Event helps cultural traditions ‘prevail’

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LAHAINA - Even in these hard economic times, Crystal Alboro of the LahainaTown Action Committee says it remains important to put on events like the annual hoolaulea that perpetuate the Hawaiian culture.

"Cultural traditions have to prevail or else we'll totally lose it," she said at the 21st hoolaulea held underneath the wide, embracing branches of the Lahaina Banyan Tree on Saturday.

Alboro, the event director, said that the event also needed to share the culture with tourists, coming at a time when cultural events are being threatened by budget cuts.

Saturday's event featured hula, Native Hawaiian games, crafts and local food including imu-cooked kalua pork sandwiches and shaved ice.

Although Alboro noticed crowds Saturday were down from last year's hoolaulea, she said the slowing economy is "more reason" to put on an event.

She said the food, music and cultural activities give everyone an emotional boost.

Alboro was awaiting the falsetto singers who were scheduled to go on stage later in the day. "That is always uplifting."

Funds raised from Saturday's event will go to support Native Hawaiian curriculum programs at Maui County schools as well as to support the LahainaTown Action Committee's continuing promotional events.

Alboro said she hoped that in the future she could bring more vendors to the one-day activity, as the Cultural Resources Commission has limited the number of vendors underneath the banyan tree.

Two women with 'O Hina I ka Malama, the Hawaiian Language Immersion program at Molokai High School, agreed with Alboro that events such as the hoolaulea are important.

"It represents the culture of Hawaii. We need to share the manao (belief, thought)," said Rennie Kapuni, who was accompanying the dancers from the school.

She said it is important to reinforce the Hawaiian culture. "It's depleting if you look around us," she said. "We need to teach the next generation how important it is to come together as one ohana."

"It's very, very important," said Kapuni's daughter-in-law, Leimana Ritte-Camara, who was sewing plumeria lei for the dancers.

Halelu Sibayan, a Molokai High senior, who was preparing to take the stage Saturday, said it was "awesome" to be at the event and said it is a responsibility to share the Hawaiian language and values.

Students and staff from King Kekaulike High School's Hawaiian Language Immersion program, Kula Kaiapuni O Kekaulike, were busy perpetuating a different aspect of Hawaiian culture.

The students set up various Hawaiian games including 'ulu maika, where a stone is rolled in between two poles; and uma, or hand wrestling.

Pulama Collier, a state Department of Education resource teacher for the Hawaiian Language Immersion program who was assisting with the Kekaulike booth, said the students are able to interact with the tourists and walaau (converse) with others about the Hawaiian language at the hoolaulea.

The visitors at Saturday's event appreciated the cultural touch.

"We love it. Do it more," said Bjarne Kristiansen of Seattle. "It's nice to see them bring back the heritage."

His wife, Jan, said the hoolaulea is a good alternative to Lahaina's commerce. "There is only so much you can shop," she said.

Lisa Clamp of British Columbia was mesmerized by the hula dancers. "It caught my eye," she said.

Clamp was visiting Maui with James Arnold, who said he thought the hoolaulea was in "a perfect setting," admiring the banyan tree.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.