na lei hulu i ka wekiu
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for further information on na lei hulu i ka wekiu, call 415 - 647 - 3040 or visit urltoken .
in celebration of 25 years of hula under its founder and kumu hula, patrick makuakane, san francisco' s most famous halau, na lei hulu i ka wekiu, debuted its latest show at the palace of fine arts on october 16. na lei hulu i ka wekiu' s performances are wondrously rich in costume, song, and hawaiian history .
oahu the dance about princess ka' iulani, called
he mele no ka' iulani .
photos of princess ka' iulani are in the background. the dance group na lei hulu i ka wekiu presents
oahu - - confessions of an island
at... more
a collection of videos on youtube show a series of
hit and run hula
performances by na lei hulu i ka wekiu, including the following performance on the slopes of san francisco' s dolores park .
25 years of hula: na lei hulu i ka wekiu. through sun. $ 10 - $ 40. palace of fine arts theater, 3301 lyon, sf. (415) 392 - 4400. urltoken .
dsc _ 0080: members of the award - winning dance troupe, nâ lei hulu i ka wçkiu, celebrating their 25th anniversary with 25 years of hula. members of the award - winning dance troupe, nâ lei hulu i ka wçkiu, ... more
dsc _ 0175: members of the award - winning dance troupe, nâ lei hulu i ka wçkiu, celebrating their 25th anniversary with 25 years of hula. members of the award - winning dance troupe, nâ lei hulu i ka wçkiu, ... more
nā lei hulu i ka wēkiu' s acclaimed dance company presents hula as a full theatrical experience that blends traditional and contemporary forms of hawaiian dance .
dsc _ 0080: members of the award - winning dance troupe, nâ lei hulu i ka wçkiu, celebrating their 25th anniversary with 25 years of hula. members of the award - winning dance troupe, nâ lei hulu i ka wçkiu, celebrating their 25th anniversary with 25 years of hula. dsc _ 0080: members of the award - winning dance troupe, n‰ lei hulu i ka wkiu, celebrating their 25th anniversary with 25 years of hula. less
dsc _ 0175: members of the award - winning dance troupe, nâ lei hulu i ka wçkiu, celebrating their 25th anniversary with 25 years of hula. members of the award - winning dance troupe, nâ lei hulu i ka wçkiu, celebrating their 25th anniversary with 25 years of hula. dsc _ 0175: members of the award - winning dance troupe, n‰ lei hulu i ka wkiu, celebrating their 25th anniversary with 25 years of hula. less
o' ahu: confessions of an island: na lei hulu i ka wekiu. through sun. palace of fine arts theater, 3301 lyon st. , san francisco. tickets: $ 30 - $ 35. (415) 392 - 4400, urltoken .
dsc _ 0175: members of the award - winning dance troupe, nâ lei hulu i ka wçkiu, celebrating their 25th anniversary with 25 years of hula .
if you know nothing about hula, this halau, ne lei hulu i ka wekiu under the direction of patrick makuakane will make you a lifetime follower. if you do know about hula, you should be ashamed of yours
kumu hula patrick makuakane and his award - winning dance troupe, na lei hulu i ka wekiu, announced the company’s return to the hawaii theatre this spring for two performances of the natives are restless, a thrilling new reiteration of the troupe’s iconic show that originally premiered in 1998 .
oahu the first dance :
welina o' ahu
( greetings, o' ahu. the dance group na lei hulu i ka wekiu presents
oahu - - confessions of an island
at the palace of fine arts theater in san francisco, ca. these pictures... more
na lei hulu i ka wekiu' s 25 years of hula show opened with a section devoted to the impact of the missionaries on native hawaiians. the powerful last two numbers in this part of the program (
walk with me
and
save me
) would fit beautifully into the repertoire of any modern dance company .
i doubt that even patrick makuakane, the founder of the company na lei hulu i ka wekiu harbored such fantasies. yet, the huge and remarkably diverse crowd that packed the palace of fine arts theater on saturday evening for the kickoff to the troupe' s 25th anniversary celebration was a testament to makuakane' s melding of community interest, serious ethnography, exuberant showmanship and something approximating kitsch .
oahu the dance about princess ka' iulani, called
he mele no ka' iulani .
photos of princess ka' iulani are in the background. the dance group na lei hulu i ka wekiu presents
oahu - - confessions of an island
at the palace of fine arts theater in san francisco, ca. these pictures were made on sunday oct. 21, 2007, in san francisco, ca. katy raddatz / the chronicle photo taken on 10 / 21 / 07, in san francisco, ca, usa less
as makuakane' s hula concerts have grown more technically sophisticated - - and na lei hulu i ka wekiu' s audiences have grown in size - - it' s been easy for people to overlook patrick' s strength as a showman and choreographer with a keen artistic vision. part of makuakane' s strength has been to choreograph traditional (kahiko) and contemporary (' auana) hula pieces .
known for their trademark hula mua – which brings the ancient hawaiian dance form into the modern realm by setting traditional hula movements to decidedly non - hawaiian music resulting in a theatrical experience that is visually captivating and culturally rich – as well as hula kahiko – the traditional pre - western style of hawaiian dance – na lei hulu i ka wekiu has garnered critical and audience acclaim throughout the san francisco bay area and beyond .
