17th Kū Mai Ka Hula Again Amazes and Delights

17th Kū Mai Ka Hula

Again Amazes and Delights

It was a proud moment for Ledcor Maui as David Goode, Director of Development, and Casey Lamb, Development Manager, when they walked out onstage during the awards ceremony of the 17th Kū Mai Ka Hula to present the Mele Aloha Award. The audience and judges in the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center had just watched a full day of outstanding hula, and it was time for Mr. or Ms. Hula Maui to be recognized for their excellence in research—the highest score for their research paper for both hula performances.

“And the Mele Aloha Award goes to… Shannon Kamalei Purdy of Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu under the direction of Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo-Pearson!” Ledcor Maui was thrilled to present this new award that pays tribute to longtime Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka member Leina Wender.

“I was honored to present an award,” said Goode. “All of us at Ledcor Maui really appreciated the amount of work the dancers put into their hula performances and we are thrilled to sponsor such an important cultural event.”

Representatives from Ledcor Maui and the newly elected board of La‘i Loa attended this year’s Kū Mai Ka Hula, which was held on Sept. 14. Ledcor Maui served as Ka Wēkiu Sponsor for the third time.

Presented by Kauahea Inc., this year’s Kū Mai Ka Hula featured eight award-winning hālau from Maui, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, and the continental U.S. The judges for this year’s competition were Kumu Hula Iwalani Kalima, Kumu Hula Ulalia Woodside Lee, Kumu Hula Maka Herrod, and Kumu Hula Cody Pueo Pata. Each is a kumu hula with award-winning hālau, and renowned for their contributions to Hawaiian culture.

Kū Mai Ka Hula results were as follows:

Mr. Hula Maui:
1) Maui Iokepa-Guerrero of Nā Pualei o Likolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine

Ms. Hula Maui:
1) Shannon Kamalei Purdy of Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu under the direction of Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo-Pearson
2) Lilia Iokepa-Guerrero of Nā Pualei o Likolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine

Group Kahiko Kāne:
1) Hālau Pā Hula o Hīnano under the direction of Kumu Hula Troy Allen Hīnano Lazaro

Group Kahiko Wahine:
1) Nā Pualei o Likolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine
Hālau Pā Hula o Hīnano under the direction of Kumu Hula Troy Allen Hīnano Lazaro

Group ‘Auana Kāne:
1) Hālau Ka Pā Hula o Hīnano under the direction of Kumu Hula Troy Allen Hīnano Lazaro

Group ‘Auana Wāhine:
1) Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu under the direction of Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo-Pearson
2) Nā Pualei o Likolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuli’i Heine

Group ‘Auana Kūpuna:
1) Hālau Ka Ua Tuahine under the direction of Kumu Hula Māhealani Uchiyama
2) Hālau Hula Kauluokalā under the direction of Kumu Hula Uluwehi Guerrero

Special Awards:
• Palikūmaikalewalani Oli Award (recognizes hālau that exhibit excellence in oli):
– Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu under the direction of Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo-Pearson

• Maui Nui Award (recognizes the hālau that participated fully in all aspects of the competition and involved in as many divisions as possible):
– Hālau Ka Pā Hula O Hinano under the direction of Kumu Hula Troy Allen Hīnano Lazaro

• Leianaikaroselaniomaui Award (recognizes the hālau that exhibits overall excellence in hula):
– Nā Pualei o Likolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuli`i Heine

• The ‘Ōlelo Makuahine Award (recognizes the hālau that exhibits excellence in Hawaiian language use by ho‘opa‘a [accompanist] and musician):
– Hālau Hula Kauluokalā under the direction of Kumu Hula Uluwehi Guerrero

• The Mele Aloha Award: (The new award for the 2024 competition honors longtime Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka member Leina Wender. The award recognizes the Mr. or Ms. Hula Maui entry that exhibits excellence in their research paper):
– Shannon Kamalei Purdy of Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu under the direction of Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo-Pearson