18 minute read
Ka Lei Aloha with Kumu Hula Lori Lei
Ka Lei Aloha
with Kumu Hula Lori Lei
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By Nancy S. Kahalewai
“I’m going to dance with them!” Lori Lei
Shirakawa Katahara announced to her mom when she was only four years old, They were watching their family friends at a hula recital, and she started to get up to join them. Her mom literally held her back, explaining that these girls had been practicing for years. “Mom later sent me to Dot’s Dance Studio in Hilo in the mid60s. I danced with Kumu Hula Dorothy Horita for 13 years up until my high school graduation. Aunty Dot learned from Kumu Hula Rose Kuamo‘o,” Lori Lei recalls.
Learning from the Masters
Lori Lei later joined hula master George Lanakilakeikiahialii Naope’s hula studio. “We had weekly hula lessons under the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. The floor was concrete and boy did Uncle George work us! We went home with ‘strawberries’ on our knees and feet from learning hula noho [sitting hula]. Part of our training was performing at the weekly boat shows. We were compensated with fruit punch and cookies, the joy of dancing to a live audience, and the invaluable knowledge shared by Uncle George.” Not only did they experience the depth and discipline of being taught in a coveted hula hālau under strict “old-school” style, but they also learned how to create traditional foliage adornments. They had to make fresh lei every week and new ti leaf skirts about every three weeks for their performances on the SS Independence cruise ship that was docked in
Hilo Harbor. “For ‘auana [modern dances] we picked yellow plumeria flowers to put in our hair and make a lei. For kahiko [ancient dances] we made lei po‘o, ‘ā‘ī and kūpe‘e from mock orange leaves for our head, neck, wrist, and ankles,” Lori Lei remembers. Kumu Hula George Naope, considered an expert in traditional Hawaiian chants and the oral history of the Hawaiian culture, co-founded Hilo’s famous Merrie Monarch Festival. Later, he moved to Kona, where he founded the Hawai‘i Kūpuna Hula Festival. After dancing for Uncle George in the 1980s, and after decades of watching her teach, he honored Lori Lei with a formal palapala (certificate of hula excellence) in 2007. He died in 2009 at the age of 81. While modeling for a local artist’s fashion show, Lori Lei met Kumu Hula Glenn Kelena Vasconcellos, who at the time was creating fabulous hairstyles on the Lori Lei’s first childhood mentor, Kumu Hula Dorothy Horita. photo courtesy of Lori Lei Katahara models right on the runway stage while the show was going on. She joined his hālau and danced in her very first Merrie Monarch hula competition with Halau ‘O Ke ‘Anuenue in 1983. Lori Lei later joined Kumu Hula Rae Kahikilaulani Fonseca’s Halau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani. She was surprised and honored to be chosen as one of his dancers for the 1989 Merrie Monarch hula competition in which they were awarded second place in both the wahine kahiko and ‘auana divisions.
Life in Ka‘ū was in contemplation while tuning his ‘ukulele, repeatedly When she moved to Ka‘ū in 1990 with her family, the plucking G-C-E-A as he absorbed the beautiful scenery. Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation department phoned Lori “Upon returning from his huaka‘i (excursion), he had Lei and asked her if she would teach hula to their seniors. composed his famous mele ‘Ka Nani A‘o Ka‘ū’. If you listen “With the blessings carefully to the from my kumus, I melody, you will began teaching the hear those four kūpuna women at main notes in every the Nā‘ālehu Senior verse of the song! Center.” Upon the That evening, he requests of her surprised Aunt Sarah students to teach and sang it for the their grandchildren first time at their too, she soon had so gathering outside many students that of her home. This she had to create beautiful song has multiple classes blessed many since, based on their and has become the ages. Her following proud ‘anthem’ for had outgrown the people of Ka‘ū.” the center, so the Lori Lei also former Kauaha‘ao fondly recalls that Congregational it was Aunty Hattie Church Hall in Macomber, her Wai‘ohinu became her wise and loving new hula studio. Wai‘ohinu neighbor, At one time, who