Merrie Monarch 2007

[Laua`e]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Snowbird's kane continues to do well and placed in all categories, so I'm not sure where you get the whole didn't place bit. Her wahine, to my knowledge, hasn't placed at all since entering MM.

Manu's girls also scored well in the wahine auana.

The judges seem to love all of Kaleo's gang. I don't know how he does it every year -- preparing for Merrie Monarch in addition to heading the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest Ho`ike!

I know I'll probably get crap for saying this, but I've never been a big fan of Mapuana DeSilva's style and will admit that I usually take a bathroom break whenever they're on (sorry, being honest)...but when I saw that they were doing Pohai Kealoha, I made sure I stuck around, and I'm glad I did.

Congratulations to Halau I Ka Wekiu! I attended their fundraiser last February and Ho`ike on Easter Sunday and noticed that they were "different" from what I've been used to. Glad to know that whatever it was worked in their favor with the judges.

This year was definitely a quality year and filled with lots of good performances. Unfortunately there's simply not enough awards to give out. Just because they don't walk off the stage with an ipu heke, ukulele, or pahu doesn't mean they've lost anything at all or they're undeserving, especially when the final scores were as close as they were.

`Ae...ho`omaika`i ana, Halau I Ka Wekiu! They were fabulous! Although I didn't care for the long hair, they were great! I think Michael Casupang and Veto did a wonderful job preparing their students for MM this year! Their foot movements were clean, crisp, and sharp...and they were graceful yet maintained their manliness! It seemed to me that they put great effort in their training this year. Hope they have a blast in Japan!

You're also right about the many fine performances this year. It seems to me that there aren't enough award places for all the wahine halau especially. There are sooo many that work so hard and do great jobs but don't get the recognition and validation of an award.

And congratulations to Snowbird and her halau (also Kapua Dalire's for a wonderful 1st time showing!!!) Snowbird is such a spiritual young woman, and her maturity and loving nature shines through her students.

As for Halau Mohala `Ilima...all I can say is WOW! She's come a long way!! I'm not sure, but I'm thinking it's Kahikina and Kapalaiula's influences in the choreography as well as costuming that has brought their halau again to the forefront. Job well done...beautiful!

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Yah! What Leo said. I absolutely love hearing about it from our resident HT pros. IIRC, didn't Lei Liko pop into HT with her MM wisdom either right before or during last year's MM? I just remember being totally captured by her posts.

Haha, I wouldn't necessarily call it "wisdom," tutu. But yes -- I decided to un-lurk around this time last year!

Now that MM is over I'm hoping to see the friends who have been MIA since March!

[tutusue]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Thanks for the local takes on this year's MM, everybody. It's one thing to enjoy it online from off-Island, but to get the historical and personal perspectives from so many of you really adds to the experience for me.

Yah! What Leo said. I absolutely love hearing about it from our resident HT pros. IIRC, didn't Lei Liko pop into HT with her MM wisdom either right before or during last year's MM? I just remember being totally captured by her posts.

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Thanks for the local takes on this year's MM, everybody. It's one thing to enjoy it online from off-Island, but to get the historical and personal perspectives from so many of you really adds to the experience for me.

Not a problem, LL. Merrie Monarch is like my Christmas/New Year's/Birthday rolled into one!

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Thanks for the local takes on this year's MM, everybody. It's one thing to enjoy it online from off-Island, but to get the historical and personal perspectives from so many of you really adds to the experience for me.

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

confession time: I had *no business* logging on to the computer after not sleeping the night before.

LOL I think over half of us are guilty of that!

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Snowbird's kane continues to do well and placed in all categories, so I'm not sure where you get the whole didn't place bit. Her wahine, to my knowledge, hasn't placed at all since entering MM.

Manu's girls also scored well in the wahine auana.

The judges seem to love all of Kaleo's gang. I don't know how he does it every year -- preparing for Merrie Monarch in addition to heading the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest Ho`ike!

I know I'll probably get crap for saying this, but I've never been a big fan of Mapuana DeSilva's style and will admit that I usually take a bathroom break whenever they're on (sorry, being honest)...but when I saw that they were doing Pohai Kealoha, I made sure I stuck around, and I'm glad I did.

Congratulations to Halau I Ka Wekiu! I attended their fundraiser last February and Ho`ike on Easter Sunday and noticed that they were "different" from what I've been used to. Glad to know that whatever it was worked in their favor with the judges.

This year was definitely a quality year and filled with lots of good performances. Unfortunately there's simply not enough awards to give out. Just because they don't walk off the stage with an ipu heke, ukulele, or pahu doesn't mean they've lost anything at all or they're undeserving, especially when the final scores were as close as they were.

confession time: I had *no business* logging on to the computer after not sleeping the night before.