“there is nothing quite like the lilting flow of [ na lei hulu i ka wekiu ] … not unlike the motion of the sea. ” the new york times “ [ masters of hawaiian music are ] virtuosic keepers of a cultural flame. ” the new york times escape to paradise in an evening of dance and music celebrating the rich cultural traditions of hawai’i. under the direction of hula master patrick makuakane, the acclaimed company na lei hulu i ka wekiu performs hula mua (hula that evolves), a fusion of traditional and contemporary dance. the nationally - treasured ensemble’s 24 dancers will display their distinctive style, preserving the captivating movements of their ancestors while evolving through new expression. revered grammy award - winner george kahumoku, jr. , and multi - instrumentalists nathan aweau and kawika kahiapo return as masters of hawaiian music, sharing the quintessentially hawaiian sounds of ki - ho’alu (slack key guitar) .
patrick makuakane’s na lei hulu i ka wekiu hawaiian dance and music company knows how to put on a good show. mr. makuakane had the audience laughing and cheering on saturday night at a performance at the lincoln center out of doors festival. and quite a few audience members rose to the occasion when he invited them to dance the hula in the aisles, as they did at the company’s last out of doors show, in 2004 .
one of the trademarks of na lei hulu i ka wekiu' s performances is that the audience always seems to leave the theatre glowing with warmth and satisfaction. a great deal of credit for this goes to the halau' s top - notch production team which, year after year, aims higher and higher - - as well as to patrick makuakane' s unique artistic vision. here' s the trailer for the company' s 25 years of hula show :
oahu the first dance :
welina o' ahu
( greetings, o' ahu. the dance group na lei hulu i ka wekiu presents
oahu - - confessions of an island
at the palace of fine arts theater in san francisco, ca. these pictures were made on sunday oct. 21, 2007, in san francisco, ca. katy raddatz / the chronicle photo taken on 10 / 21 / 07, in san francisco, ca, usa less
we saw the show this weekend at the palace of fine arts and it was amazing! the hula dances, costumes and decorations were beautifully done and hearing stories about o' ahu from patrick makuakane really brought the show to life. i appreciated learning about the island' s history too. the
time after time
number just about brought me to tears! it was so beautiful! mahalo na lei hulu i ka wekiu for a wonderful show. you guys are awesome! we will definately be back next year. alohaa !
patrick makuakane and na lei hulu i ka wekiu present the hula show at the palace of fine arts each fall. this is the show to see! hula, the expressive, graceful dance of the pacific islands has never looked so fantastic. the live music and vocal offerings were perfect with the splendid new interpretations and traditional favorites, interspersed with enough humor to make it a great evening with friends and family. if you missed this show this time around, save the date for next year !
nā lei hulu i ka wēkiu has enjoyed tremendous national success, dazzling audiences and critics alike. makuakāne has won extensive recognition and numerous awards for his choreography and direction, including several isadora duncan dance awards (
izzies
) and a lifetime achievement award from the san francisco ethnic dance festival .
founded in 1985, na lei hulu i ka wekiu (? the many feathered wreaths at the summit, held in high esteem”) is committed to teaching and preserving the hawaiian culture through hula. it has a performance group of nearly 40 dancers and offers classes to students in the beginning and intermediate levels. the organization holds educational workshops throughout the year in hawaiian language, history, and arts and crafts. the company has performed in locations throughout california, and in new york, las vegas, new orleans and honolulu .
in 1990, while in honolulu, i caught a production by hawaii opera theatre in which mozart' s cosi fan tutte had been updated to the hawaiian monarchy period and renamed pela no ho' i na wahine .
a new coffee - table book tells the story of patrick makuakāne and nā lei hulu through a stirring narrative, striking photographs, and arresting moments from performances through the years .
performances of na lei hulu’s the natives are restless follow the launch of a new coffee - table book co - published by na lei hulu i ka wekiu and sparkpress entitled, ? the natives are restless: a san francisco dance master takes hula into the 21st century. ? written by hawaii - born, san francisco - based journalist constance hale, ? the natives are restless? is an innovative, first - of - its - kind coffee - table book exploring the rich ethnic dance tradition of hawaiian hula. the stunning book’s text uses makuakane – a visionary in the hula world – to tell the largely untold story of hula, examining how it has roared back as an authentic art form after two centuries of overt suppression, benign neglect, and tourist cliché. in addition to its rich narrative, the book features extraordinary photography, archival material, and illustrations .
it sounds like
hairspray
meets some show starring annette funicello, but it' s the first - act closer of na lei hulu i ka wekiu' s
o' ahu: confessions of an island ,
continuing through sunday at the palace of fine arts theater. the company' s kumu hula (leader), patrick makuakane, chatting as always to the audience between dancing episodes, says he' s acting as an evangelist for that tourist - ridden island' s deeper history and enduring beauty. but of course, he' s also an evangelist for hula itself - and damn if the most casual attendee won' t be converted by his beguiling company .
the company epitomizes hula' s graciousness. tanisha reshke has a romantic solo, and she floats through it like an angel. just a heads up, na lei hulu' s sunday show will be
hula for families
- a shorter version of the show with lots of audience participation for kids. hard to imagine
o' ahu
could be any more fun .
