HAWAIIAN CULTURE HIGHLIGHTS WEEKEND CELEBRATION AT POLYNESIAN
CULTURAL CENTER "This festival is so special for us because we get to show appreciation for our host culture and share it with many others who love it so much," said Kumu Hula Keith Kalanikau Awai, director of cultural presentations at the PCC. "Plus, Aunty Genoa's return to her childhood home of La'ie for this concert was a real treat. We are honored she joined us to perform for the first time at PCC." Dancers from seven halau participated in the annual festival on Saturday honoring one of hula and La'ie's greatest treasures, the late Aunty Sally Wood Nalua'i. The festival welcomed dancers young and old for a showcase of 'auana-style hula. Participating halau this year were: · Ka Pa Nani O Lilinoe (Kumu Hula Lilinoe Lindsey) Newcomers to the festival this year were Haere Mai School for Dance from Kapolei and Halau Hula O Kekela from La'ie. Each halau chose a theme of their own to share with the crowd of nearly 1,500 people in the PCC's majestic Pacific Theater. Halau Hula O Kekela showcased a family tradition with grandmother, daughter and child performing together on stage. Halau Kawaipuilani mixed it up by performing a few kahiko in an all 'auana program. Then the stage filled with more than 100 dancers during the final group, Halau Hula Olana, as they danced a medley paying tribute to King David Kalakaua. Aunty Sally Wood Nalua'i contributed greatly to teaching hula in La'ie. She was the PCC's first hula instructor when it opened in 1963 and continued until 1980 when she retired to serve as a consultant until she passed away in 2001. Her niece, Sunday Mariteragi, is credited with inspiring the creation of the competition. Once a PCC dancer herself, Mariteragi(at her aunt's urging)began
teaching keiki hula in 1981. Two years later, she was invited
to hold lessons at the PCC. It proved to be a delight for visitors
and led to the start of the Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained
more than 31 million visitors, while preserving and portraying
the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the
world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance
to 14,000 young people from over 70 different countries while
they attend Brigham Young University-Hawai'i. As a non-profit
organization, 100 percent of PCC's revenue is used for daily
operations and to support education. ####
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