A Long Night of Aloha

,” Kahilihiwa said.

Gloria Marks, another Kalaupapa resident, represented the patients with a ho`okupu for the royal party. Steve Prokop from the National Historic Park and Carol Franko from the Department of Health also presented ho`okupu.

Then the audience was treated to a gift of their own. The men of Na Kane from topside Molokai danced three different hula. They were followed by the wahine of Kalaupapa who danced three more.

“We use to have Aloha Week all the time, but this was best one. It was done the right way; it was traditional and authentic,” said Norbert Pealea, Kalaupapa’s youngest patient.

The patients and their families were all treated to a traditional Hawaiian feast that was prepared by the king himself. Crivello may have been the honored guest, but he still found time to fulfill his regular duties as head cook.

After dinner, two local bands kept the party going long into the night. Molokai’s Raiatea Helm started things off and she was followed by Lindsey & The Vibes. Members of both bands teamed up to keep the crowd dancing well past midnight. The queen herself graced the dance floor on a couple of occasions.

Kaulia said this year’s Night of Aloha almost didn’t happen. The night is usually held in October and would have interfered with some of the events surrounding Father Damien’s canonization.

“I told my friends we might not be able to have it this year, but they said, ‘No, you have to do it,’” Kaulia said. “So the whole community – almost 50 people – helped. I just got the money for it and everyone did their job.”

Kaulia said she hoped to pass the torch next year, but in the end, all of her hard work is well worth it.