just minutes away from running out of the house to my dance class, it dawned on me that i should take a few minutes to tell the yelpers of the land how great na lei hulu i ka wekiu is. first off, it' s a local non - profit dance company that operates out of a middle school assembly room on potrero hill. i had the good sense of enrolling in this halau over two years ago... and i can' t even begin to explain how much this experience has effected my life. kumu hula, patrick makuakane is fabulous with a capital f - i leave every class feeling inspired and about 20x saner than i was when i arrived. his passion and enthusiasm are contagious - if you have ever seen his performing group' s shows at the palace of fine arts, you' d understand. his pieces are moving, the choreography stunning, and his presence undeniably powerful. if you have the time and the energy, everyone, men, you too, should look into his beginning classes that are offerred once every two years. in the meantime, go see the show that is coming up in october, you won' t be sorry! ! !
fabulous (adj) see also
amazing, incredible, extravagant, outrageous, stupendous
yes, all of these adjectives describe the men and women who make up na lei hulu i ka wekiu. don' t try pronouncing the name of this hula troupe. it' s nearly impossible. what you should try and do is see their show which is every october at the palace of fine arts. led by patrick makuakane, director / kumu hula, you get to see hula that most residents in hawai' i don' t get to see. not only is patrick incredibly talented, he' s some serious eye candy himself and funny. i' ve seen his halau' s performances for four years. every year is a combination of something funny as well as moving. for tickets costing $ 30 - 35, live entertainment doesn' t come any more inexpensive and at such great quality .
i fell down the stairs last night at the palace of fine arts. nothing major, but definite stumbl - age. fortunately, the dancers of ne lei hulu i ka wekiu share none of my clutziness. i' m lucky enough to have a friend in the company, and a group of us went last night to support her and take in their annual performance. oh my. unbelievable! so powerful, graceful, moving, educational, funny, heart - breaking. i' m * this * close to booking a one - way ticket to hawaii. run, don' t walk to buy your tickets for the final two performances. for $ 30, you' ll leave thinking you would have spent $ 1, 224, 555 to be a part of it. if you miss this go - around, they perform every october. urltoken
i fell down the stairs last night at the palace of fine arts. nothing major, but definite stumbl - age. fortunately, the dancers of ne lei hulu i ka wekiu share none of my clutziness. i' m lucky enough to have a friend in the company, and a group of us went last night to support her and take in their annual performance. oh my. unbelievable! so powerful, graceful, moving, educational, funny, heart - breaking. i' m * this * close to booking a one - way ticket to hawaii. run, don' t walk to buy your tickets for the final two performances. for $ 30, you' ll leave thinking you would have spent $ 1, 224, 555 to be a part of it. if you miss this go - around, they perform every october. urltoken
na lei hulu - which incidentally, just returned from an east coast tour - has had a lot of successes during its 22 years, but
o' ahu
is the most fully engaging show i' ve seen makuakane mount in nearly a decade. it' s also, in some ways, one of the least ambitious, and that is part of its charm. some past shows, pointed in their history lessons, have struggled from the awkward juxtaposition of heavy themes with makuakane' s natural campiness .
aloha ~ i enjoy going to class each week. kumu patrick makuakane is a fantastic teacher and human…
happy aloha friday! here' s a little taste of what you' ll see when ka leo kānaka opens at the hawai `' i theatre in two weeks. don' t miss it! purchase tickets here: urltoken # naleihulu # hawaiitheatre # thehulashow
our opening night at the hawaiʻi theatre is this friday! here' s another sneak peek at what you' ll see during ka leo kānaka. tickets: urltoken
ka leo kānaka opens tomorrow night at the hawaiʻi theatre. get your tickets before they' re gone! www. naleihulu. org. # naleihulu # thehulashow # hawaiitheatre
a chorus of three lei sellers in traditional hawaiian costumes sat on the side of the stage interpreting the trio sung by don amalu, pualani, and keanani with hula gestures .
this just in: we got the grant! @ calartscouncil will support i mua - hula in unusual places this year. i mua: hula in unusual places shows october 20, 21, 27, 28 champagne reception october 20th gala october 27th
born and raised in honolulu, hawai' i, mr. makuakāne began dancing at the age of 13 and went on to study with some of hawai' i' s most recognized hula masters, including john keola lake and robert cazimero .
under the direction of patrick makuakāne, his hula halau, nā lei hulu i ka wēkiu has been a vibrant member of the san francisco community since 1985. with a keen artistic eye, he has blended ancient hula and chant (hula kahiko), modern hula (hula auana) and his signature
hula mua
or
hula that evolves
into an art form that is accepted by both hula traditionalists and modernists. along with kellen paik and lihau hannahs paik, the group known as
kupaoa
, patrick and the students from his halau put on a stunningly beautiful performance in yerba buena gardens in downtown san francisco on 7 / 16 / 16. to learn more please visit urltoken urltoken urltoken
today we' re island style in the bay area with makers and creators who connect to their hawai' i roots in the bay .
