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34 Years of Music Hula and Memories Kupuna Hula Festival <br /> <br /> 16 halau, from Japan, Okinawa, California, Maui, Oregon, O‘ahu and the Big Island, gathered <br />to celebrate this year’s theme “Na Lei Hiwa No Kalakaua” Celebrating King Kalakaua. The Sheraton <br />Kona Resort and Spa hosted both the competition and craft fair on September 14-15th. <br />Over 1,000 people attended the two day festival to watch the 16 halau compete for top prizes in 6 <br />categories. The individual Tutu Wahine and Tutu Kane dances took place on Wednesday night, <br />followed by the group competitions in the Mixed, Wahine, Kane and Overall categories on Thursday night. <br />During each performance, 5 judges rated the dancers on overall appearance, presentation, hand gestures <br />and costumes, among other categories, using a 5-10 point scale. The top three winners in each of the <br />competitions received prizes generously donated by local sponsors: First Hawaiian Bank, Big Island <br />Candies, Kukio Resorts, LLC., Akamai Photo, Hawai‘i Island Festivals, County of Hawai‘i Parks and <br />Recreation Elderly Activities Division, and the Kupuna Hula Festival. <br /> <br />This year’s individual winners included; third place in the Kane category Ron Ebert, Hannah’s Makana <br />Ohana second place; Bob Smith dancing with Na Kupuna O Ka‘u, and first place individual Kane winner <br />from Halau Hula Ka Pi‘o O Ke Anuenue; Kenika Apilada. <br /> The individual Wahine winners were; third place Nola Joy H. Boy performing for California’s <br />O Ka Hale Lokelani, second place; Kailua Kona’s Leimomi Santana from Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu. <br />First place Wahine dancer from Kailua Kona was Halau Hula Na Pua U‘i O Hawai‘i Jeanne Kunis. <br /> Third place in the group Wahine division was, Hula Halau O Kawananakoa from Hilo. Second place awards went to Maui’s Na Hula Kupuna O Kaunoa, and first place winners from Kailua Kona, Halau Hula Na Pua U‘i O Hawai‘i. <br />The two winning halaus in the mixed group competition were; second place; Na Kupuna O Ka‘u, and the overall mixed group winner, Halau Hula Ka Pi‘o O Ke Anuenue. <br /> The title of overall group winner was awarded to first time entrants from Ashland Oregon, Halau Hula Ka Pi‘o O Ke Anuenue. <br /> <br /> The 35th Annual Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival is tentatively scheduled for September 13-14, 2017 <br />at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa. <br /> <br />Kupuna News 8 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777