Aloha kakahiaka e nā hoa aloha o ka lekiū a me nā po'e aloha nui i ka hula! If you missed the Miss Aloha Hula competition of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, you missed out on the some of the most beautiful hula I’ve seen in a long time. We were favored to many traditional interpretations that were simple and simply beautiful. The highlight of the evening was the debut of Hālau Ke'alaokamaile, under the direction of my kumu, Keali'i Reichel. Henohea Kane presented a wonderful interpretation of Maika'i Ka 'Oiwi 'o Ka'ala, a mele that compares Ka'ala mountain on the island of O'ahu to the beauty of a woman. Her dancing was maiau, crisp and clean. Her hula 'auana brought us home to Maui, specifically to Pā'ia and the home of her grandmother, Kamaile Kane in Ka Nohona Pili Kai. Her movements were polished, her steps perfectly executed and her facial expressions allowed the audience to feel her deep love and admiration for her beloved tūtū. Her magnificent performances placed her at the top of the competition and crowned her Miss Aloha Hula 2009, a title Maui has not held since Jody Imehana Mitchell of Pā'ū O Hi'iaka won the coveted title in 1979. Thirty years later, Henohea Kane has brought the title home to Maui. Indeed, the saying is true . . . Maui nō ka 'oi! Ho'omaika'i e Henohea ! Aloha nō, a hui hou.

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