Robert Cazimero’s “Pae ‘Aina (Hawaiian for archipelago) concert yesterday (March 17) was a two-part wonderment, celebrating the splendor of hula kahiko (ancient hula) in the first half, and informal chit-chat plus some hula auwana (modern hula) in the second half.
Cazimero, the kumu hula of Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, was acknowledging the astonishing breadth and roots of male hula and vocalizing, the hallmarks of his gents, at the near sell-out performance at Leeward Community College Theatre.
The opening number: “This Is Our Island Home.”
So, what was on display? Plenty, like the pulse, the professionalism, and the perfection within the halau, reflecting the devotion, the loyalty, the commitment, the camaraderie, and the brotherhood that have been the trademark of Halau Na Kamalei, now in its 49th year of sharing the
mesmerizing and magnificence of hula.
Clearly, Cazimero has shaped and honed his dancers, with choreography and vocals, and the process involves imagination and innovation, with syncopated movement and harmonic singing.
At the launch of the show, the guys rendered “This Is Our Island Home,” which became a medley with “He Aloha Nihoa,” which triggered an island-by-island tour de force, embracing each island with mele, beginning with Kaho‘olawe, Ni‘ihau, Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Lana‘i and Moloka‘I, Maui and the Big Island. With this ‘ohana, no island is left out.
When the company of 20 performs, the spectators have a lot to explore and examine – fingers and hands, feet and legs, arms and knees uniformly perform as one unit; the choreography enables any number of troupers – six, eight, two, four dancers beginning the hula, and two or four or one would easily glide into motion, without skipping a beat. That’s precision.
Hula kahiko — gents dance, kumu Robert Cazimero on pahu.
The lads augment Cazimero’s stint at the piano and pahu (drums), utilizing a number of traditional hula instruments for hula kahiko, like ‘uli ‘uli (percussion gourd), pu ‘ili (bamboo rattle), pu‘ohe (bamboo trumpet) ‘ipu (gourd drum) and kala‘au (rhythm sticks). That’s versatility.
Gunnie, clad in ti leaf skirt and draped in maile, has a solo moment.
As the regular Cazimero viewers know, the gents have nicknames like Bully, Kolohe, Buddy, Gunnie and Puna. There’s even a Brad Cooper in the ranks (he says he’s the original, not the film star) and peers with conventional names, like Nick, Zach, Jonah, Daniel, Parker, and Keola, among others, who emerge and entertain. That’s normalcy.
These guys let their hair down after intermission, in an informal, unscripted, hang-loose segment with panel leaders. Hula brother Manu Boyd had a stint in this section, too. The format was risky, the comments hilarious, the mood spontaneous. That’s humanity.
The finale: Lahela Ka’aihue dances on “Waika.”
Throughout the show, hula sisters like Sky Perkins took the mike to introduce the tour of the archipelago . Another hula sister, Lahela Ka‘aihui joined the company to dance in the finale, “Waika.” That’s fellowship.
Everthing considered, it was a halau of a production…
And that’s Show Biz…