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2009 MERRIE MONARCH Ho'ike on April 15 The Ho'ike is the biggest free event during Merrie Monarch week. This year the event featured 3 groups displaying dances from Hawaii by Halau O Kekuhi, Samoa by Tupulaga o Samoa mo a Taeao and New Zealand by visiting Maori dancers from Nga Uri O Te Whanoa. This year we got in the already long line 3 hours before the event doors opened at 6:30PM after missing the start of the Hoike the previous year.
The Ho'ike started with the entrance of the Hawaiian Royal court.
A Pule (Prayer) was given by Father George De Costa.
Then Halau O Kekuhi entered and after an opening chant, began their high energy Kahiko hula about Pele.
The halau danced with grass skirts, a great visual display from up on the stands.
The Halau keiki did several dances. The Halau O Kekuhi did hula auana as well.
The group danced in colorful dresses with palm leaf skirts.
The Kapuna danced with blue mumus.
The men did a hula.
And the women did hula auana in red mumus. The leaders of the Halau O Kekuhi Hilo are Nalani Kanakaole and her nieces, Kekuhi Keli'ikanaka'ole and Huihui Mossman.
Tupulaga o Samoa mo a Taeao is from the Samoan club at the University of Hawaii-Hilo came on next. The group gave a lively performance of dance and song.
The exciting Samoan slap dance by the young men was a highlight. Many football teams use Samoan type slap dances to rev themselves up before their game.
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