Waikiki: Deja Vu with Hula and Sunset Photo Gallery by Thomas on Islands at pbase.com

Waikiki: Deja Vu with Hula and Sunset

Tuesday, September 16, 2003 in Waikiki, Honolulu.

One year later after our previous visit we checked in into the same hotel, to see another perfect Sunset In Paradise and another public hula performance. In guest comments below Jay Winslow provides numerous details about the musicians and dancers.

This concert is one the regularly performed Kuhio Beach Torch Lighting and Hula Shows. This link leads to a similar Hula show, which we saw one year before: See the Sep. 2002 Hula Show

The setting on the horizon was perfect: A deep purple sun with a silhouette of a cruise ship, a sail boat and a paraglider. Almost everybody turned toward the sun and filmed or photographed the moment. The performers by themselves seemed also enchanted by this spectacle, and so we have all waited till the sun would set. Once the sun vanished behind horizon, the concert begun with the traditional chant.

This was an excellent team of performers, see for yourself.

41C-01-Crowd of Surfers	41C-02-Surfing	41C-03-Surfing	41C-04-Cold Splash	41C-05-Sunset in the Making
41C-06-Preparing for Concert	41C-07-Sunset in the Making	41C-08-Sunset Deserving to be a Postcard	41C-10-Sunset in Paradise	41C-11-Sunset in Paradise
41C-12-Contemplating the Sunset	41C-13-Sunset in Paradise	41C-14-Sunset in Paradise	41C-15-Sunset in Paradise	41C-16-Sunset in Paradise
41C-18-Sunset in Paradise	41C-19-Sunset in Paradise	41C-20-There, the Sun is Down	41C-21-Now lets start the music...	42C-01-Lighting the Torches
42C-02-Blowing the Shells	42C-03-Lighting the Torches	42C-04-Blowing the Shells	42C-05-Opening Chant	42C-07-Traditional Hula
42C-08-Traditional Hula	42C-11-Modern Hula	42C-12-Hula Girl	42C-13-Hula Girl	42C-14-Hula Girl
42C-15-Better than Can-Can!	42C-16-Better than Can-Can!	42C-17-Modern Hula	42C-18-Modern Hula	42C-20-Modern Hula
42C-21-Modern Hula	42C-23-Finishing Gentle Hula	42C-24-Finishing Gentle Hula	42C-25-Finishing Gentle Hula	42C-26-Finishing Gentle Hula
42C-28-Young Spectator Tries Hula	42C-29-Kalakaua Avenue by Night

comment |

Guest		20-Jul-2005 22:21
When I said Malia added a Japanese flare to the hula, I meant she would at times dance with slow distinct motions which I have seen Japanese hula dancers do. I looks very elegant instead of fun like a lot of the hula observed in Waikiki. During the Show at Kuhio Beach on several occasions, it was mensioned about the different styles of hula dancing which is based on the dancer's Kuma (Teacher) interpretaion of the dance or what they are trying to express. As far as being observed of the scene. I have been told I am obsessed with the whole hula thing and Hawaii. I have been told that Hawaii is my mistress. I can only say, I could watch hula everyday for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. I have been to Hawaii 4 times and watched an average of 2 hula shows per night during the total of 6 months that I was there. You could say that I did a lot of watching, taking pictures, and taking videos during that time. Unfortunately Lei Aloha and Sam Keli'iho'omalu were not at the Kuhio Beach Mound the last time and I visited. Hopefully, my day will come again.

Thomas on Islands		30-Jun-2005 20:54
Dear Guest :-) It was actually Jay Winslow who said that Malia Ann Kawailanamalie Petersen seemed to "add a Japanese flare" to her style! But since Jay posted without email address, we can only hope that we will read this and reply to your question. I liked his comments, he seem to be a very deep observed of the scene. Our knowledge of Hula is probably just the average perception combined with admiration for your great dancing tradition. Thanks for giving us so much joy during our visits to your Islands! Sincerely, Thomas

Guest		29-Jun-2005 21:14
Both girls are my hula sisters, but I am nowhere near as talented as these two. What did you mean when you said Malia had a "Japanese flare". Just curious.

Jay Winslow		17-Jan-2004 03:33
The dancer doing the traditional & gentle hula as well as pics 42C-13 & 42C-15 is Malia Peterson. Lei Aloha is in pics 42C-12, 42C-14,42C-16, & 42C-18. I must add that pic 42C-12 is my favorite of your pics. After further observation of the band pics. Auntie Pugie Young was not there. She would have been playing the ukulele in the middle. I guess she was not able to do the Sunday performance. Fortunately, you did get to hear Sam Keli'iho'omalu's and watch his lovely dancers.

Thomas on Islands		08-Jan-2004 23:24
Thank you Jay for identifying the dancers! I was about to ask at soc.culture.hawaii for help. Could you give a pointer which dancer is Malia Ann Kawailanamalie Petersen and Auntie Pugie Young? Thanks in advance, I would than modify the caption to reflect these facts.

Jay Winslow		04-Jan-2004 23:54
The pictures are really good. You caught a rare Sunday appearance of Auntie Pugie Young and the Hawaiian Seranaders. Normally they perform on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I took quite a few pictures of their performances with my 35mm camera during the approximately 16 times I attended their show; however, most were not good for the slide show screen saver I am making so I turned to the internet. Sam Keli'iho'omalu's incredible singing along with the three extraordinary dancers were wonderful. I found that Malia Ann Kawailanamalie Petersen (Miss Aloha Hula 2002), definately had an elegance in here dance that was unmatched in any of the other shows I attended. She seemed to add a Japanese flare to her style that was very unique. However, I enjoyed watching the playfulness and excitement expressed when Lei Aloha danced the most. She truly has an awsome stage appearance. During the 2 months I watched the show, I saw them go from a very structured show to a very exciting one as the other cast members loosened up and began to enjoy themselves as Lei Aloha's always did. That change was especially true in the male dancer's stage presence. And Auntie Pugie Young is "the hardest working woman in Waikiki" as she performs with numerous bands throughout Waikiki whether playing the Ukulele or upright base and singing. She need not worry about her days with The Kodak Hula Show any longer. Personally, I liked this show better than any other free or pay show I attended. While each show followed the same pattern, it offered a variety of music/singing and always excellent hula dancing. Yet, it was not overwhelming like the many of the major productions like the Polynesian Cultural Center show, which was nice to watch once. Thus, I would continue to watch them as often I could. Now, I just need to get back in Waikiki.

Selvin Chance		28-Dec-2003 08:24
Thomas, Enjoyed your Waikiki pictures especially the stunning sunset. Yes, sometimes it pays to be lucky. I visited the hula show once but ended up with some bad shots because I wasn't familiar enough with the controls on my camera. Thoroughly enjoyed your capture of the moment. http://www.pbase.com/selvin/waikiki Aloha

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