KEAUHOU — Eighteen halau from Hawaii and Japan descended upon the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay on Sept. 13-14 for the 35th annual Kupuna Hula Festival.
KEAUHOU — Eighteen halau from Hawaii and Japan descended upon the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay on Sept. 13-14 for the 35th annual Kupuna Hula Festival.
Presented by the county Parks and Recreation Elderly Activities Division as a part of the Hawaii Island Festival, this year’s theme was the famous sands of Kahelelani (Niihau) to the fragrant scent of Kamawaelualani (Kauai).
Individual dancers competed Wednesday evening in the Tutu Kane and Tutu Wahine category followed by the International Hoolaulea, a noncompetition freestyle event.
Thursday brought the Wahine, Kane and Mixed divisions where dancers ranging in age from 55-80 and older performed, choosing a song for the islands of Niihau or Kauai, telling of name places or describing things unique to those islands.
Email Laura Ruminski at lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com.
35th Annual Kupuna Hula Festival Winners
Tutu Kane
First place: Allen Diorec, Na Kupuna O Moana, Molokai
Second place: Michael Foley, Na Kupuna O Kohala, Kohala
Third place: Makana Makoto Satou, Hula Halau O Pua Loke, Japan
Tutu Wahine
First place: Haunani Kamakana, Na Kupuna O Moana, Kaunakakai, Molokai
Second place: Denise Bigelow, Halau Kalaakeakauikawekiu, Kailua-Kona
Third place: Natsuko Arai, Ka Pa Hula O Keolananilehua, Japan
Kane Division
First place: Na Kupuna O Kohala, Kohala
Second place: Na Kupuna O Moana, Kaunakakai, Molokai
Third place: Hula Halau O Pua Loke, Japan
Wahine Division
First place: Hula Na Pua Ui O Hawaii, Kailua-Kona
Second place: Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu, Kailua-Kona
Third place: Hula Halau O Kawananakoa, Keaukaha
Mixed Division
First place: Na Kupuna O Moana, Kaunakakai, Molokai
Second place: Na Kupuna O Kohala, Kohala
Third place: Hula Halau O Pua Loke, Japan
Overall Group, Total Points: Na Kupuna O Moana, Kaunakakai, Molokai