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

I was so happy for Veto Baker. His kane were stellar. The hula this year was quality! I thought Kalaniakea came out of the gate in an outstanding first year. The newbies of the last few years have lost a bit of their freshman favor; Snowbird and Manu Boyd folks didn't place. But that is how it goes.

Snowbird's kane continues to do well and placed in all categories, so I'm not sure where you get the whole didn't place bit. Her wahine, to my knowledge, hasn't placed at all since entering MM.

Manu's girls also scored well in the wahine auana.

The judges seem to love all of Kaleo's gang. I don't know how he does it every year -- preparing for Merrie Monarch in addition to heading the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest Ho`ike!

I know I'll probably get crap for saying this, but I've never been a big fan of Mapuana DeSilva's style and will admit that I usually take a bathroom break whenever they're on (sorry, being honest)...but when I saw that they were doing Pohai Kealoha, I made sure I stuck around, and I'm glad I did.

Congratulations to Halau I Ka Wekiu! I attended their fundraiser last February and Ho`ike on Easter Sunday and noticed that they were "different" from what I've been used to. Glad to know that whatever it was worked in their favor with the judges.

This year was definitely a quality year and filled with lots of good performances. Unfortunately there's simply not enough awards to give out. Just because they don't walk off the stage with an ipu heke, ukulele, or pahu doesn't mean they've lost anything at all or they're undeserving, especially when the final scores were as close as they were.

[Laua`e]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Ho`omalu is edgy and controversial. That's what I like about him. Sometimes I think I'm in the minority! Kinda reminds me of a decade or so ago, watching Robert Cazimero's halau dance to Prince's "7" at the Hawaii Theatre. OMG...unbelievable. The theater was packed. Everyone was going crazy. While I greatly admire traditional hula I also love seeing it taken to a whole, different level.

Hula = chickenskin!

I was one of the lucky ones to see Robert's rendition of Prince's "7", and thought it was spectacular! I sat there, in awe - literally, my mouth hanging open. Then, when I returned to see Patrick Makuakane's "Natives are Restless", I was again reminded of Patrick's lineage (as he comes from Robert Cazimero.) Innovative, creative, challenging, and rhytmically moving...

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Ho`omalu is edgy and controversial. That's what I like about him. Sometimes I think I'm in the minority! Kinda reminds me of a decade or so ago, watching Robert Cazimero's halau dance to Prince's "7" at the Hawaii Theatre. OMG...unbelievable. The theater was packed. Everyone was going crazy. While I greatly admire traditional hula I also love seeing it taken to a whole, different level.

Hula = chickenskin!

Hoomalu IS theatre; his troup is quite entertaining, but he does moves that aren't hula. He belongs on Wed night (free night; entertainment, not competition). For one thing, he had 2-3 dancers on both his kane and wahine dancers who are not ready for competitive hula; their lack of timing and preparing was evident at the most crucial time: during the dance. Kupe'e falls off? Hewa; points deducted, and in Hawaiian mana'o it speaks to ill preparation.

Most importantly, the play should be in the hands, but the feet must always speak to the hula steps. Far too much of his hula evoked a cringing "what the heck move is that? What are those dancers doing stepping with their legs so far apart, and for each pauku?" from our part of the peanut gallery. For example, Johnny Lum Ho's halau was always on the cutting edge, but his dancers never parted from traditional hula steps. If they ground their feet in hula, their foundation is hula. And that is the kuleana of the judges to notice and grade each halau accordingly. Further, it is in those feet movements that showcase the style of hula that is passed on from kumu hula to haumana. Front uwehe vs a wide uwehe is one of the easiest examples to point out, but it exists for all. Hula steps and their style are important (which is how I could tell there's a whole lotta Maiki going on )

In other venues, Ho'omalu rocks. He just isn't disciplined enough to choreograph for a hula competition.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

I was so happy for Veto Baker. His kane were stellar. The hula this year was quality! I thought Kalaniakea came out of the gate in an outstanding first year. The newbies of the last few years have lost a bit of their freshman favor; Snowbird and Manu Boyd folks didn't place. But that is how it goes.

[Serenity]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

http://www.kalena.com/merriemonarch/2007/index.html

Man....

The dancers are really awesome tonight!!!

Makes me wish that I ws actually there to watch it person.

Click on the website & cick on the mos recent ones.

I think they have videos aswell.

Aloha, gang =) .

Happy Weekend.

[tutusue]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Tutu Sue, I guess you loved his little fishing hula tonight too. I actually hope he places with that one.

I liked it a lot! Whimsical, for lack of a better word. Still, his kahiko brings tears to my eyes.

[CranBeree]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Kaui won Miss Aloha Hula in 1992, a year after Kapua.

http://www.merriemonarchfestival.org...ers_1990s.html

thanks Kory K.

[Kory K]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Tutu Sue, I guess you loved his little fishing hula tonight too. I actually hope he places with that one.