Mahalo nui kakou! ...and 'Okakopa

Mahalo nui kākou for all your hard work!  Keiki, you were AWESOME! I may not have been able to watch it all, but I saw some pretty fab photos and heard some very rave reviews! Maika'i kēlā!  So very proud of you all!  Moms (and dads..and aunties and uncles too :D)...mahalo ā nui--wale nō!  Lots of time, work, and effort, but I hope you felt it was worth it.  They have helped perpetuate the mana and pass down the manaʻo.  For that, my sincerest of gratitude.

And now for ʻOkakopa! (October) :D

We will dive right into a new mele, called Kahana Malie. It is a hula noho, or sit down hula, done with kalaʻau (stick implements).  I would eventually like them to fashion their own kalaʻau, but we need to find the time to look and prep them.  I will work on that this month in preparation for hoʻike next month.  It is a beautiful mele that I hope they will enjoy.

We will hold off on Ka Uluwehi o ke Kai for the moment. It was a rough go, so letʻs move on for the moment.

We will finish up/brush up on mele: Pupu hinuhinu/Ka Huli Aku, E Liliʻu e (both auana and kahiko), and the boys will begin learning their own numbers...specifically, On the Beach at Waikiki and Laupahoehoe Hula.  Iʻd like all of these to be included in their Hoʻike Hula come November 9th. Again, please let me know if you can make this event. If thereʻs anything Iʻd like to have your keiki participate in, it will be this family event.

Me ke aloha pumehana,
Kanani

Upcoming performances

Please see below. If you've already responded, mahalo. If not, please let me know if you would like your keiki to participate. It will depend on the number responses on whether we give it a go. Ho'ike is a big one, and I am hoping most of you can make it if it is set for Nov. 9th.

-Oct. 5th, Pink Outside the Box (Breast Cancer Awareness event): approximate time slot is 5:30pm. We will be dancing at Kadena Chapel 1 in the parking lot. It is a 30 minute show with Hui Nohona Aloha, our sister halau (Aunty Josa's group).

-Oct. 12th, Retirement party for friend of Joie (Tracianne's mom): no costumes necessary. Simply show up in something nice and dance a number or two with Tracianne. :) We'll keep it informal.

-Nov 2nd, Special Olympics on Kadena: approximate show time is between 1:30pm and 3:30pm.  Open to beginners.

-Nov 9th, Ho'ike Hula: All haumana (students) will perform past and present mele and hula learned throughout their studies as well as spend quality play time with their hula brothers and sisters, hula moms, and hula dads. All families welcome but RSVP highly recommended.  Located  near Kadena Elementary School.

-Nov 17th, White Beach: no details yet

-December: We usually hold a holiday party at some point during the season. I would love for your keiki to dance and for your 'ohana to come and enjoy, especially if they cannot make it to the ho'ike. I will send out a date as soon as we begin planning.

Hopefully this is all. My original plans were to focus more on just teaching and less on performance, so please do not feel obliged to participate in any of these (except Ho'ike :D).  Mahalo!

Sep 24 Classes Cancelled!

It's Hunny Girl's birthday, and this will be the first in years that her dad's been home. Yay!

Classes for that evening are rescheduled for the following Tuesday.  There are 5 Tuesdays in October. Normally, I'd take off one of those days.  We will instead have class on all 5 Tuesdays.

For the keiki performing for Kariyushi, I will open my house for practice on both this and next Friday.  This Friday, parents, you are welcome to come and work on costumes if you still need work on them. Almost there!  Hiki no!

Mahalo for your understanding,
Kanani

Kariyushi, final line-up/costume check

My sincerest mahalo to you all for all your kokua toward your keiki's outfits and rehearsals. They'll appreciate it...one day. :)

Please check your costumes and begin ironing and setting them in order onto a multi-outfit hanger and/or hangers with clips. Try to be as organized as possible when packing so that we have smooth sailing in the dressing room.  I will be taking the racks to Kariyushi but still do not know how much room we will have.  Please keep everything as compact as possible.

If your tahitian skirts are ready for sewing, please bring them to the studio. We will work on bands and headpieces this week. I ask that if you do not know how/where to pick ti leaf, please join me this week or this weekend so that you can prepare those next Tuesday during  class. I am available from noon on Friday and from 10am on Sunday.

Kariyushi, Onna, September 28 2013

Be there NLT5:00.  Please bring 2 ti leaf leis to give away.
(Line-up changed as of 9/16 @0900. Aunty Josa needed to change Set 2. Please see.)

