MAKAHA SONS RETURN AS HIGHLIGHT OF POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER'S ANNUAL HAWAIIAN FESTIVAL

Moanikeala Hula Festival Debuts in its New Month of January

Laie ­ December 21, 2004 ­ The Makaha Sons return to the Polynesian Cultural Center for E Luana Kakou III on Friday, January 21 as part of the weekend celebration featuring the Hawaiian culture. The festival culminates on Saturday, January 22 with the annual Moanikeala Hula Festival debuting in its new month.

"We decided to move the Moanikeala Hula Festival to January to partner it with the Makaha Sons concert," said Ellen Gay Dela Rosa, senior manager of special events and promotions at the PCC. "It really gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to our host culture by highlighting two key elements integral to Hawaiians ­ song and dance."

Traditionally held in August, the Moanikeala Hula Festival has moved to January to complement the Hawaiian spirit that kicks off the year with the Makaha Sons concert. The festival is an annual tribute of song and dance in honor of the late Aunty Sally Wood Naluai, who was a renowned kumu hula from the PCC that did much to perpetuate the teaching of hula at the PCC. Wood Naluai was the PCC's first hula instructor when it opened in 1963 and continued until 1980, after which she was a consultant until she passed away in 2000. Her niece, Sunday Mariteragi, initiated the keiki hula competition after years of teaching hula in Laie.

More than seven hula halau from across Oahu are scheduled to participate. The festival, which started more than 14 years ago, has grown to become a special gathering of hula enthusiasts sharing their craft.

The weekend's festivities kick off at 7:45 p.m. on Friday with the Makaha Sons concert in the Hale Aloha Theater. This is a repeat of the annual concert that has become a North Shore tradition since it began 3 years ago. Then hula fills the stage of the Pacific Theater starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning as the halau come together to showcase their unique styles and talents.

Tickets are just $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for keiki (children) ages 3-11, and PCC kamaaina annual pass holders get in free. Call 293-3333 for more information or to book reservations. Visit www.Polynesia.com to learn more about what's new at the PCC.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-Hawaii. As a non-profit organization, 100 percent of PCC's revenue is used for daily operations and to support education.