Yes, we've written about the annual King Kamehameha Hula Competition before, and we've talked about it for more than 30 years. It gets better and better, but some things never change.

It is almost totally ignored by the news media. A listing in the columns about upcoming events and a short list of halau hula that will be participating is about all the State Council On Hawaiian Heritage can expect. That is sad.

And there are thousands of seats that remain empty, even as some of the finest dancers in the world perform at their best.

It could easily be the biggest, and best-attended hula event in Hawai`i, if not the world. That it is held in Honolulu, which has a larger population base and more hotel rooms (and a larger tourist head count) should mean more people in the audience. That it is held in the huge, air-conditioned NBC Arena, which seats a lot more than the sites of other similar events, should make it an easy sell. But most people don't even know about it.

Tens of thousands of tourists in Waikiki are asking where to go for genuine traditional Hawaiian culture, including music, hula, and chant, and they are sent to the Polynesian Cultural Center, where Hawaiian is just a small segment in a great performance of music and dance from Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, Aotearoa, a pela aku. Or they are sent out to enjoy something totally non-Hawaiian.

Before we do a quick review of this year's event, we want to renew our suggestions that could make this "the" hula event in Hawai`i nei. (No offense to the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, which offers limited seating, limited hotel accommodations, but great song and dance.)

First, the news media should give more advance publicity with feature stories and pictures as they do for the Merrie Monarch, weeks in advance. It is just as interesting and/or newsworthy as so many other non-Hawaiian cultural events that are well publicized.

Second, the news media should "cover" the event. There was little or no coverage after the fact, for whatever reason... not even a published list of winners.

Third, some local television station should cover it, in what must be described as ideal conditions (it never rains in the NBC arena. And lighting is controlled and consistent.)

Fourth, the idea we have espoused for so many years - hotels should tell their guests about the event, offer to secure their tickets and simply add it to their hotel bill, AND hotels should provide bus transportation to and from the event, also added to the guests' hotel bills. Guests would love it. Any concierge worth her/his salt, can see that this is a nice thing to offer to in-house guests from anywhere. And it would be so simple to do - electronically speaking. When the guests make reservations for the period during which the event is to be held, simply hit the key that sends them a few questions: "Would you like to experience the King Kamehameha Hula Competition? How many tickets would you like us to secure and add to your room bill? Would you like to avail yourselves of our convenient air-conditioned bus service to and from the event?

Nuff said.

The event includes solo chant competition, which makes it unique. No theme was assigned this year, allowing each kumu hula to select a mele of his/her choice, also a very interesting approach that worked to the benefit of all concerned - na kumu, na haumana, and the fans. The various categories are mixed up so you don't have to sit through an entire day of kahiko or a full day of `auana, a common complaint from those who tire after hours of what to the uninitiated might seem a bit too much.

The decorum of the fans who are accustomed to yelling and screaming during performances of their favorites in other competitions was a minor distraction - with most fans having read and understood the printed advisory: "Talking, shouting or calling out to the dancers during a performance may cause them to make a mistake." However, too many fans also ignored the announced and printed suggestion that they "please remain seated while a group is entertaining, performing, or exiting the dance floor."

And, while we would have preferred that the entire performance be announced in Hawaiian, Keahi Allen did a credible job of announcing it in English and had a Japanese translator explain the few house rules, etc., for the benefit of visitors from Japan who make up a large segment of the crowd.

That said, it was a GREAT EVENT and if you missed it, mark your 2007 calendar so you don't miss the THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL KING KAMEHAMEHA HULA COMPETITION.

No records were kept in 1973 so we can't say for sure who walked away with top honors in the beginning. But the next year was better organized and the two categories - Male Kahiko and Female Kahiko - were won by dancers from Ka Pa Hula Hawai`i, under the direction of Kumu Hula Kaha`i Topolinski. Topolinski's dancers and chanters came back to win honors in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2000, before the noted kumu took a hiatus from competition... and teaching.

In 1982 they added a category for Combined Kahiko, and top honors went to Waimapuna/Ke `Ala o Ka Laua`e, under Kumu Hula Darryl Lupenui. In 1987, the `Auana Division was added.

And, although chant is still included in the competition, the word "chant" was dropped from the event's title.

In the past 33 years, many if not most of the major halau hula and kumu hula have been a part of the event. And many of the top halau hula and kumu hula are listed among the winners, year after year.

Kumu Hula Mapuana de Silva was thrilled after her dancers took yet another first place in Female Kahiko (Photo by Keith Haugen)

Kumu Hula Mapuana deSilva, for example, took her first top honors in 1986 when her dancers from Halau Mohala `Ilima won the Female Kahiko catgegory. Her dancers tied for first place in that category in 1996 with Ka Pa Hula Hawai`i. This year, 20 years after than first big win, Mapuana fielded a group of 108 dancers, filling the huge stage with one of the largest number of dancers ever in this competition, and won first place in the same category.