“i realize that when most people think of hula, they imagine pretty shows at tourist - y luaus in hawaiian resorts. ” in 6 reviews
hewlett & gerbode foundations choreographer commissioning award (2012): award from the wallace alexander gerbode foundation and the william and flora hewlett foundation for the creation of “ka leo kanaka” (one among only six california dance artists to be honored) .
i still cherish the memory of how, back in 1984, raymoki julamanu engler (who used to perform under the stage name hulamanu o hawaiki) electrified an audience with his performances of
the genital hula
and
great balls of fire .
later, when i interviewed raymoki, he explained that :
aloha ~ i enjoy going to class each week. kumu patrick makuakane is a fantastic teacher and human being. he throws in his humor to give us some chuckles from time to time, and is very good about teaching us the moves and enlightening us about hawaiian culture. he opens enrollment to beginner' s level class every 2 years, so when that happens i highly recommend giving it a try. thanks to my friends, they encouraged me to give it a go and i' ve stuck with it since - i' ve been enjoying it immensely. his annual san francisco hula show is coming up in october, so i highly encourage you to check it out. he blends traditional and modern hula into a great show. tix. are selling quickly... urltoken see the gallery page on the website for performance photos .
i bought tickets for the hula for families show at the palace of fine arts theater. i figure, for $ 10, it was something i could do cheap with the kids. and i' ve always liked live dance and songs performanced on stage. entering the theater, they had activities laid out for the kids - paper bag paintings and coloring pictures. a music group was on stage playing ukuleles and singing hawaiian songs. i made sure we get close to the stage as possible and we did. we were able to get seats 3 rows from the front. the show started with all the performers on stage, with a beautiful projection of the underwater. very nice! highlights of the show for me: 1. the debut hula performance by the students. these were girls ages 6 - 12 yrs old i think. they did an awesome job :) i' m researching now on how i can get my daughter to take classes with them. 2. they made us all stand and teach us a hula dance step and later on danced with the emcee as he sang and danced the steps on stage. awesome! this was very fun. my kids were also dancing along. 3. a great hula rendition of
the first time ever i saw your face
. 4. disco bar and cafe program - who says hula is boring? and cannot cross over to pop music? well, they were grooving to the beats of i will survive and it' s raining men. 5. the drag man in 4 inch heels, silver dress and wig. this was an awesome performance. yes, we are still talking of hula dance lol. the show was really entertaining. i' m very happy that they had thought of catering to the families with small kids. i had always thought of learning how to hula and learn how to play the ukulele. watching them dance, sing and those kids, gave me more appreciation for this type of shows. great job! clap! clap! clap !
“led by patrick makuakane, director / kumu hula, you get to see hula that most residents in hawai' i don' t get to see. ” in 5 reviews
it' s that time again ~ the window to join beginning hula class is about to open, starting april 5th, 2012. after may 3rd, 2012, enrollment will close for another two years (unless you' ve learned hula previously). if you' ve ever wanted to take hula classes, i highly recommend checking it out. even though i had to stop going due to my schedule, after three years of being with the halau (hula school), i think fondly of my time there. i miss my ohana. our kumu patrick makuakane used to say,' leave your worries at the door' and so most of us did for the duration of the class. hearing the rhythm of the island beats and dancing with my fellow brothers and sisters was a true joy. as i' d head home from class, i' d feel calm and happy. in addition to the dance, our kumu taught us about hawaiian culture and also would get us to laugh often. here are details for the class: urltoken
it' s that time again ~ the window to join beginning hula class is about to open, starting april 5th, 2012. after may 3rd, 2012, enrollment will close for another two years (unless you' ve learned hula previously). if you' ve ever wanted to take hula classes, i highly recommend checking it out. even though i had to stop going due to my schedule, after three years of being with the halau (hula school), i think fondly of my time there. i miss my ohana. our kumu patrick makuakane used to say,' leave your worries at the door' and so most of us did for the duration of the class. hearing the rhythm of the island beats and dancing with my fellow brothers and sisters was a true joy. as i' d head home from class, i' d feel calm and happy. in addition to the dance, our kumu taught us about hawaiian culture and also would get us to laugh often. here are details for the class: urltoken
we attended the yearly gala this past weekend at the palace of fine arts. what an incredible show. i have been following this group for 10 years now, saw them at a free show in la in 2002 and have been a big fan and donor since then. if you love hawaii, you will love this show. patrick is quite the showman too, very charming and engaging. i love the traditional hula blended with modern music and themes. funny too! love them and will see them again whenever i can .
national museum of the american indian (2010): grant award in support of the kapalakiko project, a dance theater work celebrating the long historical connection between hawai’i and san francisco .
throughout the evening, makuakane served as genial master of ceremonies. he even crooned as a colleague from honolulu, shawna alapa' i, introduced a sultry solo ,
beloved is the manini ,
an elegant song that brought a welcome moment of intimacy. judging from his enthusiasm and his fans', i suspect makuakane will be at it 25 years hence .
because so many hawaiians have settled in the san francisco bay area, hula concerts showcasing local halaus take place throughout the year. sponsored by the kumu hula association of northern california, ia' oe e ka la 2010 will take place at the alameda county fairgrounds from november 5 - 7 .
