I remember my very first hula competition with Halau Hula Ka No'eau - the 1989 King Kamehameha Hula Competition in Honolulu. I had been part of the Halau for almost a year at that time, and the Halau itself was three years old. My kumu Michael Pili Pang drilled us for our opening chant and hula kahiko (ancient hula) for months until we knew it backwards and forwards. Just eight of us performed the kahiko. We were more excited than nervous and we gave it our all. It wasn't about winning for us. We were happy just to participate and share what we had practiced so diligently. It was a huge surprise when, at the end of of the evening, they announced we had taken third place. I remember being deliriously happy as were my hula sisters. My strong reaction also completely surprised me. My parents were in the audience that evening. Dad came up to me afterward, hugged me and said one of the few compliments that I still remember, "you folks are good, June!" I hadn't really thought about how we looked, only that I loved what I was doing. Our big success was balanced by the next night when we performed our hula auana (modern hula) piece. The pre-performance feelings that night was the total opposite of the previous night. We were all very, very nervous - wanting so much to re-live what we had experienced the night before. But that didn't happen. We did not place at all. My hula sisters and I were very depressed and down in the dumps. And that surprised me as much as the reaction of the previous night. There is a lot to be said for doing something the best you can for it's own sake and not for reward. Easier said than done sometimes, but it's so worthwhile to keep in mind. The olelo no'eau (proverb) above of 'doing good' parallels the second of three Pure Precepts in Buddhist teachings. Norman Fisher's translation of that precept rings deep for me: "I vow to do all action that creates true happiness." What are actions that create true happiness? Is it going shopping? Is it eating a gourmet meal? Is it watching a movie? Is it dancing for senior citizens? Is it cooking and serving meals to people? What about taking care of your body and mind by practicing hula or other forms of movement or stillness meditation? The gathering of the New York City hula 'ohana (hula family) this past September to celebrate the life of our dear hula sister Becky Leialoha Jung provided a remarkable and heart-filling example of action that creates true happiness. It was an event where people who had been touched by Becky naturally came together because they felt her in their pu'uwai (heart). And we saw again, that anything done with love turns out beautifully. No need to think about the outcome - just the need to do it from your heart. Here's a video of us performing Pa Kamakani (Becky's favorite hula) and Pua Mana at the Box in Lincoln Center this past September. Malama pono (take care of body, mind and heart), June Kaililani Tanoue Kumu Hula | 
