Merrie Monarch 2006

[pzarquon]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

Just one man's lonely opinion.

And I appreciate the expression of that. I'm hoping ultimately we can focus on the positive aspects of this festival, but lest the discussion of this point seem one sided, let me say that I understand where you're coming from.

Given the kind of reaction we're told about for a breach of protocol documented earlier in this thread, where a spectator answered her cell phone during a performance, it's hard not to sense some kind of dichotomy between "reverent and elegant" performances and "unabashedly celebratory" award reactions. I mean, one day your heart aches and your eyes water over an especially moving hula performance. The next day, those same performers are cheering, jumping, pumping their fists in the air and "woofing" like football fans (or wherever that "woofing" stuff comes from).

But, well, I also agree that given the level of dedication required to perform at the festival, it's hard to expect the emotions -- especially as the festival draws to a close -- to be kept in check.

I mean, an actress might put in a serious, moving, engrossing performance in a movie that changes lives or the world. We might invest a lot into what we see in her performance. Then she shows up at the Oscars, wins, and blubbers like a baby and screams out her boyfriend's name on stage. I suppose it might be unbecoming... but definitely understandable.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

That would be proper but it wouldn't be in the likes of King David Kalaukaua who's moniker was the Merrie Monarch because of his demeanor.

But I agree that the reverence of the ancient Hula shouldn't become what it has now, a competative sport. It takes away from the true meaning and spiritual value of it's existance.

Kinda like the Superbowl...it's not about the game anymore but about the commercials and the halftime event. We're losing focus here.

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

The first time I plugged the festival on my blog I called it "the World Series of Hula." Whether you agree with that description or not, think about what happens when a baseball team (even one as jaded as the Yankees used to be) wins the final game. All those 20-somethings and 30-somethings go bonkers on the field.

If I were in a winning halau I'd do the same thing.

I simply have the most respect for individuals who do great things and yet are able to temper their response. We used to see that even in sports in the past but now certain cultures can't help but put on some silly show everytime they do anything minor.

Even if true with many sports, I thought (and I believe) that hula is spiritual and cultural. Baseball is not exactly spiritual in the same sense (I'm sure some would disagree with that).

With an event that borders on religious, the celebration just seems over the top. Nothing wrong with being proud and being happy. But the endless jumping up and down out of control is odd. It sends the loudest possible signal that "Hah, we won, you looze, we won you looze" Is that the message of the Merrie Monarch?

Wouldn't it be nice to ceremoniously "honor" the halau and kumu in a spiritual, respectful ceremony. Something classy and quiet. Something you might see in church. Something Hawaiian in sight, sound and smell?

Is this a spiritual and cultural experience? Or is it a sport?

Just one man's lonely opinion.

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

You want to know what's surprizing? A friend of mine who has been living here in Hilo for over a year now was watching the Merrie Monarch last night when he turned to me and asked, "Craig...where is this being televised from?"

I couldn't believe my ears when I told him, "Right down the street about a couple of blocks from your home".

He responded, "Oh that's why I couldn't find any street parking when I got home".

And to think this is his second Merrie Monarch since moving to the Big Island.

That is so funny. So he didn't know why Hilo Town suddenly has thousands of people in for the weekend? LOL

Street parking's choice because at least there's LIGHTS out there so finding your car is easier. It's a pain in the butt trying to navigate your way through the grass [especially if you're wearing heels and a new Sig Zane dress] just trying to find your car in the dark because you can't remember which row you parked in.

[tutusue]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

Last year before preparations were made for MM '05, Kumu Sunny announced that after this competition, he wanted to take a few years off. The timing was perfect...Maile won Miss Aloha Hula, and both his kane and wahine walked away with the majority of the awards. I remember the flight back to Honolulu last year, and the words "HAPPY MERRIE MONARCH" rang throughout [we even had a banner].

After the wonderful exhibit last night from Maile, Jen, and Tasha, Kumu Sonny definitely has lots to be proud of...and now he can breathe a sigh of relief and take that break he so deserves.

The *only* good thing, for me, about Sonny taking a break is that my haircuts can stay on schedule between January and April! My avatar is a perfect example of what happens when my hairdresser is busy rehearsing for Merrie Monarch! After awhile, just gotta wear a hat!

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

You want to know what's surprizing? A friend of mine who has been living here in Hilo for over a year now was watching the Merrie Monarch last night when he turned to me and asked, "Craig...where is this being televised from?"

I couldn't believe my ears when I told him, "Right down the street about a couple of blocks from your home".

He responded, "Oh that's why I couldn't find any street parking when I got home".

And to think this is his second Merrie Monarch since moving to the Big Island.

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

Big Island Dancer Wins 2006 Miss Aloha Hula

• Winner: Bernice Alohanamakanamaikalanimai Davis-Lim
• 1st Runner Up: Makalani Franco-Francis
• 2nd Runner Up: Kapalai`ula Kamakaleikawainui de Silva
• 3rd Runner Up: Ka`enaalohaokau`ikaukehakeha Aoe Hopkins
• 4th Runner Up: Tatiana Kawehiokalani Miu Lan Tseu
• Hawaiian Language Award: Ka`enaalohaokau`ikaukehakeha Aoe Hopkins

Kahiko tonight!

I was surprised at a few of the above, but definitely not about Bernice and Makalani. Those two both hit it out the ballpark and I knew one of them was to take top honors.

What's most interesting, though, is how well "next generation" dancers did in the competition [Ka`ena, Kapalai`ula, and Bernice]...it's comforting knowing that everything's being passed down to their daughters and nieces.

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

Sonny explained in an interview last night that his halau performs for 4 years then takes 2 years off. Yep! No way any of his dancers could be entered in the competition while he was a judge. BTW, at 44, Sonny is the youngest person to ever be a Merrie Monarch judge.

