘i’s <br />Joyce Pa from Na Kupuna <br />O Moana. First place <br />individual Wahine dancer <br />from Oahu was Na Kupuna <br />O Ko‘olau’s Louise Alina. <br />Thursday night’s Kane <br />group winners were; third <br />place Na Kupuna O Ka‘u, <br />second place; Na Kupuna O <br />Moana, and first place Kane group winners from <br />Waimea were Kalikokalehua Hula Studio. Third <br />place in the group Wahine division was, Halau O <br />Mailelaulani-Kamana from Hilo. Second place <br />awards went to Oahu’s Na Kupuna O Ko‘olau, and <br />first place winners from Waimea, Kalikokalehua <br />Hula Studio. <br /> <br />The three winning halaus in the mixed group <br />competition were; third place Na Kupuna O Kohala <br />second place; Na Kupuna O Moana, and the overall <br />mixed group winner, Kalikokalehua Hula Studio. <br />The title of overall group winner went to first time <br />entrants and Waimea group, Kalikokalehua Hula <br />Studio. <br />The 33rd Annual Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival is <br />tentatively scheduled for September 9-10, 2015 at the <br />Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa. <br /> <br />1st Place Tutu Kāne <br />Kanani Neizman <br /> <br />1st Place Tutu Wahine <br />Louise Alina <br /> <br />Overall Winners <br />Kalikokalehua Hula Studio <br /> <br />Kupuna News 8 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777