in 1977, during a week - long vacation in seattle to attend a production of richard wagner' s der ring des nibelungen sung in english, i took a day - long tour to the famous butchart gardens in victoria, british columbia. as our sightseeing boat headed across puget sound, i was surprised to see a small group of elderly asian women practicing hula on the front deck to help pass the time .
american aloha: hula beyond hawai' i shows the survival of the hula as a renaissance continues to grow beyond the islands. with the cost of living in hawai' i estimated at 27 percent higher than the continental united states, large numbers of hawaiians have left the islands to pursue professional and educational opportunities. today, with more native hawaiians living on the mainland than in the state of hawai' i, the hula has traveled with them. from the suburbs of los angeles to the san francisco bay area, the largest hawaiian communities have settled in california, and the hula continues to connect communities to their heritage on distant shores .
by evoking visual images and using a vocabulary dear to the hearts of native hawaiians, terence knapp' s production imbued mozart' s opera with such a strong sense of hawaiiana that the production became a truly indigenous operatic experience. while in honolulu, i interviewed john kaimikaua, a local kumu hula who gave me a crash course in hula' s role in keeping hawaii' s oral tradition alive. since then, i have attended several bay area hula events at which the smell of fresh flower leis was simply intoxicating .
however, with a company of 40 dancers, makuakane' s trademark has been his success with hula mua (hula that evolves). he has created numerous nontraditional hulas that use music ranging from delibes to techno, from popular songs like
i left my heart in san francisco
to
the first time ever i saw your face .
he has won numerous awards for his choreography and direction, including several isadora duncan dance awards (
izzies
) and a lifetime achievement award from the san francisco ethnic dance festival .
patrick makuakane, just across the bay from mark in san francisco, has stirred even more controversy in the hawaiian community. in addition to teaching hula, patrick is a dj and has braved new waters by setting traditional hula movement to non - hawaiian music. in shows such as
the natives are restless ,
he uses his progressive approach to address political issues such as the arrival of christian missionaries and the overthrow of hawai' i' s last sovereign ruler, queen lili' uokalani, by american businessmen. blending the contemporary and the traditional, patrick' s work shows the hula is a living and evolving art form .
i do everything with hula ,
he says .
and you know, hula in hawai' i is sort of the last bastion of tradition. you don' t touch hula .
the program also paid homage to hula' s bar, a venerable gay showplace in honolulu. a disco megamix and a frenetic ensemble preceded an appearance by special guest matthew martin, who, we are told, is a leading male impersonator of shirley bassey. i have no reason to doubt his authenticity .
few american icons are as well known for their popular kitsch as the hula dance. from old hollywood movies to entertainment for tourists, the hip - swaying girls in grass skirts and colorful lei have long masked an ancient cultural tradition. now, after years of being shadowed by stereotypes, the hula is experiencing a rebirth that celebrates hawaiian culture. hawaiians - - wherever they live - - are challenging misconceptions to redefine the evocative storytelling art of the hula dance across the american mainland .
sissy kaio, who lives in carson, a working - class suburb of los angeles, has been teaching hula for over two decades. she is the most traditional of the three and is the center of a halau, or school of dance, that runs like a large family of over 100 men, women and children ranging in age from four to 75. her students seek to rediscover their connection to their roots, their bond to the' aina or land of their ancestors. struggling to perpetuate the ancient kahiko traditions in a very different modern world, sissy says ,
we make wherever we live our own hawai' i. so, we may be in california, but we make it our hawai' i .
in 2000, he began intensive traditional studies with hula master mae kamāmalu klein in hawai' i and, after three years, achieved the recognized status of kumu hula (hula master). this achievement culminated in a traditional' uniki' ailolo graduation ceremony and connects mr. makuakāne to a hula lineage stretching back for generations. his studies were made possible by funding from a prestigious two - year irvine fellowship in dance .
the natives are restless explores the interlocked issues of imperialism, sovereignty and occupation in hawai’i and showcases makuakane’s innovative choreography. it also examines western influence and impact on the hawaiian kingdom—from the arrival of the missionaries, to the oligarchy which overthrew the hawaiian monarchy and the native resistance that galvanized an entire nation. makuakane’s multimedia show is sure to be an immersive, captivating and at times disturbing piece of dance theater illustrated through the use of traditional and progressively modern hula, chanting, storytelling, music, video and imagery .
in addition to using hula concerts for educational outreach purposes (makuakane talked about king david kalakaua' s love for the arts and his death at san francisco' s palace hotel on january 20, 1891), patrick was joined by his
hula sister
kumu hula shawna kealameleku' uleialoha alapa' i, his
hula brother
kamaka kukona, local drag performer matthew martin, drummers kris lee and derek sam, and newly - married musicians lihau hannahs paik and kellen paik. in his program note, makuakane wrote that :
in contrast, mark ho' omalu, an oakland resident, is a hula teacher who is both acclaimed and criticized for bringing innovations to hula traditions. rebellious and confrontational, mark' s cutting - edge chant style and unique rhythms in his music have challenged traditionalists back home in hawai' i to question the boundaries of the time - honored dance .
here in california, it' s not the blood quantum that will be passed on ,
says mark in the film ,
but the culture that will be carried into the future .
