For Immediate Release THREE TOP KEIKI HULA HALAU TO PERFORM IN POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER’S NIGHT SHOW, OCTOBER 16, 23, 30 Laie, HI – October 14, 1999 – For the next three Saturdays—October 16, 23, and 30—three of Hawaii’s top keiki hula halau will each take their turn in the spotlight as a featured performer in the Polynesian Cultural Center’s “Horizons” night show. The groups earned this opportunity after being the top three finishers in the PCC’s Ninth Annual Moanikeala Keiki ‘Auana Hula Competition on August 28. After the competition PCC officials extended an offer for the three halau to perform the Hawaii segment of Horizons, which displays the culture, music, and dance of Fiji, Maori New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga, along with Hawaii. In addition, the PCC is allowing each hula halau to use the special performance as a fund-raiser, providing up to 1,000 tickets to sell at a discounted rate of $7 apiece, which includes admission to all daytime activities. The halau keep $5 for every ticket sold. On October 16, Hula Halau ‘O Hokulani, led by Kumu Hula Hokulani and Larry DeRego of Mililani, will take the stage shortly after 7:30 p.m. at the 2,775-seat Pacific Theater. More than 100 keiki dancers will perform a 12-minute program that includes an ancient kahiko from Maui and a tribute to Kumu Hula Kawai Cockett. The group finished second in the August keiki hula competition. The following week, on October 23, Halau Hula Olana, under the leadership of Kumu Hula Olana and Howard Ai of Aiea, will perform. Seventy keiki hula dancers, ranging from 6 – 13 years old, will use the Hawaiian poetry of dance in an 11-minute program to honor the island of Kauai and Kumu Hula Lovey Apana, who passed away recently. Halau Hula Olana won this year’s Moanikeala Keiki ‘Auana Hula Competition. On October 30, Hu‘i Park Hula Studio, led by Kumu Hula Kepo‘omaikalani Park-Chun of Honolulu will perform. Dancers will present a 10-minute program in a tribute to the island of Maui. The group finished third at the keiki hula competition. The annual Moanikeala Keiki ‘Auana Hula Competition is a tribute to two prominent Laie kumu hula, Sally Wood Nalua‘i and Sunday Mariteragi. Both have been instrumental to the teaching and popularity of hula in Laie. Nalua‘i was the PCC's first hula instructor when it opened in 1963 and continued until 1980. Her niece, Mariteragi, is credited with inspiring the start of the competition. At her aunt’s urging, Mariteragi—once a PCC dancer herself—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 eventually led to the annual competition. Founded in 1963, the PCC has entertained over 26 million visitors by preserving and portraying the spirit, culture and people of Polynesia to the rest of the world. More importantly is the mission of the PCC, which supports the educational mission of Brigham Young University – Hawaii, and provides an extension of the classroom in a workplace setting. Since its establishment, the PCC has employed more than 36,000 BYU-Hawaii students and over $172 million of its revenues have been directed to the University.### For information on press releases or other public information, please contact: Amy Hennessey
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