There were 108 dancers in the Female Kahiko presentation of "Ku E Ka `Oli`oil" by Halau Mohala `Ilima. (Photo by Keith Haugen)

On Sunday, before the competition resumed, we asked veteran hula teacher Kent Ghirard what he thought of the competition - hula today vs. the dancing of his era - and the 87-year-old giant of the art said he was most impressed by the final performance on Saturday night. That was Halau Mohala `Ilima and Mapuana's precision perfect performance that filled the entire stage, the largest group in the event's history. FYI, it was Ghirard who first took a hula troupe to Japan (1955). Later in the day, when Mapuana's halau won first prize for that performance, you could see the smile on Kent's face.

Kent Ghirard (Photo by Keith Haugen)

And Ethel Nakada, one of Japan's top singers of Hawaiian songs, and a recording artist for more than half a century, was with Kent on both days of the hula event. They became friends in the 1950s and still are. Ethel, as some of you older Hawaiian music fans will recall, was one of the first non-Hawaiians to guest on the popular "Hawai`i Calls" radio program, when she was invited to solo on that show in 1958. We first met Ethel in Japan in 1959, where she was one of the most prominent proponents and performers of Hawaiian music abroad.

Size of the performing group didn't seem to matter, even though Mapuana's 108 ladies won first place in the female kahiko category (the only category they entered) with a hula noho, and tied for first place in the `olelo Hawai`i (Hawaiian language awards). The men (all three of them) from Kumu Hula O`Brian Eselu's Ke Kai O Kahiki won first place in the Male Kahiko category. That was also the only category his dancers entered, and only a few seconds into their performance of "Kahi Keia `O Ni`ihau" it wa obvious to most that they were winners.

The men of Ke Kai O Kahiki (Photo by Keith Haugen)

There were new groups competing for the very first time in the event, and they were warmly received. There were halaus from Hawai`i, California, and Japan, something that is not permitted in the Merrie Monarch Festival where halau from the Mainland are permitted, but not those from Japan. Kumu hula Ku`uleinani Hashimoto had about 60 dancers on the floor, and a huge group of fans in the audience. Her halau has been competing every year for 20 consecutive years. And Kumu hula Leialoha Watada, also from Japan and a frequent winner in earlier competitions both here and in Japan's King Kamehameha Hula Competition, wowed the audience with a Christmas medley, and a beautiful tribute to local Kumu Hula Kamalei Sataraka, with whom she had been affiliated for many years - their dancers often performing together in earlier years. Sataraka died recently. The tributes - in dance - to Kamalei by the dancers of Hui O Kamalei were rewarded with first place trophies in both the Combined `Auana and Kupuna Wahine `Auana categories.

There seemed to be no end to the creativity and the varied styles and sounds. Dancers and chanters and musicians used everything from guitar, `ukulele, bass, piano, `ili`ili, pu`ili, to ipu heke`ole and even `ukeke. Costuming was equally varied, some simple and unpretentious, some more creative than traditional.

The music was good too, especially when Halau O Ke `A`ali`i Ku Makani performed to live music by Ho`okena, led by Kumu hula Manu Boyd.

The choice of judges and others involved is always an indication of the quality of an event. And this years panel is no exception. The panel of judges included Pat Namaka Bacon, Edith McKinzie, Lei`ana Woodside, Leilani Alama, George Holokai, Joan Lindsey, Malia Craver, T. Na`auao Pane`e. WOW! Aunty Edith was one of Keith's first teachers when he returned to school to get his degree in Hawaiian language.

Namaka, Malia and Edith, three of the greatest living authorities on hula, music, language and culture of Hawai`i. (Photo by Keith Haugen)

Permit us to reminisce (a privilege of being older). Listening to Keahi Allen announcing the event, with Puakea Nogelmeier next to her narrating the coverage for `Olelo television, reminded us of some 30 years ago, when her mother, Napua Stevens, and for a number of years, Keith, used to narrate the televised parade coverage for the King Kamehameha Day Floral Parade. Narrators are chosen for their ability to correctly pronounce Hawaiian, and it was an honor indeed to share the microphones with Napua.

Keahi Allen and Puakea Nogelmeier. She announced for the live audience; he for the televised version that was to be broadcast at a later date. (Photo by Keith Haugen)

Keith Haugen and Napua Stevens (Keahi's mother) narrating the KITV television coverage of a 1970s Kamehameha Day Floral Parade. (Photo by Carmen Haugen)

In a nutshell, it was a great hula event, every bit as good as the Merrie Monarch Festival. But it wasn't on the late evening news, and when we picked up the Sunday paper, hoping to see pages of pictures and stories and a list of winners, we were not surprised - just saddened - to see that it was ignored again.

It reminded us that there were thousands of empty seats in the NBC Arena, and that thousands of our visitors were denied this bit of beauty, art, and traditional Hawaiian culture, just because those in the visitor industry and news media don't seem to care.

We'll keep talking about The King Kamehameha Hula Competition until its potential is realized.

