BY KA’IULANI TAKAMORI – HONOLULU – Join Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine, PA’I Foundation, and the Royal Hawaiian Band for an afternoon of Hapa Haole songs and dances from the romantic ballads to the upbeat and fun tunes still loved today by visitors and locals, alike.
This festive afternoon will showcase the Royal Hawaiian Band, past Hapa Haole Hula & Vocal competition winners, special guests and some of the winners of the just-completed 8th Annual Hapa Haole Hula & Vocal Competition, which was held on Friday September 24th, at the Hale Koa Hotel.
Island halau hula competed in a variety of solo and group competitions with H?lau ‘Olapakuikala’i ‘o Hokuaulani taking top honors in Keiki, Wahine, K?ne and Combined Group categories.
Chalei Malia McKee is this year’s Miss Hapa Haole, and Sandra Marie Tacadena was awarded the title of Ms. Sophisticated Hula. Romie Wright of Makakilo won the top honors in the Hapa Haole vocal division. Romie will have the opportunity to sing her winning song, I Am Hawai‘i, with the Royal Hawaiian Band at this free event.
Bring a picnic lunch, relax and spend a musical afternoon at Kapi‘olani Park Bandstand with the Royal Hawaiian Band and our very special guests. The event is free and open to the public.
This special event is made possible through generous support of the Mayor’s Office of Culture and Arts (MOCA), City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), and in partnership with Hale Koa Hotel.
PA‘I FOUNDATION, organized in 2001, is a 501 c 3 organization whose mission is to preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian cultural traditions for future generations. The goal of PA‘I Foundation is to establish a Hawaiian cultural center on O‘ahu to better serve the broader Hawaiian community. PA‘I Foundation is the non-profit organization of Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima, a h?lau hula (school of Hawaiian dance) founded by kumu hula (master teacher of Hawaiian dance) Vicky Holt Takamine in 1977. While the organization is centered around and supported by h?lau members, the purpose of PA‘I Foundation is not centered around servicing the needs of the h?lau, but to address and serve the needs of Native Hawaiians and those who make Hawai‘i their home. To accomplish these goals, PA‘I has partnered with several organizations to successfully create and implement events, programs and outreach activities to strengthen our native Hawaiian community.