Haele Lua

Halau Hula o Kukunaokala News Release

Founded by the late Kumu Hula John Ka‘imikaua and the Molokai Visitors Association, the Molokai Ka Hula Piko festival continues its purpose of celebrating the birth of hula on the island of Molokai. The name itself is an ancient saying that praises Molokai as the center of hula – telling us that it is here that hula began.

According to the ancient traditions of pre-Western Molokai, hula began with the La‘ila‘i family who lived in Maunaloa, in the district of Ka‘ana on the hill Pu‘u Nana about 900 AD. It is from this ‘ohana that Kapo‘ulakina‘u and Laka descend.  The rest of this moʻolelo will be told at the huakaʻi on Thursday, May 31.  Be sure to meet us at 8:30 a.m. along Maunaloa Hwy. heading West, past the airport.  We will all go up to Pu‘u Nana where our hula story originates.

From its beginning Ka Hula Piko festivities were focused around a central theme inspired from an ancient saying or proverb from Molokai.  In keeping with tradition, this year’s theme is “Mai Ka Na‘au Kuhohonu – from deep within,” a theme we will share more about in our next article, so stay tuned.

Last year’s theme “Haele Lua – the call of two,” focused on unity in purpose.  The ancient inhabitants of the Hawaiian islands were deeply connected to their surroundings.  They lived in harmony with Akua by maintaining balance with the ‘aina. Together ‘aina and kanaka are unified partners in creation, preservation and restoration of all things physical and spiritual.

This principle of Haele Lua is recorded and shared in many of the mo‘olelo, oli and hula throughout the islands. On Hawaii, Pele and her sister Namakaokaha‘i are both keepers of two opposing elements, yet they serve the same purpose to create new land. On Molokai, Ha‘a, the whirlwind goddess, and Ualena, a yellow rain, were significant in ancient times for a good harvest of ʻuala.  Women had the kuleana to prepare the sweet potato fields for planting.  Preparations began with a sacred ceremony, and when the planting of ‘uala was complete it was said, “haele lua o Ha‘a me ka Ualena.” This meant that Ha‘a and Ualena would travel by twos across the fields, which was a ho‘ailona that the harvest would be abundant.

For more information about this year’s event please visit kahulapiko.com.