(Chanting in Hawaiian) John Kahaʻi Topolinski: Welcome to Pau Hana Years.

This evening the students of Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi present a selection of ancient classical Hawaiian dances.

Many were the dances and chants of our people and from our kūpuna came the knowledge that is so great to us today.

This evening, we honor all of you, who are kūpuna, who have helped us to learn many of the chants and dances that we know today.

We would like to especially honor Maʻiki Aiu Lake, Dr. Mary Kawena Pukui and her two daughters, Pele Pukuʻi Suganuma, Mrs. Pat Namaka Bacon, Henry Pa, Moanikeala Woods.

In poetic expression the Hawaiians use the art form of the hula to give their history and their folklore.

Pele was a favorite subject for hula performances.

And this dance, No Luna i ka Hale Kai, it records the journey of Hiʻiaka, the sister of Pele, to Kauaʻi to fetch Lohiʻau, Pele’s lover.

We present the women of Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi with No Luna i ka Hale Kai.

(Chanting in Hawaiian) We take the hula into the realm that is know as family dances.

In this dance Kamaka o Kane Pa Pale ai ‘Āina(?)

is a dance and chant from the collection of the Cummins Merseberg family.

The men do for you Kamaka o Kane Pa Pale ai ‘Āina(?).

(Chanting in Hawaiian) As we enjoy the cultural renaissance of Hawaiian culture, art and dance, it is to the kūpuna or the elders that we look to, for knowledge, for help, and for sustenance in the arts of the dance and chant.

Without these people or the foundation of the knowledge of these people, the young ones of today, of course, would be without the great knowledge concerning the dance and the chant and its meanings.

That is because of these kūpuna, who are very unselfish in their presentation are very unselfish in their contact with the young ones that we continue through live to the dances and the chance of our people.

And this is so with the students of Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi and myself as kum hula.

We are greatly indebted to those teachers who have given us their knowledge and we perform them with great pride and share them with all of you this evening.

Perhaps the most prolific of royal composers were the Kalākaua family.

Liliʻuokalani, famed for Aloha ʻOe had many chants and dances written for her.

Perhaps one of the most famous of the chants for her was Lanakila Ke Kaʻa ʻahi Aliʻi.

Written about the year 1891 describes her train ride though Moanalua Valley and down to Hālawa, Lanakila Ke Kaʻa ʻahi Aliʻi.

(Chanting in Hawaiian) Known for its poetic and classical style, Kaulilua ike anu o Waiʻaleʻale, ranks a perhaps the most classical of all ancient Hawaiian dances.

Written in ancient times for the chiefess named Kaumealani who lived at Moanalua, Oʻahu and was later written for King David Kalākaua, her descendant.

This evening we present, Haunani Judd Kauahi, lead dancer of Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi, to do for you Kaulilua ike anu o Waiʻaleʻale.

(Chanting in Hawaiian) [17:54] The classical dance and chants of Hawaiʻi are vey much alive today.

The renowned kumu hula Edith Kanakaʻole of Hilo, Hawaiʻi composed Kamapuaʻa, which speaks of a rivalry between Pele the fire goddess and Kamapuaʻa the pig demigod.

In her composition, stories of the past are relived again and the young people of today learn more of their traditions and history and in folklore.

The motions of the dance are a vigorous action showing perhaps a subtle movement off a rivalry between both Pele and Kamapuaʻa.

We present the men and women of Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi to dance for you Kamapuaʻa.

(Chanting in Hawaiian) In this our final segment of the program, Pau Hana Years wishes to thank you for viewing us this evening, sharing the dances and chants of our ancestors, and hoping that you will also receive the knowledge and the beauty that is so prevalent in the ancient poetry of our people.

Our final dance is entitled He Mele Maʻi No Kalani Kalākaua.

And as was the tradition of the old days a program of of ancient dances ended with a love chant called mele maʻi.

And the mele maʻi was a dance that assured the Hawaiian people that they would prosper and that their race would live on.

The sexual procreative act between man and wife, in the ancient days, was looked upon as holy, as godly because of the love of the male and female came the offspring.

And this we present to you this evening, He Mele Maʻi No Kalani Kalākaua.

(Chanting in Hawaiian)