Mother's Day and the heart of hula

Mom loved Hawaii. Don Ho was her favorite crooner and woe to us if his song, Lovely Hula Hands, came on the living room stereo. She would break into a hula, her hips swaying gently, hands undulating and a blissful, loving smile would cross her lips. Growing up, I was mortified. Today as Mother’s Day approaches, I miss her smile and cherish that vision.

Cherishing a vision of hula and heritage, and keeping it alive, is what the Napili Kai Foundation has been doing for decades on the island of Maui. Created as a non-profit over 46 years ago, it began as a way to enrich the lives of the children of employees at the Napili Kai Resort.  Originally the resort was set on a perfect, half moon bay at the end of a long gravel road, making it an isolated livelihood for the staff.

Today the bay shelters a trio of small resorts, narrow roads filled with hide-away homes and some of the most inviting waters on the island. The Foundation has been helping local kids connect with their heritage and giving them opportunities for higher education. It’s worked over decades, enriching lives, not only of the Keiki, West Maui’s children, but of visitors coming to the Napili Kai Resort from around the world.

The fruits of the Foundation’s labors can be enjoyed by the public each Tuesday evening during a hula performance in the Aloha Pavilion. But the Foundation is not only about continuing the art of hula; they exist to perpetuate the cultural legacy of Hawaii.

Selected students attend from the ages of 6 to 18 and are taught the dances, language, history, arts and crafts of their Polynesian heritage. As hula dancing is an important part of Hawaiian culture, they are trained by a Kumu hula, master teacher Kathy Ralar, who decides when each of the 25 to 30 students is ready to perform and she’s assisted by two other part time teachers.

Being a member of the troupe has many advantages for the young dancers. They may have the opportunity to travel off island. Previous trips include dancing in the Pacific Northwest at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma, Washington. Graduates are also eligible for higher education scholarships and over $100,000 has been awarded.

Just as my mother loved Hawaiian dancing, I love the islands. It’s been a privilege to have visited half a dozen times. Luaus (open air feasts based on traditional celebrations) and hula shows are ubiquitous. Most every hotel, large and small, as well as community and cultural centers feature them. Selecting the right one for your tastes and budget can be intimidating.

On my last visit to the big island of Hawaii, I spent an afternoon at the Polynesian Cultural Center and stayed for the luau show. The center is a theme-style park covering several acres that feature interactive demonstrations, hands-on guides, an open buffet, several shows and dances. The numbers of buses and crowd management rivaled Disneyland. Your party can walk through at your own pace with the crowds or select the higher price ticket for a smaller, guided experience. While my family thoroughly enjoyed it, I longed for something simpler.

That’s what waits at the Napili Kai performances, the oldest running keiki hula show in the islands, where the heart of hula radiates from the faces of young performers delightedly sharing their expertise in traditional rituals. For more information about the shows contact the Napili Kai Resort or the Napili Kai Foundation.

Pictures courtesy of the Napili Kai Foundation.