Na Kupuna o Moana o Molokai Win Hula Contest
Community Contributed
By Kim Markham
Celebrate Molokai! Na Kupuna o Moana are the overall winners of the 38th annual Kona Kupuna Hula Contest held Sept. 11-12. This contest is the sister competition of the Merrie Monarch, the world championships of hula. Both contests were founded by Kumu Hula George Na’ope. The latter is for hula dancers under age 55 and the former for dancers over age 55.
The senior division of Moana’s Hula Halau was founded by Kumu Hula Moana Dudoit and Raquel Dudoit. When they began over 25 years ago, the dancers were in their 50s and 60s. Kumu Hula Kanani Brighter led the kupuna until his passing in the year 2000.…