the current program includes bona fide hits of yesteryear, including a showstopping version of roberta flack' s
the first time ever i saw your face ,
and new material. in its premiere ,
the kumulipo: an homage
adapts a hawaiian creation myth for the stage, framed by a series of mouth - watering projections. as the natural world evolves from the sea, makuakane varies the texture and the tone of the movement. a sequence that features men propped on one knee, extending the other leg like a host of amphibians emerging from the primeval soup, was especially striking .
how' s this for a showstopping scene: 35 dancers in club clothes, chilling at a hawaiian discotheque, break into mass hula dancing. a posse of gals takes on gloria gaynor' s
i will survive ,
flexing their biceps above those undulating hips while a disco ball twirls shards of light. the guys come back for
it' s raining men ,
hitting all the accents with those little hula knee - juts. and then in struts a shirley bassey impersonator drag queen for a bring - the - house - down finale of
history repeating ,
the whole gang swarming the floor with soft stamping hula feet one second, jazzy head lay - backs the next .
for hawaiians, the hula is a way of life. since ancient times, hula has preserved history through oral tradition and expressed the soul of hawaiian spirituality. the sacred chants communicated with the gods, recorded genealogy, honored the chiefs, exalted nature and celebrated humanity. yet by the early 20th century, many of the unique cultural traditions of hawai' i were in danger of disappearing - - especially the hula. denounced as a
heathen
practice with the arrival of american missionaries, the hula was soon outlawed and forced underground. hawaiians were discouraged from being proud of their ancestry and soon even the language was banned. nearly lost after decades of assimilation following the overthrow of the hawaiian monarchy, the hula emerged as a symbol of fierce ethnic pride during the hawaiian renaissance that swept the islands in the 1970s .
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but
o' ahu
is pure travelogue, as pleasant as a postcard. the sad history of colonization is in the background everywhere - and sometimes in the foreground, as in a tribute to o' ahu' s last princess, set to
true colors .
yet with the show' s aim as nothing more nor less than paying tribute to this place, it all fits the variety - show format with ease and naturalness .
there' s something for every taste: hula ancient (with chanting and music played on percussive gourds), contemporary (live guitar, bass and singing) and beyond (makuakane' s signature hula mua, set to pop music). a full company performs ancient - style dance with struck sticks and it' s a knockout, but so is an all - women' s number with grassy hand rattles, and an evocation of the sacred birth mount kukaniloko festooned with fronds. there' s a lovely opening with the women dressed in green silk, bodies as fluid as water. and there' s a blood - pumping number dedicated to the father of modern surfing, duke kahanamoku, enhanced with fabulous projections .
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the accomplishment is significant. in his disarming way, makuakane has made us aware of the potential of hula as more than a national dance of hawaii. it is a movement language adaptable to various circumstances and musics, suitable for both transmitting narrative and expressing emotional states. the current program ,
25 years of hula ,
offers sounds ranging from authentic, percussion - accompanied chants to gloria gaynor disco hits of yesteryear. if an episode occasionally lagged, you could expect a dazzler 10 minutes later .
perhaps makuakane' s singular accomplishment was to weld a group of committed part - time dancers into a troupe that moves with a singular impulse. when these 37 dancers fill the stage with impeccable swaying unisons and pelvic rotations, and delight us with a complex gestural language, you begin to wonder where amateur ends and professional begins .
makuakane' s opening sequence, tracing the missionaries' impact on hawaiian identity, presents a chilling portrait of religious and cultural oppression, dominated by a barefoot priest with an enormous crucifix. the constantly shifting patterns and groupings of the dancers, dressed in severe monochrome, spoke volumes about a grim period in hawaii' s past. later, a women' s ensemble breathed the air of enchantment in a graciously undulant setting of
viens, malika ,
a duet from the opera
lakmé .
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for those of us who grew up on the east coast, what little we knew about hula came from the movies. shortly after moving to san francisco on my 25th birthday, traditional (as opposed to commercial) hula became more visible to me .
there was no written language in the hawaiian culture. history and legends were passed from one family to another through chants. some of the chants were very poetic. the common people couldn' t understand them, which is why dancing was used to illustrate what was being said. the chant was important, not the dancing. today it' s reversed .
ten years ago, when a group from los angeles participated in the merry monarch hula competition in hilo, they performed their idea of hawaiian dancing. these hollywood people came out in feather capes chanting all kinds of stuff without even knowing the language! the native hawaiians (who were performing ancient and modern hulas) were laughing so hard that there were tears streaming down their cheeks !
hula dancing is a lot like sign language: if you don' t know the language, you can' t enjoy it as much. when the islanders heard that a group from san francisco was competing, they thought they could have themselves another good laugh. they thought we would all have blond hair and blue eyes. but we looked like locals, instead. not only did our hawaiian cowboy hula place third in the modern hula division, we also put san francisco on the hawaiian map by showing them that we knew what we were doing .
the production' s scrim had been inspired by madge tennent' s drawings of hawaiian women .
ferrando and guglielmo became two american naval officers stationed in hawaii at the turn of the century while don alfonso was renamed don amalu and portrayed as an elderly local hawaiian happy to take their money .
fiordiligi was renamed pualani, dorabella became keanani, and despina was transformed into a girl from maui named leilani, who clearly understood that
to catch mynah bird, you use guava .
addio
was translated into
aloha ,
ziti, ziti
became
wiki wiki
and, at one point, don amalu told someone to
shoto make !
