HAWAIIAN CULTURE HIGHLIGHTS WEEKEND CELEBRATION AT POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER

La'ie - January 22, 2005 - The Hawaiian culture was on full display this weekend at the Polynesian Cultural Center's 14th Annual Hawaiian Festival. The unique cultural celebration began on Friday night with a special concert featuring the legendary Aunty Genoa Keawe and the Makaha Sons. Then hula took center stage on Saturday with the Moanikeala Hula Festival.

"This festival is so special for us because we get to show appreciation for our host culture and share it with many others who love it so much," said Kumu Hula Keith Kalanikau Awai, director of cultural presentations at the PCC. "Plus, Aunty Genoa's return to her childhood home of La'ie for this concert was a real treat. We are honored she joined us to perform for the first time at PCC."

Dancers from seven halau participated in the annual festival on Saturday honoring one of hula and La'ie's greatest treasures, the late Aunty Sally Wood Nalua'i. The festival welcomed dancers young and old for a showcase of 'auana-style hula.

Participating halau this year were:

· Ka Pa Nani O Lilinoe (Kumu Hula Lilinoe Lindsey)
· Joan S. Lindsey Hula Studio (Kumu Hula Joan S. Lindsey)
· Haere Mai School for Dance (Dance Instructor Marjorie Kalama)
· Halau Hula O Kekela (Kumu Hula Kela Miller)
· Halau Kawaipuilani (Kumu Hula Keith Kalanikau Awai)
· Hui Park Hula Studio (Kumu Hula Coranne Park-Chun)
· Halau Hula Olana (Kumu Hula Olana and Howard Ai)

Newcomers to the festival this year were Haere Mai School for Dance from Kapolei and Halau Hula O Kekela from La'ie. Each halau chose a theme of their own to share with the crowd of nearly 1,500 people in the PCC's majestic Pacific Theater. Halau Hula O Kekela showcased a family tradition with grandmother, daughter and child performing together on stage. Halau Kawaipuilani mixed it up by performing a few kahiko in an all 'auana program. Then the stage filled with more than 100 dancers during the final group, Halau Hula Olana, as they danced a medley paying tribute to King David Kalakaua.

Aunty Sally Wood Nalua'i contributed greatly to teaching hula in La'ie. She was the PCC's first hula instructor when it opened in 1963 and continued until 1980 when she retired to serve as a consultant until she passed away in 2001. Her niece, Sunday Mariteragi, is credited with inspiring the creation of the competition.

Once a PCC dancer herself, Mariteragi(at her aunt's urging)began teaching keiki hula in 1981. Two years later, she was invited to hold lessons at the PCC. It proved to be a delight for visitors and led to the start of the competition. Mariteragi's keiki hula halau, Napuananionapalionako'olau, participated in the festival through accompanying the Makaha Sons and Aunty Genoa during Friday's concert.

Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 31 million visitors, while preserving and portraying the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance to 14,000 young people from over 70 different countries while they attend Brigham Young University-Hawai'i. As a non-profit organization, 100 percent of PCC's revenue is used for daily operations and to support education.

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