mentored her Lori Lei had about on profound hula 150 students and and life insights taught hula classes such as, “Always in Wai‘ohinu, Hilo, pule [pray] before Kona, and Waikoloa. a performance.” Today, she teaches She also told her only in Hilo and her traditional tips Lori Lei’s Hula Studio including, “Always has approximately wear a green ti 75 dancers, ranging leaf for protection: in ages from three put a fresh piece to 81 years young. somewhere on your She also teaches body—wear it or weekly hypertension tuck it under your hula classes for Hui clothes if you have Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi. to!” This protective She shared a custom still strongly precious story about prevails in the her days in Ka‘ū, Hawaiian Islands, “While teaching the which is why many song ‘Ka Nani A‘o families grow green Ka‘ū’ to the kūpuna ti plants around their wahine, one of the homes. dancers, Aunty Esther Beck from Maui, ‘Ūniki shared the story One day, Kumu of how that song Rae Kahikilaulani came to be: Uncle Fonseca decided George was visiting Lori Lei with Hula Master George Naope, circa 2005. photo courtesy of Lori Lei Katahara to select his future his Aunt Sarah Ke in ‘ūniki (graduates) to Nā‘ālehu, and she asked him: ‘Keoki, have you seen Palahemo carry on his lineage and legacy as teachers. “Kumu tasked us [a brackish pond in Ka‘ū]?’ Since he hadn’t, Sarah arranged a each to create an ‘oli or mele. I was feeling overwhelmed, so sightseeing trip to South Point with her daughter Esther and I prayed to God to help me. In the middle of the night, I sat Esther’s husband Leighton Beck, showing him the sights of the up, half asleep, and wrote down my thoughts.” As she read southernmost point of the island. All the way, Uncle George it the next morning, she was surprised and realized it was
Hawaiÿi Küpuna Hula Festival first place winners, 1999. photo courtesy of Lori Lei Katahara
divinely inspired. She turned to her friend Kaliko Trapp-Beamer, a master in ‘olelo (Hawaiian language), asking him to please translate it. “And he did. He named it ‘Mele Mahalo,’ which describes a song of gratitude. It is about the true meaning of why I am here, and fulfilling my kuleana as a kumu hula. In the first verse, the line Ka wai a Ke Akua e ola mau nei represents the nurturing and forgiving ‘divine waters of life, forever flowing’. I believe this is God’s gift to all of us, once we accept it.” Lori Lei and five others were chosen on March 24, 2007 at a huge ‘ūniki celebration at Sangha Hall in Hilo. While she did not fully realize it at the time, she was being groomed to carry forth a new life-changing legacy, spreading the aloha spirit to all through hula. She and her fellow ‘ūniki, whom she calls her “hula brothers and sisters,” still share a very strong and special bond. Kumu Rae passed suddenly on March 20, 2010. “Since our kumu passed, we only have each other to call on and support one another.” In preparation for their 25th Anniversary Hō‘ike, she invited her hula brother Kawika Alfiche to teach her students an ‘oli. “We spent a weekend at Kalōpā Park, near where Kumu Rae’s ashes had been scattered. One evening, we had an amazing ‘chicken-skin’ experience while Kawika was teaching us a chant for the occasion in the Hall. He said, ‘Louder! Chant from your na‘au!!’ And we did. Suddenly a folded metal chair leaning up against the wall fell hard and loudly! Kawika immediately responded, ‘Oh, hello Kumu!’ We all felt Kumu Rae was with us. There was no wind and the windows and doors were closed—no way that chair could have fallen!”
Kumu Hula Lori Lei at Lori Lei’s Hula Studio and Waiÿohinu Hula Studio’s 25th Anniversary
Hoÿike, November 14, 2015. photo courtesy of Lori Lei Katahara
E ola mau i ka hula
Lori Lei has recently remarried and lives in Hilo with her husband Cleve, and her sons, Tyler and Noah. Her classes are mostly non-competitive, although the haumana (students) do enjoy being part of Hawai‘i Kūpuna Hula Festival. “My kūpuna enter for the pure love of the hula, and to be with other kūpuna who have become lifelong friends. We don’t go there expecting to win, but are pleasantly surprised when we do. My hula studio is open to everyone, young and old, no matter their capabilities as long as they want to learn hula. All are welcome!”
