15th Kū Mai Ka Hula Celebrates Maui

Ledcor Maui

15th Kū Mai Ka Hula Celebrates Maui

Ledcor Group is Kā Wekiu sponsor.

After two years of virtual competition, Kū Mai Ka Hula returned to a joyful in-person performance at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC) on Sept. 9 – 10, 2022. The beloved adult hula competition featured seven award-winning hālau from Hawai‘i, O‘ahu, California and Japan competing in solo and group performances.

This year, Ledcor Maui had the honor of serving as the competition’s Kā Wekiu title sponsor, donating to Kauahea Inc., the nonprofit organization which presents the event in partnership with the MACC. Kauahea founder Hōkūlani Holt recognizes hula as key to Hawaiian cultural preservation, and the Maui competition is an important way to instill this awareness.

Funding was provided by the County of Maui and Office of Economic Development, along with support from Ledcor Maui and other sponsors. This was Ledcor’s first time as a sponsor of the event, and according to Eric Gerlach, Ledcor senior vice president, it will not be their last.

Ledcor is proud to sponsor Ku Mai Ka Hula

Ku Mai Ka Hula

Ledcor is proud to sponsor Ku Mai Ka Hula

KuMaiKaHula Maui

Ledcor is proud to sponsor Ku Mai Ka Hula

“We felt privileged and fortunate to have witnessed this uplifting, entertaining and moving event,” Gerlach said. “It was educational and enlightening; we learned the significance of why hula is so important, and its relationship to language, culture, identity and pride.”

Kāne and wāhine dancers competed in both kahiko (traditional) and ‘auana (modern) hula. The multi-layered complexity of hula—its styles, both old and new; movements, both subtle and bold; costumes, with significance in every detail; kumu and students, audience and practitioners; even the humor implicit in some of the songs—all these things add up to an experience rich in education. The Ledcor folks showed up ready to learn.

“My big takeaway has to be that many, many folks of all ages and backgrounds practice the art of hula for various reasons and to varying degrees—but they all love to get out in the aisles and dance when given the opportunity!” said David Goode, Ledcor director of development. “I also got a much better sense than I had before of the knowledge that is handed down from kumu to kumu to student.”

Beautifully presented and well organized, the two-day event flowed smoothly with the help of emcee Luana Kawaʻa. With script written by event organizer and master kumu Hōkūlani Holt, Kawa‘a brought audience members into the heart of the celebration with her warm and engaging explanations and introductions.

One highlight was a poignant tribute to the late kumu hula, and former Competition Coordinator, Pali Ahue a good friend of Holt who passed away in 2012. Three of Ahue’s former kāne came on stage and danced, now as fathers with their own keiki. In addition, Ahue’s brother performed a tribute to the ‘ohana by reciting their family lineage, Moʻokūʻauhau Ahue, (supported by) Moani; Ahueʻs first cousin who carries his legacy as the Competition Coordinator today.

Back in 2000, the late kumu hula Akoni Akana created an adult hula competition called Maui Festivals. Before Akana’s passing, Holt agreed she would carry on the event using a new name: Kū Mai Ka Hula – Hula Appears. Holt has served as the competition director since 2006.

This year, as Kū Mai Ka Hula celebrated its 15th Anniversary, renowned kumu hula Iwalani Kalima, Ulalia Woodside Lee, Kamaka Kukona and Cody Pueo Pata named Ms. and Mr. Hula Maui, and judged kahiko and ʻauana performances and the group competition for kāne, wāhine, and kūpuna. [ Results ]

“Another lasting impression of this event was the overall sense of happiness expressed by all who attended, performed, or put on the show—such a great feeling to be wrapped around us all,” Ledcor’s Goode said. “We were honored to be a sponsor, and we can’t wait for next year!”