May 2005

Hapa Haole Hula May Day 20005 Press Release

To: ALL MEDIA PRESS RELEASE – May 2, 2005
From: Kaua`i Mokihana Festival - Contact: Nathan Kalma 808-822-2166 Event Coordinator
PR Contact: Carol Bain 246-2111 bain@kauai.net

Watanabe Wins Hapa Haole Hula 2005 Solo
(Photo of Yumi Watanabe below)

Dancing to the upbeat tempo of “Kuhio Beach Mele”, Yumi Watanabe won first place business solo in 2005 Hapa Haole Hula May Day at Radisson Kaua`i Beach Resort Saturday, April 30, sponsored by Ke`ala O Ka Laua’e Halau Hula. The award for best musical performance was won by the group Na Punua O Kaua'i.
As always, event coordinator Nathan Kalama created audience participation, assigning visitors from the Netherlands, Japan, Canada and the mainland to be honorary May Day King, Queen and Princesses for a day. These delighted, honorary ali`i awarded Karlyn Sukehira their “people’s choice award for the best hula danced to “Beautiful Kaua’i”. Sukehira also won the Hotel Solo first place.
“Hapa haole music and hula is usually upbeat and lighthearted but sets a demanding pace to dance to,” Kalama explained. “It takes stamina, fitness and much practice to perform the dancing well, often for long duration. This is the popular music visitor’s love, and the performers that work so hard to professionally entertain are given the acknowledgement they deserve at this event.”
In the business group category, sponsored by Anuenue Wireless, Inc., Aunty Beverly Apana Muraoka led the Healani’s Hula Halau & Music Academy dancers to first place dancing to “Coconut Island”. A syncopated version of “Sophisticated Hula” brought Rohutu Entertainment second place.
Continuing in the business solo category, sponsored by Gaylord’s Kilohana Luau, Monica Maycong won 2nd place. Naomi Navarro won 3rd place sponsored anonymously. Rohotu Entertainment sponsored Veronica Pablo and Nicole Balbarino. Kauaian Days sponsored Heu`ionalani Bandmann..
The event was a fundraiser for Kaua`i Mokihana Festival and Hawaii Hotel Association Charity Walk (Saturday May 21, 2005). Sponsors include: Hawai`i Tourism Authority, County of Kaua`i Office of Economic Development, WalMart, Radisson Kaua`i Beach Resort. Many local businesses contributed, including: Hanalei Bay Resort, Kenui Aloha Lei Greeters, T&R Trophies, Lady Ipo Ferreira. ###
Kauai Mokihana Festival Website>

Miz Kaua`i Tita 2005

To: ALL MEDIA PRESS RELEASE – Updated 2 p.m. April 30, 2005
From: Kaua`i Mokihana Festival
PR Contact: Carol Bain (808)246-2111 bain@kauai.net

After the last pupu was tasted by the judges and the last sticky poi ballot was counted by the auditors, Chanelle Flores began her reign as Miz Kaua`i Tita 2005 waving to her fans who packed the Jasmine ballroom at the Radisson Kaua’i Beach Resort Friday night. Seven contestants with “tita-tude” battled for the honor, though da kine competition was rough. Thanks to excellent security this year, only minor bruising and poi throwing occurred (nah--just kidding).

Should the winner not be able to fulfill her duties as Miz Kauai Tita during the year, these contestants will try to fill her size ten shoes in the following order: Camae Trinque is 1st runner-up; Leina’ala Olivas is 2nd runner-up; Nai`a (Vicente) Finch is 3rd runner-up. Other worthy contestants included: Tavina Butac-Smith, Roberta Fernandez and Mikala Shofner.

New categories were introduced this year, as the judges wanted more than the usual conch-shell blowing and naughty hula. This year, each tita had to perform under pressure by creating a lei on stage in four minutes “Outta Da Bag”. The Bump & Grind talent portion was expanded to allow any unique demonstration of skill, including a martial arts demonstration by Mikala Shofner, and Camea Trinque crocheted a beanie while using three hula hoops(you had to be there). The audience sang along with Leina’ala Olivas as she strummed ukulele to “Hotel California”.

The poi-eating contest proved more difficult than expected when each was given a one-pound bag and told to “Eat as much as can in three minutes.” Those who applied the technique of tearing a hole in one bottom corner and sucking noisily were most successful. It was no surprise that more than one contestant began to throw poi at a neighbor. After the three-minute signal, one contestant was still hungry and would not stop eating. “Don’t come between a tita and her poi,” she snarled. Security, in the form of an impressive tita bouncer, Kamaile, was called in at that point and the contestants calmed down.

The sticky situation did not faze the master of ceremonies, Maka Herrod aka “Boomshakalaka Tita”, who kept a strong handle on the agenda, scolded both contestants and audience equally, and sparred jibes with ease. He was assisted by event coordinator Jodi Omo.

The Grab & Grind category challenged the contestants to create the best pupu snack. The combination of beef jerky, sweet li hing mui, pumpkin seed, shredded soft, hot ika, spam, roasted peanuts and Vienna sausage, mochi, wonton chips, nori maki arare rice crackers got everyone’s mouth watering.

All contestants were entertaining, refreshing and honest with their definitions of “what it means to be a tita” and some told jokes to make your hair curl. Each demonstrated the right attitude, style and self-confidence of a tita, and all spoke from the heart.

Though some may have blown better conch than Chanelle Flores, it was the original composition “Good Morning Sunshine” performance that put her over the top. The audience gave Flores a standing ovation. Many were jealous and wanted to scratch her. Three judges, Sandy Swift, Kevin Kenui Kasparovitch and Aunty Leimomi Hee worked with diligence to determine the winner and runners-up. Last year’s Miz Kauai Tita winner, Pa’ula Chandler, arrived from ‘Oahu in time to pass the crown to a deserving title-holder for 2005, Chanelle Flores. Duties of the 2005 Miz Kaua`i Tita include riding in the upcoming Kamehameha Parade, and generally being a tita all year long. “No problem,” Flores said, “I have a big heart; but don’t mess with me or else!”

The event was a fundraiser for Kaua`i Mokihana Festival and Hawaii Hotel Association Charity Walk (Saturday May 21, 2005). Sponsors include: Hawai`i Tourism Authority, County of Kaua`i Office of Economic Development, WalMart, Radisson Kaua`i Beach Resort, and many local businesses who contributed. Contestants received beautiful Hawaiian gold or silver jewelry from Don’s Camera & Jewelry, or prizes from South Pacific Galleria, Ching Young Store, Dukes, JC’s Flowers, Hula Moon, Kruzin’ Kaua`i, Island Sandals, Tax Store, Kauai Critters, Visions of Aloha, Hawaiian Paradise Flowers, The Shak, Mamo Arruda, Keoki’s, Goddess Drums, Sheena’s Gift Lines, Flip Art, Cruising Kauai Anchor Cove, Polynesian Café, Value Creation Marketing. ###