- Keith & Carmen

The Winners

Chant Category (Pele Puku`i Suganuma Perpetual Plaque)
First - Nalei Pokipala, from Halau Ke`alaokamaile, Wailuku, Maui, Kumu hula Keali`i Reichel
Second - Sarah Ke`alohilani Freitas, Halau Ke`alaokamaile, Wailuku, Maui, Kumu hula Keali`i Reichel
Third - Alexandria Kalanikauika`alaneokilioulaninuiamamao Gonsalves, Ka Pa Nani `O Lilinoe, O`ahu, Kumu Hula Lilinoe Lindsey

Male Kahiko Category (Edith Kanaka`ole Perpetual Pahu Drum)
First - Ke Kai O Kahiki, Kumu Hula O`Brian Eselu, O`ahu
Second - Halau Hula O Kawaiho`omalu, Na Kumu Hula Kukaho`omalu Souza & Keali`iho`omalu Puchalski, O`ahu
Third - Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Hula Carlson Kamaka Kukona III, O`ahu

Female Kahiko Category (Eleanor Hiram Hoke Perpetual Pahu Drum)
First - Halau Hula Mapuana deSilva, Kumu hula Mapuana deSilva, O`ahu
Second - Halau O Ke `A`ali`i Ku Makani, Kumu Hula Manu Boyd, O`ahu
Third - Halau Hula Ka No`eau, Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang, O`ahu and Waimea, Hawai`i
Fourth - Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea, Kumu Hula Kapualokeokalaniakea Dalire-Moe, O`ahu
Fifth - Halau Hula `O Mehanaokala, Kumu Hula Ku`uleinani Hashimoto, Tokyo, Japan

Combined Kahiko Category (Henry Moikeha Pa Perpetual Pahu Drum)
First - Halau Hula Ka No`eau, Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang, O`ahu and Waimea, Hawai`i
Second - Halau Na Pua Mai Ka Lani, Kumu Hula Kale Pawai, O`ahu

Male `Auana Category
First - Keali`ika`apunihonua Ke`ena A`o Hula, Kumu Hula Leimomi Ho, O`ahu
Second - Halau Hula O Kawaiho`omalu, Na Kumu Hula Kukaho`omalu Souza & Keali`iho`omalu Puchalski, O`ahu
Third - Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Hula Carlson Kamaka Kukona III, O`ahu

Female `Auana Category
First - Halau O Ke `A`ali`i Ku Makani, Kumu Hula Manu Boyd, O`ahu
Second - Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea, Kumu Hula Kapualokeokalaniakea Dalire-Moe, O`ahu
Third (four-way tie)
- Keali`ika`apunihonua Ke`ena A`o Hula, Kumu Hula Leimomi Ho, O`ahu
- Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Hula Carlson Kamaka Kukona III, O`ahu
- Ka Pa Nani `O Lilinoe, Kumu Hula Lilinoe Lindsey, O`ahu
- Hula Hui O Leialoha, Kumu Hula Leialoha Watada, Tokyo, Japan
Fourth - Halau Hula O Napuanaheleonapua, Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina
Fifth - Halau Hula Ka No`eau, Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang, O`ahu and Waimea, Hawai`i

Combined `Auana Category
First - Hui O Kamalei, Kumu Hula Kameha`ola Sataraka, O`ahu
Second - Keali`ika`apunihonua Ke`ena A`o Hula, Kumu Hula Leimomi Ho, O`ahu
Third - Halau Hula Ka No`eau, Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang, O`ahu and Waimea, Hawai`i

Kupuna Wahine `Auana Category
First - Hui O Kamalei, Kumu Hula Kameha`ola Sataraka, O`ahu
Second - Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea, Kumu Hula Kapualokeokalaniakea Dalire-Moe, O`ahu
Third - Keali`ika`apunihonua Ke`ena A`o Hula, Kumu Hula Leimomi Ho, O`ahu

`Olelo Hawai`i (Hawaiian Language) Awards

Kahiko Division (Mary Kawena Puku`i Award)
First (four-way tie)
- Halau Hula Mapuana deSilva, Kumu hula Mapuana deSilva, O`ahu
- Halau Hula O Kawaiho`omalu, Na Kumu Hula Kukaho`omalu Souza & Keali`iho`omalu Puchalski, O`ahu
- Halau O Ke `A`ali`i Ku Makani, Kumu Hula Manu Boyd, O`ahu
- Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea, Kumu Hula Kapualokeokalaniakea Dalire-Moe, O`ahu

`Auana Division (Napua Stevens Poire Award)
First (tie)
- Halau O Ke `A`ali`i Ku Makani, Kumu Hula Manu Boyd, O`ahu
- Halau Hula O Napuanaheleonapua, Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina

THE 2006 AWARD OF DISTINCTION WAS PRESENTED TO BILL KAIWA, "THE BOY FROM LAUPAHOEHOE," IN A BRIEF CEREMONY THAT INCLUDED SONGS BY MARLENE SAI (WITH HULA BY BEV NOA), NINA KEALI`IWAHAMA, AND TONY C. BILL SANG TOO. SO, A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LONG TIME FRIEND BILL KAIWA.

It seemed appropriate that singer Bill Kaiwa, should also dance as he was honored at the King Kamehameha Hula Competition. (Photo by Keith Haugen)

While Marlene Sai sang, Bev Noa danced for Award of Distinction recipient Bill Kaiwa (left), who was seated alongside the panel of judges. (Photo by Keith Haugen)

MORE PHOTOS OF THE COMPETITION

All competition photos by Keith Haugen