2006 Kaua`i Composers Contest Winners

Flores and Aki Top Winners of Kaua`i Composers Contest

Chanel Flores composed the song “Kalalau” that won the Na Po'e (People's Choice) awarded by the audience in attendance at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center Monday night. The Kaua'i Composers Contest and Concert featured thirteen original songs in four categories by composers from Kauai.

Flores was inspired to write about the song because her great grandmother was born in the Kalalau Valley. Judges awarded this song the Commercial Potential award, Best Lyrical Content, and first place in the Contemporary Hawaiian category.

Fred Aki won the Performers award, first place Professional category, and received the award for highest score by the judges for his song “Wailua Nui Hoano” (Great Sacred Wailua). Aki was inspired to write his song by the changes he has witnessed over the last 25 years in the lower portion of the valley where the waters flow into the Pacific Ocean.

Aki's song pays tribute to the history of the Wailua area, and said, “I wonder what it would be like for our kupuna, our ancestors, who lived and walked in this valley contrasted with all the construction going on today in this area.” Historical documentation indicates the ancient significance of Wailua is shown through the legends back to the thirteenth century. The Wailua area was one of the most desirable places to live in ancient Hawaii. It was the home of the queens and kings, the alii, of Kaua'i. It was a famous place throughout Hawaii and in parts of Central Polynesia.

Results by category for the Composers Contest from Monday evening September 18, 2006:

Hawaiian Category:

• 1st Place - “Hanama`ulu” by Fran Nestel. Also, the Hawaiian Language award winner
• 2nd Place - “Anahola Kahakai” by Fran Kalb

Contemporary Hawaiian:

• 1st Place - “Kalalau” by Chanel Flores, Cheryl Paogofie, Nic Kaneakua, Malia Rogers, Omi Kaiwi

• 2nd Place - “Mana” by Chanel Flores, Cheryl Paogofie, Alia Fernandez, Omi Kaiwi

• 3rd Place - “Na Leo Nahenahe O Kaua'i” by Madelein Brandli & Arnold Meister

Open Category:

• 1st Place - “I Will Hold Your Hand” by Madeleine Brandli

• 2nd Place -”Breathe” by Laurie Williams

• 3rd Place - “The Best Love” by Laurie Williams

Professional Category:

• Winner – “Wailua Nui Hoano” by Fred Aki

SPECIAL AWARDS:
Commercial Potential - “Kalalau” by Chanel Flores, Cheryl Paogofie, Nic Kaneakua, Malia Rogers, Omi Kaiwi

Lyrical Content - “Kalalau”  by Chanel Flores, Cheryl Paogofie, Nic Kaneakua, Malia Rogers, Omi Kaiwi

Performers Award - “Wailua Nui Hoano” by Fred Aki

Highest Score – “Wailua Nui Hoano” by Fred Aki

Na Po`e Award - “Kalalau”  by Chanel Flores, Cheryl Paogofie, Nic Kaneakua, Malia Rogers, Omi Kaiwi

Sponsors to be acknowledged for this event include:

~A&B and Kukui`ula Development donated $1,000 each.

~Ned Selfe donated $100 for Hawaiian Language & $100 for Highest Score

~Kustom Sounds Kauai (Michael Dandurand) donated $150 for Professional

~Kauai Beach Hotel and Resort – room donation

Awards and Bowls for the event were provided by other donations to the Kauai Mokihana Festival.

The week long festival is sponsored in part by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the County of Kauai Office of Economic Development. The festival continues with cultural workshops, hula and events occurring daily through the week ending Saturday, Sept. 23. To find out more about the Kaua`i Mokihana Festival, email KMFKauai@hawaii.rr.com or visit http://mokihana.kauai.net

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NOTE: Kauai Mokihana Festival photos available for publicity – Joe Olivas photographer
email: bain@kauai.net or Joe Olivas - joe.olivas6@hawaiiantel.net

Three Cultural Workshops - THEME: Sacred Sites of Kauai

Kaua`i Mokihana Festival
THEME: 2006 Year of Kaua'i Sacred Sites
is pleased to present 3 cultural events in association with:

The Ka`ie`ie Foundation
Keepers of Ancestral Inspired Education – an Institute for cultural Excellence
4-941 Kuhio Highway PO Box 1261 Kapa`a, Kaua`i Island, Hawai`i 96746 808.821.2070 www.kaieie.org
A Native Hawaiian Non-Profit Organization Supporting the Perpetuation of Customary Practices and Art Forms through Cultural Education Opportunities