Hula brothers and sisters of Na Kumu Hula: (L-R) Emery Aceret, Sammye Ann Young, Nahokuokalani Gaspang, Leinaÿala Pavao-Jardin, Lori Lei Shirakawa Katahara, and
Kawika Alfiche. photo courtesy of Lori Lei Katahara KeOlaMagazine.com | January - February 2022
The current youngest keiki class, Papa Pua Liko Lehua, practicing at a Hilo park, October 2021. photo by Nancy Kahalewai
Since the days of dancing on the ships, she always scanned the audience for someone to give her lei to after the performance. “People were always so surprised and grateful!” Today it has become a Lori Lei’s Hula Studio custom for the haumana to give their lei away to someone after their performances. “It’s our way of showing that the aloha spirit still thrives in Hawai‘i. I am thankful and blessed to be a kumu hula and to perpetuate the legacies of my kumu. We are all connected in the divine waters of Life. E ola mau i ka hula!” ■
For more information: 808.938.2394
Featured Cover Artist: Jeannie Garcia
Jeannie Garcia grew up in Pennsylvania and attended York Academy of Arts in York, Pennsylvania. After college, she moved to Southern California and trained at the Mission Renaissance Studios in the traditional methods used by the Great Masters. While she enjoyed living in Southern California for more than 20 years, the beauty of Hawai‘i called her family to Kailua-Kona in 2003. She and her husband, musician Dennis Garcia, raised their two sons here, and are still loving life on the island. Since living in Hawai‘i, Jeannie has attended workshops in oil and outdoor painting, and pastels, which she has been experimenting with recently. In August 2011, Jeannie joined the West Hawai‘i Plein Air Painters group and loved painting outdoors; however, lately her health has limited her ability to join them. She also enjoyed participating in several “Paint-Outs.” In 2014 and 2016 Jeannie participated in the Big Island Plein Air Show at the Wailoa Center in Hilo, and Arts at the Pavilion in Kona in 2015 and 2016. In December 2015 she received best in show for her oil painting Calm and Quiet in the juried Big Island Plein Air Exposition held at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. Jeannieʻs artwork consists of small landscape oil paintings, plein air, studio work, and large scale paintings. She accepts commission requests from clients to paint their favorite locations, which is a great way to preserve their Hawai‘i memories, whether living here or visiting. Her clients overwhelmingly express that she evokes a calming and peaceful emotional response with her paintings. These sentiments are attributed to some of the traditional techniques of the Old Masters, such as an underpainting, and in the color palettes she uses. When asked where she gets her inspiration, Jeannie shares, “As a landscape painter here in Hawai‘i I have an endless supply of wonderful subject matter. For me, the awesome beauty of this island reflects Godʻs artistry. I can clearly see His talent as the Master of Creativity and it is His creativity that inspires me. I am truly blessed to be among those who get to witness and attempt to record His talent.” Jeannieʻs goal in painting is to capture the endless beauty and ever-changing landscape that surrounds her on the rugged and magnificent island of Hawai‘i. Her paintings are on display at the Kohala Coast Fine Art Gallery in Waikoloaʻs Kingsʻ Shops.
For more information: jeanniegarcia.com
Table of Contents Photographer: Kathleen Carr
Kathleen Carr first discovered her passion for photography as fine art while she was attending University of California, Santa Barbara as an art major. She ended up going to Ohio University to get her bachelors in fine art (cum laude) in photography in 1970. Kathleen became a fine art photographer, teacher, author, and a former Polaroid Creative Uses Consultant. Her awardwinning work has been exhibited internationally, purchased for private collections, and has appeared in numerous books and periodicals, including her own four books. She received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in 1991. Kathleen first moved part-time to Hawai‘i Island in 1991, and has been here full time since 2006. Her current passions are digital infrared, color landscapes and nature, photographing and filming dolphins, whales and other life underwater, and the digital darkroom. Kathleen is president and co-founder of South Kona Artists Collective (SOKO) and is participating in their annual artistsʻ studio tour on February 26 and 27, 2022. She is also part of West Hawaii Artists Tribe (WHAT).
