|
|
Dancing in the Sea of Life
Halau i Ka Pono Hula Newsletter May 2012 | |
Uwe ka lani, ola ka honua.
When the sky weeps, the earth lives.
When it rains the earth revives.
| 'Olelo No'eau - Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings, #2888
Collected, translated and annotated by Mary Kawena Pukui |
|
|
|
April and May showers make all of our plants plump and happy here in Oak Park. Our front yard is filled with beautiful bushes - many of them round - slowly but surely growing. The trees look magnificent again - all decked out in their new green finery. And you should see the backyard. My peony plants overflow with luscious buds - soon to pop with fragrance and bright colors - some as high as my shoulder! We had a wonderful hula workshop this past weekend. We learned and reviewed Kumu Hula (master teacher) Michael Pili Pang's two hulas that he taught at the end of March. We'll be performing the classical hula kahiko (ancient) Nani Wale No Pele I Ka Lua (Beautiful Art Thou O Pele of the Pit) with two local hula troupes at the upcoming Old Town School of Folk Music's Festival of Aloha on May 24th at 7:30 pm. This hula, in the collection of Mary Kawena Pukui, is for the Volcano Goddess Pele and speaks about her beauty, "glowing red before the face of the clouds." Pele is a metaphor for the creative principle in Hawaii - particularly the creation of volcanic land. The chant also speaks of love for her and her youngest sister, Hi'iakaikapoliopele (light-bearer cradled in the bosom of Pele). Spring and summer particularly remind me of Hi'iaka with the new growth of plants after a barren winter. Hi'iaka causes the plants to grow on the new lava. Kumu Michael brought with him the lacy fern pala'a (Sphenomeris chinensis) for me to wear in our performance. Pala'a, among the first plants to grow on the fresh lava, is the kinolau (plant form) of Hi'iaka. It's such an honor and thrill for me to work with these Hawaiian plants. To wear them is to be inspired by Hi'iaka, the Patron Goddess of the Hula, and become transformed. Hi'iaka is supposedly the most beautiful of her eight (or more depending upon which source you use) sisters. Puakea Nogelmeier in his book, The epic tale of Hi'iakaikapoliopele. says, "It is said that the rosy glow of this woman's cheeks was like the red nectar of the 'ohelo berry, that her skin was fine like the golden keys of the ripe pandanus, and her whole form was of a precious beauty that would rouse hot surges in the heart of the stronger sex..." But Hi'iaka is not only beautiful physically - there is a depth to her beauty. She has faced many difficult challenges in her life - some of epic proportions - through which she developed fully her characteristics of courage, strength, wisdom and compassion. She has learned hula and healing and helps others like rain helps life on earth - like our tears, that spring forth from great love, help our hearts to heal and breathe again.
Malama pono (take care of body, mind and heart), June Kaililani Tanoue Kumu Hula |
Betsy Puig
Betsy Puig was born in Elkhart, Indiana. She moved to Chicago, on her own, when she was 16 so she could study ballet and theater. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in Liberal Arts. She now owns her own business walking dogs and provides pet care. She is on the Board of Directors of the Hula Association of the Midwest and dances locally with the Aloha Hula Girls. Here's Betsy's hula story.
"I met my husband in college while studying film, we were married right out of school. My first experience of Hawaiian culture was through him and on our honeymoon. His grandfather was Hawaiian/Japanese so the culture was passed down to him through his grandfather and grandmother, who embraced Hawaiian culture. His grandmother even had a shop with jewelry, sculptures and curios called Hawaii Gifts in Lovington, Illinois.
While we were on our honeymoon, I met about ten members of his family in Hawaii. While there, we didn't see any hula. I still don't remember a first time of seeing hula and I'm not sure exactly what drew me toward it. At some point I developed the impression that hula is a part of nature and the hula dancer disappears and becomes the subject about which she is dancing. I wanted to experience that.
I discovered a local hula performance group when one of the owners took my ballet class five years ago. I've been dancing hula ever since. I dance because I love being a part of something bigger than myself. I also enjoy the rich, engaging culture of Hawaii and the challenges that hula entails. The biggest challenge, I find, is being genuine and present in the dance.
I learned about Halau I Ka Pono through the Hula Association. It's an hour and a half trip one way, sometimes more, but I decided I wanted to learn from Kumu June and I feel at home at Halau i Ka Pono. I look forward to performing and learning more as part of Halau i Ka Pono."
|
|
Kokua
Kokua means help aid, relief, and assistance (with a smile!)
We warmly invite your kokua to help enrich the Hawaiian cultural life in Chicago through Halau i Ka Pono. Your contributions of time and money will make a difference in our growing halau.
The Margaret Tanoue Scholarship Fund for students dedicated to learning the hula but are short on funds is a wonderful way to give. Contribute online or via snail mail. All gifts are tax-deductible and so appreciated! Halau i Ka Pono 163 N Humphrey Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 Volunteer opportunities include helping to plan and implement different events. To volunteer, call or email Kumu June at 708-445-1651. Mahalo Nui Loa! Thank You Very Much!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