Kaua`i Sacred Sites Huaka`i Fact Sheet
Unique Cultural Learning Excursion Programs
2006 Kaua`i Mokihana Festival

WORKSHOP #1 - Journey of the Legends of Ha`ena

This huka`i will focus upon traditional Hawaiian sites found on the north end of Kaua`i Island. Fascinating mo`olelo or oral traditions provide the basis of unique experiences that tell of ancient chiefs, gods and goddesses, ancient hula practices, spirituality and more. Inspired by countless chants and hula that have been orally transmitted from one generation to the next, the significance of these wahi kapu (sacred places) and wahi pana (celebrated places) continue to resonate today. Hawaiian protocol and practices are shared and expanded upon, along with the fascinating history, events, legendary personages and details of the primary functions of each of the sites. Sites that may be visited, viewed or elaborated upon include: Kilauea Crater, Halele`a, Hihimanu, Namolokama, Kaliko, Mamalahoa, Wai`oli, Waipa, Makahoa, Lumaha`i, Kealahula, Maniniholo Cave, Manoa, Naue, Wainiha, Na Pohaku O Piliwale, Pohakuloa, Pohakuakane, Limahuli, Waiakapala`e Cave, Waiakanaloa Cave, Makana, Ka Pali `Oahi O Makana, Kili`oe, Maunahou, Ka Ulu A Paoa Heiau Hula and Ke Ahu A Laka.

• Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 Location: Prince Clubhouse, Princeville at Hanalei
• Time: Check-in from 8a to 8:30a
• Huaka`i will depart promptly at 8:30am
• Duration: 8:30am to 1pm
• Cost: $55 per person – includes air-conditioned transportation from check-in location, all activities, lunch and refreshments
• Reservations: Space is limited and reservations required. Call 821-2070 or log on to www.kaieie.org

WORKSHOP # 2 - LECTURE: Temples for the Dance

Origins of Kaua`i’s Hula Traditions
Presented by Kehaulani Kekua, kumu hula
Halau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai

Hula is steeped in Hawaiian spirituality and belief. It was prevalent in the highest levels of temple ceremony and functions of archaic worship. Ka Ulu A Lono and Ka Ulu A Paoa are attributed as two of Kaua`i’s most prominent heiau that were fundamental in the primal establishment of hula as a spiritual practice and religious order. Through the sharing of illuminating histories and profiles of legendary figures and hula masters associated with these heiau, we will take a look at the ancient processes that shaped Kaua`i’s sacred hula traditions. How did these sites function in times past? What are the benefits of maintaining the cultural integrity and knowledge of these places? Our goal is to stimulate plateaus of hula consciousness by looking at the very basics of long standing rituals and rites, choreography and cultural routines that were established by our ancestors of long ago.

• Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2006
• Location: Kauai Community College – Technology Center
• Time: 7 pm to 9 pm
• FREE
• Duration: 2 hours
• Cost: Free– but space is limited – first come first seated

WORKSHOP #3 - Ka Huaka`i i Wailuanuiaho`ano

This huaka`i or Hawaiian cultural learning excursion highlights various cultural sites within the traditional ahupua`a of Wailua. Known poetically as Wailuanuiaho`ano or the “Great Sacred Wailua”, it was once the major center of political and spiritual activities on Kaua`i in ancient times. Created with the objective of preserving the Hawaiian practice of mo`olelo or storytelling through oral traditions, verses of a Hawaiian chant represent the various cultural sites visited on this unique cultural learning excursion. Hawaiian protocol and practices are shared and expanded upon, along with the fascinating history, events, legendary personages and details of the primary functions of each of the sites. Sites that may be visited, viewed or elaborated upon include: Hikinaakala Heiau, Hauola Heiau, Na Ki`i Pohaku (Petroglyph Stones), Kukui Heiau, Mahunapu`uone, `Alio, Malaeha`akoa Heiau, Holoholoku Heiau, Pohaku Ho`ohanau, Pohaku Piko, Nounou, Poliahu Heiau, Wai`ale`ale, Mauna Kapu, Kalehuawehe, Ka`ohala, Maka`iwa, Kuamo`oloaakane and more…

• Date: Thursday, September 21, 2006
• Location: Lydgate Park Main Pavilion

• Time: Check-in from 8am to 8:30 am

• Huaka`i will depart promptly at 8:30a

• Duration: 8:30am to 1pm

• Cost: $55 per person – includes air-conditioned transportation from check-in location, all activities, lunch and refreshments
• Reservations: Space is limited and reservations required. Call 821-2070 or log on to www.kaieie.org