Hula: Kahiko or 'Auana?

[Pomai]

Kahiko (ancient) or 'Auana (modern) Hula: which is your favorite?

Kahiko is it for me. The power of the pahu drum and intensity of the Kumu's chant often times give me chicken skin. That, combined with a group of kane and/or wahine dancers in unison with a gaze of seriousness or anger in their eye is just awesome. I can't stand when Kahiko dancers smile. IMO, Kahiko should be a serious dance, meant to stir the likes of Pele the Fire Goddess.

My absolute favorite performances of Kahiko at the Merrie Monarch were by the great Johnny Lum Ho and his Halau Hula O Ka Ua Kani Lehua. Awesome.

[kimo55]

you have to define it? here?


I dun like auana or at least the part that morphs and changes upon the arrival each April in Hilo...
New junk coming out alla time and they justify it by calling it auana.


and the webcast archive only has auana! da buggaz!

[Leo Lakio]

As someone who dances both, I thought this would be a tough call - so let me put it this way ---

If I'm dancing it, I feel more strength in my kahiko work; that might just be a "masculine" thing, though. But watching a great `auana dancer will captivate me in a way that kahiko generally doesn't.

So, kahiko when dancing, `auana when watching.

[kimo55]

As someone who dances both,
Ho!
I am duly impressed.


usta dance kahiko often in Kailua elementary school. and i think intermediate... Gotta take it up again.

[Leo Lakio]

Gotta take it up again.I'd wager that you'd be good at it, too; you'd bring knowledge and respect with you.

[Miulang]

I much prefer the older kahiko and some of the contemporary kahiko that's being interpreted from the old (like the hula "Hele Mai Pele"). Just awesome.

I appreciate the 'oli and the strength that it takes for the men's kahiko. I can sit and watch 'auana in limited doses, but I could sit still for hours, mesmerized by hula kahiko, both the dance itself and the 'oli. It gives me chicken skin. Just the pahu and the 'oli are enough for me. No need for the slack key guitar or even the uke.

Miulang

[kimo55]

I appreciate the 'oli and the strength that it takes for the men's kahiko. I can sit and watch 'auana in limited doses, but I could sit still for hours, mesmerized by hula kahiko, both the dance itself and the 'oli. It gives me chicken skin. Just the pahu and the 'oli are enough for me.
exactly.
my fave was about 5 years ago or so, kahiko, Kane... who re-enacted a Kamehameha Canoe battle and they all carried out their own Koa Paddle/spears that they each were required to handcraft themselves. The initial procession was led by this dude who stood about a foot taller than the rest of them. Incredibly powerful show. cheekin skeen is rite!

[alohabear]

I like Kahiko when the kane do it.
Auana ... the women look awesome.

BTW... does anyone remember the topless kahiko wahine during Merry Monach?

[Glen Miyashiro]

I remember. She wore too much maile. :D

[Leo Lakio]

BTW... does anyone remember the topless kahiko wahine during Merry Monach?How could anyone forget? Let the story be told...

[kimo55]

BTW... does anyone remember the topless kahiko wahine during Merry Monach?
was it really that long ago? i think i have it on video...

"In 1993 the brothers found themselves at the center of another tempest when one of their dancers performed hula kahiko (ancient hula) topless at Merrie Monarch, after researching what women wore in Waipio Valley before Western influence. A combination of a kapa wrap, maile leis and the dancer's long hair covered the dancer's breasts as completely as a bra, James said. Even so, it was a move regarded at the time as disrespectful and sensationalist."

http://starbulletin.com/2002/10/17/features/story1.html

[Miulang]

was it really that long ago? i think i have it on video...

"In 1993 the brothers found themselves at the center of another tempest when one of their dancers performed hula kahiko (ancient hula) topless at Merrie Monarch, after researching what women wore in Waipio Valley before Western influence. A combination of a kapa wrap, maile leis and the dancer's long hair covered the dancer's breasts as completely as a bra, James said. Even so, it was a move regarded at the time as disrespectful and sensationalist."

http://starbulletin.com/2002/10/17/features/story1.html
So was that hula captured on the Official 1993 MMF VHS tape as one of the "highlights"?

Miulang

[Leo Lakio]

So was that hula captured on the Official 1993 MMF VHS tape as one of the "highlights"?Or two?

(OUCH! Sorry! Sorry!)

[kimo55]

So was that hula captured on the Official 1993 MMF VHS tape as one of the "highlights"?

Miulang
dunno bout the official VHS, i taped the whole show each year back then...

[Menehune Man]

dunno bout the official VHS, i taped the whole show each year back then...

