Ka ʻAha ʻAilolo a Haʻi (English)

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On the moon phase Hua, in the month Kāʻelo, colleagues and friends had the great pleasure of participating in the ʻailolo ceremony of our dear friend. We were invited by him to bear witness during his expert facilitation of hula tenets and rituals. Although grand hula masters, artisans, and various experts convened to bear witness to his ceremony, it was clear to all of us that he had achieved and been recognized as an expert in 1984 at a private ʻailolo. This second ʻuniki was to renew his commitment and dedication to hula by also bringing in added hula moʻokūʻauhau to his practice.

The assembly gathered in Honohononui and there saw an intensely hued rainbow arching on the slope of Piʻihonua. The Kanilehua rain drizzled that morning, but near noontime the sun broke through and the skies cleared.

The assembly arrived arrayed in master hula finery, artisan finery, feather capes, fancy rope woven attire, and colorful adornments apropos for one’s station. It was as if a rainbow had descended upon the grounds of Pā Hoaka. We waited for noon to arrive. As the clock struck 12, the teachers, masters, artisans, family, and friends of the hula candidate marched towards the prepared area. He was a student of Aunty Edith Kanakaʻole, Aunty Nālani Kanakaʻole, and Aunty Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele.

The hula candidate arrived with his hula attire to don ceremonially in front of the assembly. The fern wristlets, anklets, crown, and neck garlands were all tied and made firm. The forest fragrances of Hilo wafted toward the assembled witnesses. The candidate stood before his kumu adorned in regalia and fragrant lei. The kumu approved, directing him to continue his rituals inside the hālau. The witnesses followed.

The hula ceremony went well – the hālau filled with chanting, ʻawa ritual, and hula. We observed the candidate become the recognized expert of dancing, chanting, and Kumulipo, erupting into loud cheers at the passing of the lama from his Kumu Kanakaʻole to him. The hula master was festooned with lei maile, palapalai, feather lei, shell lei, and more. He looked like a walking hula kuahu in no time. The ceremony concluded with a feast featuring Hilo’s delicacies.

An inquiry, “How was our ceremony?” The assembly replied, “our ceremony was excellent!” Who, you ask, was the graduate? Help me welcome Kumu Hula Kamuela Chun into the puka ma ka lolo echelon. Puka! E ola!