( shut up !) .
the action took place on the lanai and in the gardens of a waikiki hotel (with diamond head visible on a backdrop). drinks were served on the hotel' s patio by a huge samoan man dressed in a sarong and, before the men sailed off to war in an outrigger canoe, the girls dutifully draped floral leis around their necks .
before you could say king kamehameha, the men returned disguised as two rakes from the russian colony on lahaina .
when the two sisters tried to remain faithful to their boyfriends, leilani chided them by asking
are you two wahine? or are you... coconuts ?
in act ii, when despina is required to disguise herself as a physician, leilani entered dressed as a hawaiian kahuna carrying a lump of glowing lava. for the wedding scene, she reappeared in the guise of a chinese lawyer from yick lum plum (a corporation that made a popular snack food in hawaii) .
ever since arriving in the bay area as a student, makuakane has been teaching and promoting hula. on a recent tour of japan with several hawaiian hula troupes, he was amazed to discover that more than 250, 000 people are studying hula in japan !
to commemorate our silver anniversary, we are excited to present the full - length premiere of ke kumulipo - - he ho' ohanohano (the kumulipo - - an homage). the kumulipo is an epic hawaiian creation chant that majestically recounts the evolution of the world we live in. our homage to the kumulipo depicts the birthing of sea plants and animals, the creation of mountainous islands, the rich flora and fauna that cover the land, and the emergence of the first men and women and their subsequent generations. we collaborated once again with hawaiian scholar lucia tarallo jensen, who provided an insightful and profound translation of this ancient poem, reclaiming nature' s song of origin. the kumulipo expresses harmony with our environment and ultimately highlights our connectedness with the natural world, with each other, and with everything around us. we believe this ambitious project marks the first time that this tale has been brought to life through hula .
makuakane' s hula shows have always paid respect to the hawaiian culture' s love of nature. with this year' s push toward an increased use of multimedia, the audience was treated to some spectacular video effects by wally murray while performers were showcased by patty - ann farrell' s sensuous lighting designs. as always, makuakane' s chanting and narration were a highlight of the evening .
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but this was not quite the fun it was three years ago. the performers, described by mr. makuakane as transplanted hawaiians living in san francisco, are dancing even better, but mr. makuakane’s genial between - numbers banter has grown somewhat weary - sounding and too practiced. the novelty of seeing traditional - style hawaiian dancing to music by peggy lee, cyndi lauper and tony bennett has worn off a little .
but the intriguing sound and look of hawaiian pronunciation and dancing carried the night. there is nothing quite like the lilting flow of it all, and the way that flow abruptly comes to momentary staccato halts and then resumes, not unlike the motion of the sea, to which so much of the program alluded. four pieces stood out. one was “pupu hinuhinu, ” a danced lullaby for women dressed in blue, their arms moving like the gentlest of ocean swells. the idea was to evoke the sound of seashells, and the dance and music, performed live by the kupaoa musical ensemble, did just that .
“no’eno’e maika’l ke aloha, ” danced by men, honors king david kalakaua, one of hawaii’s last reigning monarchs, and clearly illustrated the precise ebb and flow of traditional hawaiian movement, where the feet step simply to the side and all is expressed in the undulating upper body and arms .
mr. makuakane did an amusingly horrified riff on tacky hollywood - style grass - skirt hula dancing, demonstrated in two witty numbers. the female performers in “gay hawaiian party, ” set to soupy vocal music by alfred apaka, communicated hilarious kitsch with remarkable subtlety. and “elements, ” to syncopated, pulsating music by danny tenaglia, was an all - male piece that might have been danced by the village people .
the free lincoln center out of doors festival continues through aug. 27; (212) 546 - 2656 or urltoken
with the headline: hawaiian - style lilt and flow, with a jab at grass skirts .
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sounding a universal note of cultural adaptation and renewal, american aloha takes us on a tour through the practices and philosophies of some of those at the forefront of hula' s renaissance on the mainland. the film focuses on the work of three kumu hula, or master teachers of hula, in the largest hawaiian communities in california. the three teachers, who have all resided on the mainland for over 20 years, represent very different - - and sometimes controversial - - approaches to preserving the integrity of ancient hula while carrying the art form into the future .
with the disappearance of pure native hawaiians predicted within a generation, today' s revival of the ancient art of hula is a creative response to the challenges of cultural survival. a powerful testament to the vibrant community of hawaiians living far from home ,
american aloha
is a wonderfully entertaining celebration of hawaiian culture as well as a proud tribute to those who will carry traditions into the future .
encore broadcast dates: aug. 10, 2004 | jan. 1, 2018
the many feathered wreaths at the summit, held in high esteem .
founded in 1985 by director / kumu hula patrick makuakāne, the company of 40 dancers is known for its unique contemporary style called hula mua, or
hula that evolves .
