Monday, April 20, 2009

Keeping ancient hula tradition alive


The stories of creation, of great loves, and honored chiefs are handed down in kahiko, the art of hula done in time honored ways. Deborah Doody, a hulu kumu, embodies the spirit of old Hawaii. She sings the chants with a powerful voice and keeps the drum beat solid for young dancers who will carry on the sacred dance of the Hawaiians designed to pull mana, or spiritual power, from the heavens.

In her second formal Ho’iki held in Torrance, California in April 2009, she asks us to listen to the stories. My favoarite dance was for Kamehameha and Ka'ahumanu, his favorite wife, the inspriation for my novel-Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii.

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