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THE OBAMA INAUGURATION

Entertainers carry isle pride

By Gary C.W. Chun

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 18, 2009

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One would expect entertainers from the islands at several of the scheduled Hawaii inaugural balls. It's a special thrill, however, for expatriates who live and work in the area of our nation's capital that they are able to join in the celebrations as well.

ON THE NET

www.halau.org (for Halau Ho'omau i ka Wai Ola o Hawai'i)

www.halauoaulani.org

www.alohaboys.net
In fact, it was just two weekends ago that D.C.-based groups Halau o 'Aulani and kumu hula Manu Ikaika's Halau Ho'omau i ka Wai Ola o Hawai'i found out that they were invited to perform at tonight's Aloha Inaugural Ball at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park.

Ikaika and the halau will perform a specially written oli (chant) and mele inoa (name song) in honor of Obama under the overall title of "Hanau i ka Nuho o ke Ali'i." (Both can be heard at the halau's Web site, listed below.)

"I look at Barack Obama's inauguration as akin to the coronation of King David Kalakaua back in 1883," Ikaika said. "Like the coronation, this inauguration signifies a cultural renaissance, opening the doors of the White House to people of all backgrounds. So it felt right to write the mele and oli, to perpetuate and preserve our tradition, and make our traditions part of the new."

Halau O 'Aulani, like Ikaika's halau, is based in Alexandria, Va. Halau o 'Aulani is a nonprofit hula school co-founded by former Aiea resident and Kamehameha Schools graduate Ku'ulei Stockman.

"It's an opportunity we certainly cannot miss," she said. "Because we are a nonprofit and cannot perform at any partisan function, I'm asking students to volunteer for this historic event. I'm expecting 15 to 20 of our students to respond, ranging from children up to tutu with bad knees!"

The Aloha Boys, made up of Irv Queja, Glen Hirabayashi and Isaac Ho'opi'i, have played traditional Hawaiian music ever since their daughters started dancing for Halau o 'Aulani back in 1996.

"Since then we've tried to keep the island tradition alive at parties and weddings here, and at functions for Sens. Akaka and Inouye and Rep. Abercrombie," Ho'opi'i said. "Doing this event is more than an honor. We're representing the 'lost locals' on the East Coast.

"In my opinion," said Ho'opi'i, "having someone from the islands like Obama is tremendous, considering what Hawaii had to go through during the latter part of the monarchy. That no matter what, we all stick together, despite our differences within the nation.

"It's a blessing in disguise, now that Hawaii will have a voice in Obama and just knowing where he was born and raised. Once you're an island product, you'll always be part of Hawaii."

 

One would expect entertainers from the islands at several of the scheduled Hawaii inaugural balls. It's a special thrill, however, for expatriates who live and work in the area of our nation's capital that they are able to join in the celebrations as well.

COURTESY Y. QUI
Halau o 'Aulani is among the Washington, D.C.-based performers with Hawaii ties performing at inaugural events.

ON THE NET

www.halau.org (for Halau Ho'omau i ka Wai Ola o Hawai'i)

www.halauoaulani.org

www.alohaboys.net
In fact, it was just two weekends ago that D.C.-based groups Halau o 'Aulani and kumu hula Manu Ikaika's Halau Ho'omau i ka Wai Ola o Hawai'i found out that they were invited to perform at tonight's Aloha Inaugural Ball at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park.

Ikaika and the halau will perform a specially written oli (chant) and mele inoa (name song) in honor of Obama under the overall title of "Hanau i ka Nuho o ke Ali'i." (Both can be heard at the halau's Web site, listed below.)

"I look at Barack Obama's inauguration as akin to the coronation of King David Kalakaua back in 1883," Ikaika said. "Like the coronation, this inauguration signifies a cultural renaissance, opening the doors of the White House to people of all backgrounds. So it felt right to write the mele and oli, to perpetuate and preserve our tradition, and make our traditions part of the new."

Halau O 'Aulani, like Ikaika's halau, is based in Alexandria, Va. Halau o 'Aulani is a nonprofit hula school co-founded by former Aiea resident and Kamehameha Schools graduate Ku'ulei Stockman.

"It's an opportunity we certainly cannot miss," she said. "Because we are a nonprofit and cannot perform at any partisan function, I'm asking students to volunteer for this historic event. I'm expecting 15 to 20 of our students to respond, ranging from children up to tutu with bad knees!"

The Aloha Boys, made up of Irv Queja, Glen Hirabayashi and Isaac Ho'opi'i, have played traditional Hawaiian music ever since their daughters started dancing for Halau o 'Aulani back in 1996.

"Since then we've tried to keep the island tradition alive at parties and weddings here, and at functions for Sens. Akaka and Inouye and Rep. Abercrombie," Ho'opi'i said. "Doing this event is more than an honor. We're representing the 'lost locals' on the East Coast.

"In my opinion," said Ho'opi'i, "having someone from the islands like Obama is tremendous, considering what Hawaii had to go through during the latter part of the monarchy. That no matter what, we all stick together, despite our differences within the nation.

"It's a blessing in disguise, now that Hawaii will have a voice in Obama and just knowing where he was born and raised. Once you're an island product, you'll always be part of Hawaii."

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