Merrie Monarch 2007

[Kaona]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

This was our first year attending the Merrie Monarch Festival. We are also new to living in Kona. My husband has always had it taped for him or watched while here on business. We thought the entire festival was wonderful and have been reading these posts for some history and insight.

As a newcomer I was hoping someone could let me know why one of my favorite Wahine groups did not even place. I thought that Halau Hula Olana did well in both Auana and Kahiko.

Thoughts?

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

This was our first year attending the Merrie Monarch Festival. We are also new to living in Kona. My husband has always had it taped for him or watched while here on business. We thought the entire festival was wonderful and have been reading these posts for some history and insight.

As a newcomer I was hoping someone could let me know why one of my favorite Wahine groups did not even place. I thought that Halau Hula Olana did well in both Auana and Kahiko.

Thoughts?

A lot of great performances and not enough awards to give out. That would be the pono thing to say about why your favorite halau didn't place.

But you know that I always like to add $0.02.

Sometimes it is hula politics. Some judges probably favor certain kumu over others. Not saying that those who placed aren't deserving, but there's always gonna be somebody out there who'll cry "JUICED!" because their halau didn't win.

Halau Hula Olana is a good, strong halau. However, this needs to be said and you can take it however you want.

Someone needs to tell na kumu to tone down the facial theatrics. One can convey the onaona emotion without looking like you're having a freaking convulsion. I simply can't stand it, and I know of many other seasoned dancers who feel the same way.

If people make it a point to call attention on how they like to overdo stuff, then maybe that's why they didn't fare well with the judges.

Yeah, I said it. Somebody had to.

[Kaona]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Thank you for your honest response. That's why we like this forum. What's interesting for me is that I could not see their faces. So maybe if the judges didn't see their faces they might have placed!

[kiwidiva]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

And now Waikiki is hosting an annual hula convention to allow tourists to participate in hula rather than just watch it like they do now.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ap...704250402/1001

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

And now Waikiki is hosting an annual hula convention to allow tourists to participate in hula rather than just watch it like they do now.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ap...704250402/1001

How awesome to see kumu like Maelia and Kaleo, who are already busy with their own haumana, eager to share their knowledge with visitors.

[Miulang]

"Moku O Keawe"

Since Merrie Monarch is restricted to halau primarily based in Hawai'i, and because there are so many halau outside of the US now, Moku O Keawe was created so that halau from Europe and Asia (specifically Japan) as well as those from CONUS can also compete for cash prizes and a Tiffany crystal bowl.

Here's a story in Forbes about the festival, which was held in November at the Waikoloa Resort.

Miulang

[Lei Liko]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

Okay, I didn't know where the heck to post this, but since it kinda is Merrie Monarch related (eh, he was flying ITO-HNL right after MM), I'm leaving it here:

Lopaka Kanaka`ole singing on board his AQ flight over the PA system after much coaxing from FAs

Video's kinda blurry because footage was taken from what looked like J's digital camera. What's funny is that I saw them that exact same night at the bar and couldn't believe it when I saw it the first time.

Anyway, the images are blurry, but that voice is oh, so unmistakable. Enjoy.

[kiwidiva]

Re: Merrie Monarch 2007

That was AWESOME! I wish I had been on that flight...

Mahalo for posting it!!