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Elderly Recreational Services <br />Special Programs <br />Iris Higa, Program Director (808) 961-8710 <br />Randell Kokubun, N/S Hilo 961-8710 Margaret Yafuso, Puna/Ka‘ū 966-5801 Kelly Hudik, West Hawai‘i 323-4330 <br /> <br />33 Years of Music Hula and Memories <br /> <br />416 participants from 20 halaus, including 4 from <br />Japan, 1 from Okinawa, 1 from California, 1 from <br />Maui, 1 Moloka‘i Halau, 2 groups from O‘ahu, 1 <br />group from Kauai and 9 groups from the Big Island, <br />gathered to celebrate this year’s theme “Ola <br />Kupa‘aina” People of the Land. The Sheraton Kona <br />Resort and Spa hosted both the competition and craft <br />fair on September 9th and 10th. <br /> <br />Over 1,100 people attended <br />the two day festival to watch <br />the 20 halau compete for top <br />prizes in 6 categories. The <br />individual Tutu Wahine and <br />Tutu Kane dances took place <br />on Wednesday night, followed <br />by the group competitions in <br />the Mixed, Wahine, Kane and <br />Overall categories on Thursday <br />night. <br />During each performance, 5 <br />judges rated the dancers on <br />overall appearance, presentation, <br />hand gestures and costumes, <br />among other categories, <br />using a 5-10 point scale. <br /> <br />The top three winners in each of the competitions <br />received prizes generously donated by local sponsors: <br />First Hawaiian Bank, Big Island Candies, Kukio <br />Resorts, LLC., Akamai Photo, Hawai‘i Island Festivals, <br />County of Hawai‘i Parks and Recreation Elderly <br />Activities Division, and the Kupuna Hula Festival. <br />This year’s individual winners included; third place in <br />the Kane category <br />Nathan Suganuma, <br />Kalikokalehua Hula <br />Studio, second <br />place; Mickey <br />Norvell dancing <br />with Ka Pa Hula O <br />Maui, and first <br />place individual <br />Kane winner from <br />Hula Halau O Pua. <br /> <br />The individual Wahine <br />winners were; <br />third place Darlette <br />Miguel performing <br />for Waimea’s <br />Kalikokalehua Hula <br />Studio, second place; <br />Kailua Kona’s <br />Ku‘uleialoha Carter- <br />Friels from Hula <br />Halau Na Pua U‘i O <br />Hawai‘i, and first <br />place; Wahine dancer from Keaukaha was Hula Halau <br />O Kawananakoa’s Mahi Shimaoka Kosora. Thursday <br />night’s Kane group winners were; third place <br />Kalikokalehua Hula Studio, second place; Na Kupuna <br />O Ka‘ū, and first place Kane group winners from <br />Moloka‘i were Na Kupuna O Moana. <br /> <br />Third place in the group Wahine division <br />was, Hula Halau O Kawananakoa from Hilo. Second <br />place awards went to California’s Ke Aloha O <br />Kamaile, and first place winners from Kailua Kona, <br />Halau Hula Na Pua U‘i O Hawai‘i. <br />The three winning halaus in the mixed group <br />competition were; third place Na Kupuna O Ka‘ū <br />second place; Kalikokalehua Hula Studio, and the <br />overall mixed group winner, Na Kupuna O Moana. <br />The title of overall group winner was awarded, <br />for the second year in a row, to Buzzy Histo’s <br />Kalikokalehua Hula Studio. <br />The 34th Annual Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula <br />Festival is tentatively scheduled for September 14- <br />15, 2016 at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa. <br /> <br />1st Place Tutu Kāne, Kaleo Sato <br /> <br />1st Place Tutu Wahine Mahi Shimaoka Kosora <br /> <br />Overall Winners Kalikokalehua Hula Studio <br /> <br />3rd Place Mixed Group Winners Na Kupuna O Ka‘ū <br /> <br />Kupuna News 8 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777