Have to admit, I'm disappointed that Bianca Costa didn't make the top 5. However, they were all beautiful dancers...not a loser in the bunch.

Last year before preparations were made for MM '05, Kumu Sunny announced that after this competition, he wanted to take a few years off. The timing was perfect...Maile won Miss Aloha Hula, and both his kane and wahine walked away with the majority of the awards. I remember the flight back to Honolulu last year, and the words "HAPPY MERRIE MONARCH" rang throughout [we even had a banner].

After the wonderful exhibit last night from Maile, Jen, and Tasha, Kumu Sonny definitely has lots to be proud of...and now he can breathe a sigh of relief and take that break he so deserves.

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

The clash of total physical control, dance perfection, emotional stability during the competition followed by such loss of control at the awards "ceremony" is unusual.

Lack of emotional control is juvenile.

Middle Easterners lack emotional control with anger. Just watch the news.

Modern toenail Hawaiians and Hawaiian Wannabees lack emotional control with celebration. You try watch. The less Hawaiian someone looks the more they jump and shout and scream. The more Hawaiian they look, the more calm their response.

If you like it, good. Seems like most people do as I'm the only one I know who has complained about it. So looks like I got the problem.

I watch the hula. I skip the awards.

I wouldn't say that you have a problem. I'd say you were misguided.

If someone decided to act calm and mellow after willing an award, I don't think "Hawaiian-ness" has anything to do with it. Someone's self-control is based on their their own individual personality and character not limited to Hawaiian. To assume it's based on their "look" is purely ridiculous.

Kumu and their halau enter Merrie Monarch each year for their own reasons, but it is, after all, a COMPETITION. If it wasn't, then they wouldn't have that awards ceremony you detest so much.

[tutusue]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

Big Island Dancer Wins 2006 Miss Aloha Hula
Of course, Sonny Ching's halau wasn't competing, since Ching was a judge. [...]

Sonny explained in an interview last night that his halau performs for 4 years then takes 2 years off. Yep! No way any of his dancers could be entered in the competition while he was a judge. BTW, at 44, Sonny is the youngest person to ever be a Merrie Monarch judge.

Have to admit, I'm disappointed that Bianca Costa didn't make the top 5. However, they were all beautiful dancers...not a loser in the bunch.

[Miulang]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

The first time I plugged the festival on my blog I called it "the World Series of Hula." Whether you agree with that description or not, think about what happens when a baseball team (even one as jaded as the Yankees used to be) wins the final game. All those 20-somethings and 30-somethings go bonkers on the field.

If I were in a winning halau I'd do the same thing.

I think it's more an "Olympics of hula" because of the physical and emotional dedication those dancers need in order to become the world class dancers that they are. And yes, winning is important but even more important (at least to me) is the honor they must feel in being able to share their aloha with people from all over the world. I hope the voluntary nature of MMF never goes away because if it ever becomes commercialized, it will tarnish the pure aspects of hula and diminish the art in more ways than just the money.

Miulang

[Linkmeister]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

The first time I plugged the festival on my blog I called it "the World Series of Hula." Whether you agree with that description or not, think about what happens when a baseball team (even one as jaded as the Yankees used to be) wins the final game. All those 20-somethings and 30-somethings go bonkers on the field.

If I were in a winning halau I'd do the same thing.

[Pomai44]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

The clash of total physical control, dance perfection, emotional stability during the competition followed by such loss of control at the awards "ceremony" is unusual.

Lack of emotional control is juvenile.

Middle Easterners lack emotional control with anger. Just watch the news.

Modern toenail Hawaiians and Hawaiian Wannabees lack emotional control with celebration. You try watch. The less Hawaiian someone looks the more they jump and shout and scream. The more Hawaiian they look, the more calm their response.

If you like it, good. Seems like most people do as I'm the only one I know who has complained about it. So looks like I got the problem.

I watch the hula. I skip the awards.

I showed this post to my wife, who is 95% Hawaiian, has danced hula for 55 years, has danced at the Merrie Monarch, who's Halau has won there. Her statement was "They put their heart and soul into dancing for 5 or 6 days a week, for sometimes 8 hrs at a time for at least a year if not more, because it is your life for so long, that's all you do is eat, breath and live hula, dem buggahs goin bust lose when they win, has nothing to do with being more Hawaiian then others, she also said that when her Halau won (not even first place) they where walking off the stage jumping for joy year was 1974. So it seems that it has been that way for a while now.

[pzarquon]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

Big Island Dancer Wins 2006 Miss Aloha Hula

For the first time in three years, the winner of the Miss Aloha Hula title was not a member of kumu hula Sonny Ching's halau. This time the winner came from a Big Island halau. Bernice Alohanamakanamaikalanimai Davis-Lim blew away the field to take the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2006. Davis-Lim is a member of the halau Na Lei O Kaholoku.

Of course, Sonny Ching's halau wasn't competing, since Ching was a judge. The standings were:

• Winner: Bernice Alohanamakanamaikalanimai Davis-Lim
• 1st Runner Up: Makalani Franco-Francis
• 2nd Runner Up: Kapalai`ula Kamakaleikawainui de Silva
• 3rd Runner Up: Ka`enaalohaokau`ikaukehakeha Aoe Hopkins
• 4th Runner Up: Tatiana Kawehiokalani Miu Lan Tseu
• Hawaiian Language Award: Ka`enaalohaokau`ikaukehakeha Aoe Hopkins

Kahiko tonight!

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2006

I'm jealous of --- no, make that "happy for" Hilo/Seattle's own Rochelle delaCruz, editor/publisher of the Northwest Hawai`i Times, educator, and commentator for Hawai`i Public Radio. She had to be back in Hilo for family business, and while there, scored a front-row ticket to the festival!