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36th Annual Kupuna Hula Festival <br />Nā Mele ʻĀina no Kohala, Kona, me Kaʻū. <br /> <br />The Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa hosted both the <br />competition and craft fair that was held on September 12th-13th. 19 halaus, from Japan, <br />Canada, California, Maui, Moloka‘i, and the Big Island, gathered to celebrate this year’s <br />theme Nā Mele ʻĀina no Kohala, Kona, me Kaʻū, celebrating the three Moku through the <br />gentle and graceful Hula of our Kupuna. Over 1,200 people attended the two day festival <br />to watch the 19 halaus compete for top prizes in six categories. The individual Tutu Wahine <br />and Tutu Kane dances took place on Wednesday night, followed by the group competitions <br />in the Mixed, Wahine, Kane and Overall categories on Thursday night. <br /> <br />During each performance, five judges rated the dancers on overall appearance, <br />presentation, hand gestures and costumes, among other categories, using a 5-10 <br />point scale. The top three winners in each of the competitions received prizes generously <br />donated by local sponsors: First Hawaiian Bank, Big Island Candies, Lions Club of Kona <br />Community Foundation, Kukio Resorts, LLC., Akamai Photo, Hawai‘i Island Festivals, <br />County of Hawai‘i Parks and Recreation Elderly Activities Division, and the Kupuna Hula <br />Festival. <br /> <br />The 36th Annual Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival is tentatively scheduled for <br />September 11-12, 2019 at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa. <br /> <br />Winners: <br />Tutu Wahine: <br />3rd Place: Sumiyo Ono of Hui O Mapuana’s Hula Nani’s <br />2nd Place: Leona Puanani Bell Schroeder of Na Kupuna ‘O Ka‘u <br />1st Place: Sabine Maeva Andreser of Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu <br /> <br />Tutu Kane: <br />3rd Place: Michael Scott Carius of Na Kupuna ‘O Ka‘u <br />2nd Place: Winston Jamile of O Ka Hale Lokelani <br />1st Place: Robert Keanaaina of Halau E Hulali Mai I Ka La <br /> <br />Wahine Group: <br />3rd Place: Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu <br />2nd Place: Na Kupuna O Moana <br />1st Place: Halau Hula Kauluokala <br /> <br />Kane Group: <br />3rd Place: Halau O Mailelaulani <br />2nd Place: Na Kupuna ‘O Ka‘u <br />1st Place: Na Kupuna O Moana <br /> <br />Mixed: <br />3rd Place: Na Kupuna ‘O Ka‘u <br />2nd Place: Na Kupuna O Moana <br />1st Place: Na Kupuna O Kohala <br /> <br />Oerall Winner: <br />Na Kupuna O Moana <br /> <br />Kupuna News 8 Information & Assistance (808) 961-8777