Talk Story with an Advertiser
There are lots of reasons that make Hilo’s Maika‘i Veterinary Clinic unique. One is that they treat various small animals, avians, and exotics; another is they are open seven days a week for appointments, with two full-time doctors on staff, and also offer tele-medicine. Dr. Alfred Mina comments, “I started this business to give back to the community I grew up in, by helping both humans and their pets. I have been a veterinarian for 21 years, but in this industry since I was in high school, working for other local veterinarians.” Dr. Mina was born on Kaua‘i and raised on Hawai‘i Island. After graduating from Hilo High School, he obtained a bachelor of science in agriculture and a bachelor of arts in biology at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. In 2000, Dr. Mina graduated with his doctor of veterinary medicine from Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine before heading home to Hilo where he’s been practicing ever since. Dr. Mina’s special areas of interest are emergency medicine, avian and exotic animal medicine, and orthopedic surgery. Although his patients are mostly dogs and cats, he also provides medical care for injured endangered birds and birds of prey of Hawai‘i. Assisting Dr. Mina is Dr. Malia Lyons. Dr. Lyons was born on O‘ahu, raised on Hawai‘i Island, and graduated from Waiakea High School. She originally pursued a degree in agriculture at the University of Hawai‘i, Hilo. Through her college courses she became curious about veterinary medicine, started working with animals, and changed degree paths. Dr. Lyons graduated from Colorado State University of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 2011 and returned home to provide services for her local community. Her interests include internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, and working with livestock. Dr. Mina mentions, “Due to Covid-19 we have had to change our approach to our practice, including using tele-medicine more, offering curbside appointments, and also seeing our clients in clinic.” He projects their clinic will grow in the future, with more associate veterinarians and support staff members, so they can better serve our community. “I am thankful to have a very dedicated staff that sacrifices their work/life balance by working overtime to complete the daily case load with me,” Dr. Mina says. If you need a doctor for your fur family any day of the week, call Maika‘i Veterinary Clinic—their name says it all—they are good!
Maika‘i Veterinary Clinic, LLC 111 E. Puainako St., Ste A-109, Hilo 808.959.2273 maikaivet.com
Talk Story with an Advertiser
Kahu Kahealani Satchitananda is a loving, dynamic woman of power, purpose, passion, prosperity, and inner peace, who imbues the true spirit of living aloha. She is a Hawaiian metaphysical minister, Healy Resonance and Ho‘oponopono practitioner, TimeWaver analyst, consultant, and one of a council of eleven respected elders who were chosen, initiated, and given the sacred duty of offering an ancestral Ho‘omanamana blessing to the world. Kahu Satchitananda was first taught ho‘oponopono by her mother, Aunty Ku‘ualohaemaliakalawaianui and her kupuna, tutuwahine Kawaiolamanaloapa‘akaula, from the island of Moloka‘i. Her very deep love is supporting the healing process for individuals, couples, and parents and children. Her focus is family, business wealth, health, and happiness. Kahu Satchitananda has formal education and degrees from the University of California, Berkeley (1974), University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry (1980), United Church of Religious Science (1980), and International Teaching Order of Science of Mind (1987). She is one of the pioneers in holistic dentistry and yogic psychology. She has researched, studied and performed spiritual practices with kāhuna, mystics, and masters since 1977 as well as studied the five major religions. She is certified in many forms of frequency energy medicine, Reiki, Oneness Diksha Practitioner/Trainer, Mahikari Divine Light, and the Hawaiian Ho‘omanamana Breath of Life. She is a master prosperity teacher trained by Unity minister Edwene Gaines. Kahu has served on the board of directors for Unity of Kaua‘i and is a founding member of Agape International Spiritual Center where she has served many years as codirector of Practitioners Ministry of Prayer and Healing Revealing Services. As the founding CEO of Hale Malamalama Ola Pono Hawaiian Holistic Health and Wellness Center, Kahu performs online Zoom TimeWaver transmissions, coherence healing circles, counseling, and sacred ceremony. She does extensive work with business success, personal stresses, and challenges that Covid lockdowns have placed upon our families financially, mentally, emotionally, and physically. She uses state of art new technology of the Healy Resonance and TimeWaver healing frequencies, getting amazing, immediate, and tangible results. Kahu is accepting new clients and offers phone and Zoom sessions for clients. Call today for a free introductory long distance frequency scan and consultation, offered for a limited time.
Aloha Ia O‘Koa Pa‘a Pono!!! “When We Meet In Love…We Shall Be Whole!!!”
Hale Malamalama Ola Pono Hawaiian Holistic Health and Wellness Center 808.773.3237 thesacredhawaiianway.com
UA MAU KE EA O KA ‘ÄINA I KA PONO.
The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. [Its sustainability depends on doing what is right.] Proclamation by Kona-born King Kamehameha III in 1843. Later adopted as the Hawai‘i state motto.
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