"Na
Kumu Kahi Pohana Hanohano" |
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February 22, 2003 |
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Aloha Mai! We presented the Halau's 1st Ho`ike, "Na Kumu Kahi Pohana Hanohano: Honoring the First Phase Works of Kumu", back in February, 2003. I presented 4 of my students who are on a journey to become a Kumu Hula. They have successfully completed the first phase toward this goal, and we celebrated through hula, song and dinner. Plus, we were blessed to have the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar music of George Kahumoku, Jr and Daniel Ho to share in our celebration! My legacy of hula comes down from a Hawaiian man named Kahu Hienie :"Haina Kalehualaha`ole Blaisdell", (B. Moloka`i, Hawaii 6-13-10, D. Oxnard, California 8-17-84). He is fondly remembered as "Tutu". I studied hula under him for 4 years (1975-1979). |
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He taught hula the old way - no papers, just watch, remember, listen and learn. He also taught Hula Kahiko, `Auana, Oli, Ho`opa`a, Hawaiian language and history, sewing, lei making and Hawaiian arts and crafts. In the beginning, I had to go to Tutu's home in Oxnard, CA for hula, 5 days a week, after school for 2 hours, and many times on the weekends. Also, I had singing lessons and drama classes. Eventually, the halau was moved to Mawaekamaka Copeland's home, my Kumu Sister, in Port Hueneme, CA. The halau is still open today -28 years.
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On
September 18, 1976, Mawae and I received the prestigious title of Kumu
Hula from Tutu. I told Tutu that I was too young, only 15, to receive
this title. He insisted and said that there was a reason for it. In
April 1977, Mawae and I had participated in our first and last hula
competition, the 14th Annual Merrie Monarch Hula Competition Festival,
as na haumana. We were the first halau outside of the Hawaiian Islands
to enter this hula competition. It was a most memorable experience for
us. After the hula competion, we toured 5 of the Hawaiian islands with
Tutu. In our travels, we were very fortunate to meet `Iolani Luahine;
she was a Great Hula Master.| On June 13, 1998, I had finally opened my halau doors. Why so long? I was busy with college, work, marriage in 1982 to my love, Lowell, Polynesian Revue (1983-1989), and motherhood. Also I did not want to get involved with hula until my daughter was old enough to dance. Finally, Tutu's reason for me to be a Kumu Hula became clear. When I opened my halau doors, it was just about the time when Mawae needed to close her doors due to illness (Mawae's halau was closed for only a short time). I am so lucky to have my Kumu sister still here with me today to share her mana`o and her unconditional aloha. Also, I am fortunate to be part of the Kumu Hula Association of Southern California, "Kulia I Ka Punawai". (An awesome group of Kumu Hula!) |
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Lastly, I am most honored to share the hula legacy of my Kahu and to let you know that Tutu's legacy lives on through myself and my halau, Mawae and her halau and now through my Kumu Kahis. Kumu
Sylvia Puananiha`aheo Edgar |
