Merrie Monarch~ The Men...

this year there were 11 groups of kane.

The most that there have ever been and they were wonderful.

Robert Cazimero's Men and Waimapuna from the hoike brought tears.

The kane during the kahiko night had people on their feet cheering.

Mark Ho'omalu's men always bring down the house
and this surely did...

Kane style is so different and physical than the wahine, I think that's what makes it so 

dramatic.

funny how everyone checks the program to see when the next kane group is

coming out.

Needless to say well worth it.

Gracious Lady...

Because this year was the 50th anniversary of Merrie Monarch,

Ms. Alama was invited to attend.  She looked so beautiful, gracious and

regal.  She's the only surviving judge from the first MM.

She got the royal treatment for sure.  She and Pua had second row

seats right behind the "Princess" (we thought she should have been in 

the first row).  Tons of people came and chatted with her...and she stayed 

every night until the end!

Makaleka sat up with us and told us about the places they visited during

the day, she even went crafting.

three very gorgeous ladies 

as beautiful inside as they are outside.

Merrie Monarch 2013 Holike...

This year's Merrie Monarch was special because it was the 50th year anniversary.

I had found out in January that Ms. Alama was going so I made my reservations and

went a day early to attend the hoike on Wednesday night.  I've never gone to that before for several reasons...it's open seating because it's free and people wait hours in line to get a seat.

This year I found out a couple of days before that they were charging $5.00 a ticket, so I went to

my source that knows just everyone, the lovely, sweet Grace Antapala.  Needless to say I got a ticket.

Beautiful Grace and her friends

I loved how they all all the former Miss Aloha Hula winners dancing on stage together

There were former winners from many years ago that returned

even some dancers from the very first Merrie Monarch

I loved, loved, loved Robert Cazimero's group

(his hula brothers helped in on stage and he sat in a chair)

their singing brought tears to my eyes

but....the men of Waimapuna brought the house down.
They were wonderful!  They came together again after many years to do this.
It was so touching to see them out there.  There are some well-known kumu and musicians
that were part of this but most are just men coming together for the love of hula.

more of their journey

Yes, hoike was worth it.  I don't think I'll ever forget it.  Glad I was able to go.

Mahalo Grace

I'm Home...

and with a lot of pictures to go through.

Merrie Monarch 2013

was wonderful and full of so many memories!

Off To Merrie Monarch...

Should be fun.

No blogging until I get home.

follow me on Instagram janemoysa

Treasures...

these two living treasures are gracing the cover of 

Hana Hou!, the Hawaiian Airlines inflight magazine.

We knew there was going to be an article, but were so happy

to see them on the cover.

I'm glad that they're being honored lately, so that people can

see how wonderful they are.  

Miss Alama is as beautiful now as she was in the 1950's when she

graced this album cover.

They both still teach

in their hula studios (old style name).  And can put the 

fear of God into me, even now.  I can hear Aunty Lei counting to her students and

all Miss Alama has to do is give us "that look".    It makes climbing those

31 steps worth it.

Puanani and Leilani Alama,

true Hawaiian treasures!

For the love of hula,

I love you both...

I Love...

poke!

Especially shoyu and onion.

Limu and spicy sometimes.

Just give me regular ahi shoyu and I'm in heaven!

didn't use to see poke on the mainland, always a Hawaiian

thing.  Now I see it a lot served as a pupu...

but still nothing like the really fresh we get here.