SET 1.   6:00-6:40pm

1.    Kaua I Ka Nani O Hilo

2.    Ha’a Hula

3.    Little Brown Girl, Little Grass Shack- White top, green skirt, yellow lei & flower

        Kanoe  Kaleo  Reina  Hoku  Nalani  

       Autumn Emily Tracianne  Shayla

4.    Ku’u Ipo I Ka He’e Pu’e One

5.    Na Vaqueros- Black pa’u, black top, choker, red hibiscus

            Junko  Taylor  Kanani  Cindy  Yukino  Shizuka  (V-Shaped)

6.    He U’i 

7.    Waipi’o Memories-  green top,  white bottom,  kukui lei, lei po’o

[“V” shape] Hoku                Nalani                        Kaleo              Reina              Kanoe

                                                  

8.    Heha Waipio 

9.    Kino’ole Fireman’s Ball – keiki kane: black slacks, white long sleeve button up, bowtie; kaikamahine:  party dress, matching flower

                   KK Emily      Tracianne  Autumn              Pili Shayla   

                                           

10. Malama Mau Hawaii

11. Mele ohana-  

(on the island) Kino’ole costume with red lei, white flower; Na Opio: white top, red pa’u, red lei, white flower. All: ti leaf lei as well.

                                                            Kanani 

                                                Kaleo              KK 

                                    Reina Tracianne    Shayla      Emily

                        Nalani                 Hoku         Autumn          Pili      Kanoe

AUNTY GWEN- Please bring ti leaf lei for me & Ku’ulei.

           BREAK- TIME TO EAT!  Keiki, change into comfortable clothes, not costumes.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

SET 2  8:00-8:40

1.   Alu Like-  white top, own pa'u, matching accessories. Boys: black slacks, aloha shirt, matching lei

                  Hoku      Emily     Shayla     Tracianne     Kanoe

      Nalani          Pili         Reina       Kaleo             KK       Autumn

2.   Ka ‘a ahi Kahului

3.   Ulupalakua

4.   Aloha Ia O Waianae

5.   Waikaloa – White top, white bottom, pink lei, pink flower

                  Hoku   Reina   Kanoe   Kaleo  Nalani

6.    Ka Nani A’o Ka’u

7.    Nani Wai’ale’ale

9.    Keiki Tahitian- Paea – black tank top, white Tahitian skirt, yellow overlay, red band, red headpiece, 3 shell lei.  Keiki kane: khaki shorts, red material, yellow chest and legs

1. Tracianne     Emily    Autumn 

2. Pili      Shayla   KK 

3. Kanoe Nalani   Hoku

4. Reina  

5. Kaleo  

(After pau, please give them ti leaf lei to wear/give away at end.  Kaleo, please bring my lei.)

10.  Wahine solo Tahitian- own costumes.

    Taylor  Ku’ulei  Kayla   Kanani

11. Wahine Tahitian finale-  new otea amore

           Taylor    Ku’ulei   Kayla   Kanani 

12. Hawaii Aloha- Backstage Moms, please join us outside for Hawaii Aloha.

Give lei away :D  PAU !  MAHALO A NUI LOA KAKOU!!!

Kariyushi Performance Notes

Howzit kakou!

Quick reminder that I'm available for extra practice today and tomorrow (thur, fri) for extra practice after school till about 4:30. Parents, you are welcome to come earlier to work on costumes. Simply text me. Black tank tops for tahitian can also be found at the BX. 

Saturday rehearsal at 0900. Please do not bring siblings; studio will be crowded. I will be leaving by 1100.  If we need more practice after Saturday's rehearsal, we can do a 10am session on Sunday and again Tuesdays at 4pm before regular practice. Please leave a comment below if you cannot make it to any one of these extra practices.  Mahalo.

I know tahitian costumes are kicking our 'okole right now, but it'll be worth it in the end. ☺

As a recap, please follow these instructions for the tahitian skirt:
1. Measure hip for braid, and add at least 6 inches for overlap/fastener
2. Measure white tape from hip to floor. Ankle is fine, but floor is better and can be trimmed
3. Two strands each, so they are all the same. Don't forget to pull and straighten while attaching to braid
4. I will then need you to weave another tape (double the width of the skirt) from one end to the other
    a. Measure double the width of the skirt and grab the halfway point.
    b. Tie a knot at right end, and begin taking each set if strands and weave. See photo or see me. :)
5. Only after the weave is done can I sew material onto it to make a band.
6. Finally, I will return the skirts to you for you to attach Velcro and hooks so they stay at the hip.
7. Please have your keiki practice with them regularly to  ensure correct measurements and wear.
8.  We will work on the red bands next and make a decision to use the red tassels now or later.

Good luck and see you all soon!