I was in Fiji for awhile back in '92 - '93 and missed that one. I do watch most of the Merrie Monarch Festivals when I can. So Kimo, can edit a short or take a still shot from it to share?

I like Kahiko (alittle) more. Because of the power and presence I feel from it.
I like 'Auana for the lighter-heartedness and the dresses.

[kimo55]

if can, can. if no can...

haveta findum firsss....

[Pomai]

Kimo, if you share 'em, make sure you censor da' buggahz wit' da black tape (x2). :D

[kimo55]

I am gonna make a flip book of da individual peechaz and bumbay, sunday, us boyz goin huddle at da starboard bow of da boat and giggle.

[LikaNui]

I am gonna make a flip book of da individual peechaz and bumbay, sunday, us boyz goin huddle at da starboard bow of da boat and giggle. And my parents received the new National Geographic, so I'll sneak that out of the house and bring it along too.
:p

Disclaimer: anyone who doesn't understand the joke above is, well, just too damned young.
:cool:

[Da Rolling Eye]

Weeelll, I gots me my Sears catalog. :D Kahiko! :)

[tutusue]

[...]Disclaimer: anyone who doesn't understand the joke above is, well, just too damned young.
:cool:
That was the closest thing to 'porn' that I saw during my kid days! How times have changed!

[cezanne]

Kahiko for me.

[MadAzza]

I'd wager that you'd be good at it, too; you'd bring knowledge and respect with you.

Yeah, that'll happen.

[MadAzza]

Kahiko (ancient) or 'Auana (modern) Hula: which is your favorite?

Kahiko is it for me. The power of the pahu drum and intensity of the Kumu's chant often times give me chicken skin. That, combined with a group of kane and/or wahine dancers in unison with a gaze of seriousness or anger in their eye is just awesome. I can't stand when Kahiko dancers smile. IMO, Kahiko should be a serious dance, meant to stir the likes of Pele the Fire Goddess.

I likes the nekkid ones. Which ones dat? Heh.

Oh, um. I mean ... Never mind! going to bed now, for real.

keeding!

[Leo Lakio]

Yeah, that'll happen.Kimo55 dancing kahiko? Or bringing knowledge and respect with him?

Use all your powers of influence & persuasion to make this happen, Maddie...and bring a video camera. (For the hula performance, not for the persuading part - jeez, people, get outta the gutter --- it's crowded down here!)

[Bard]

Last couple of weeks I watched several hula performances here, of both kinds. I have to say that while 'auana is nice (and wow, people who are really skilled at it can make it look pretty awesome), kahiko takes the cake for me. It is mesmerizing and powerful. I suppose those Instant Immersion CDs have been doing something for me too because I could start to understand some of what they were saying, which made it all the more of an experience. Chicken skin indeed.

And keiki hula ... yeaaahhh! :D Sooo cute. A little girl performed by herself at the Kalama Days festival, and I thought she was one of the best dance performances that evening.

[Leo Lakio]

And keiki hula ... yeaaahhh! :D Sooo cute. A little girl performed by herself at the Kalama Days festival, and I thought she was one of the best dance performances that evening.That's very nice of you to say, Bard - if this is the one you meant: http://www.flickr.com/photos/70092316@N00/221146344/, that was Kali, from our halau. (I'm playing bass in the background.)

We are at a transitional point with most of our keiki; after a couple years of study, the majority of them are now moving from that age where anything they do is cute, to the place where they need to really get a stronger foundation in hula, so that's the goal of our alaka`i. Kali and her dad, Keoni, both study with us, and have been very quick learners. (Keoni & I danced kahiko to "Kawika" on Sunday morning at the park in Kalama.)

[Bard]

That's very nice of you to say, Bard - if this is the one you meant: http://www.flickr.com/photos/70092316@N00/221146344/, that was Kali, from our halau. (I'm playing bass in the background.)

Yep, that's who I meant. :) I'm no expert in the subject so I can't really say why, but her performance just seemed really "real", you know what I mean? I don't want to take away from anyone else's performance, but Kali's was just great.

Kali and her dad, Keoni, both study with us, and have been very quick learners. (Keoni & I danced kahiko to "Kawika" on Sunday morning at the park in Kalama.)

Neat. Yeah, we were only there for Saturday. Sunday we ended up going over to the Uwajimaya Polynesian Festival for a bit and they had some pretty awesome hula dancing there as well.

[Leo Lakio]

Neat. Yeah, we were only there for Saturday. Sunday we ended up going over to the Uwajimaya Polynesian Festival for a bit and they had some pretty awesome hula dancing there as well.I think that was Gina Mahiai Hess' halau; she's a great kumu and a wonderful Hawaiian resource. I had the opportunity to dance with her early in my studies, and she was involved in last year's Kalama celebration.