the style blends traditional movements with non - hawaiian music like opera, electronic, dance, alternative, and pop. both hula mua and authentic, traditional pieces are showcased in the company' s visually captivating stage productions .
the dance company holds its annual home season performances in october at the palace of fine arts theatre in san francisco, and has performed throughout california and in other locations including new york, new orleans, las vegas, and honolulu .
patrick makuakāne (director, kumu hula) is a creative force in the hula world, and is well known for his innovative choreography. his work is grounded in the traditions and fundamentals of hula, and he labors to keep traditional dances intact as they have been for generations. he has also developed a unique style of hula (called hula mua) that uses modern music to provide a whole new dimension to the poetry of hula .
mr. makuakāne has received numerous awards for his choreography, including several isadora duncan dance awards (“izzies”). in 2006, he received a lifetime achievement award from the san francisco ethnic dance festival .
nacf artist fellowship (2014): awarded by the native arts & cultures foundation (nacf) to nurture greater study, reflection, experimentation and discovery .
individual artist commission (2009): a grant award from the san francisco arts commission for the creation of “kumulipo, ” dance narratives based on an epic and iconic hawaiian creation chant composed long before european contact .
creative work fund commission (2008): creative work fund grant supporting a commission by the san francisco ethnic dance festival for the creation of
maui turning back the sky .
dance: creation to performance (2005): grant award from dance / usa and the james irvine foundation for the creation and public sharing of “daughters of haumea” (one among only twenty california dance artists to be honored).
nā lei hulu i ka wēkiu is a hawaiian dance company or hālau hula led by kumu hula ( hula master ) patrick makuakāne . makuakāne founded nā lei hulu in san francisco in 1985 . as a young dancer in hawai'i , he trained under kumu hula robert cazimero , a member of the musical duo the brothers cazimero . in 2003 , makuakāne completed intensive traditional hula training under mae kamāmalu klein and earned the title of kumu hula . the dance company of about 25 women and 15 men has performed in many locations around the united states , including new york city , new orleans , honolulu , san francisco , and napa . the hālau also offers hula classes to beginning and intermediate level dancers . what makes nā lei hulu different from other hula hālau is makuakāne 's trademark style , called hula mua , or " hula that evolves . " hula mua consists of classic or hula-inspired movements set to non-hawaiian music such as techno , pop , opera , spanish , hip-hop , and disco . the group 's shows typically feature a combination of both hula mua and traditional hula . according to arts critic george heymont of the huffington post , makuakāne has " strength as a showman and choreographer with a keen artistic vision " and the group 's performances are " wondrously rich in costume , song , and hawaiian history . " makuakāne and his hālau were profiled in the pbs documentary film american aloha : hula beyond hawai'i , originally broadcast in 2003 . 
nā lei hulu i ka wēkiu is a hawaiian dance company or hālau hula led by kumu hula (hula master) patrick makuakāne. makuakāne founded nā lei hulu in san francisco in 1985. as a young dancer in hawai'i, he trained under kumu hula robert cazimero, a member of the musical duo the brothers cazimero. in 2003, makuakāne completed intensive traditional hula training under mae kamāmalu klein and earned the title of kumu hula. the dance company of about 25 women and 15 men has performed in many locations around the united states, including new york city, new orleans, honolulu, san francisco, and napa. the hālau also offers hula classes to beginning and intermediate level dancers. what makes nā lei hulu different from other hula hālau is makuakāne's trademark style, called hula mua, or " hula that evolves. " hula mua consists of classic or hula-inspired movements set to non-hawaiian music such as techno, pop, opera, spanish, hip-hop, and disco. the group's shows typically feature a combination of both hula mua and traditional hula. according to arts critic george heymont of the huffington post, makuakāne has " strength as a showman and choreographer with a keen artistic vision " and the group's performances are " wondrously rich in costume, song, and hawaiian history. " makuakāne and his hālau were profiled in the pbs documentary film american aloha: hula beyond hawai'i, originally broadcast in 2003.
nā lei hulu i ka wēkiu is a hawaiian dance company or hālau hula led by kumu hula (hula master) patrick makuakāne. makuakāne founded nā lei hulu in san francisco in 1985. as a young dancer in hawai'i, he trained under kumu hula robert cazimero, a member of the musical duo the brothers cazimero. in 2003, makuakāne completed intensive traditional hula training under mae kamāmalu klein and earned the title of kumu hula. the dance company of about 25 women and 15 men has performed in many locations around the united states, including new york city, new orleans, honolulu, san francisco, and napa. the hālau also offers hula classes to beginning and intermediate level dancers. what makes nā lei hulu different from other hula hālau is makuakāne's trademark style, called hula mua, or " hula that evolves. " hula mua consists of classic or hula-inspired movements set to non-hawaiian music such as techno, pop, opera, spanish, hip-hop, and disco. the group's shows typically feature a combination of both hula mua and traditional hula. according to arts critic george heymont of the huffington post, makuakāne has " strength as a showman and choreographer with a keen artistic vision " and the group's performances are " wondrously rich in costume, song, and hawaiian history. " makuakāne and his hālau were profiled in the pbs documentary film american aloha: hula beyond hawai'i, originally broadcast in 2003.