Manu Ku and I were the entertainment at a special lu`au in the Concord area. Salena, a Bay Area Middle Eastern dancer, asked us to perform at her mother's 90th birthday party!
After our traditional opening with an oli, we performed a chant honoring the physical beauty of Queen Lili`uokalani. We dedicated this chant to Salena's mother.
We brought Hawaiian percussive implements, too. In a segue from the chants to more modern songs, I use a gourd drum, called an ipu, to dance to a song about the steamship "Pueo-kahi," which made inter-island journeys. This song introduces the theme to our show, a musical trip to Hawai`i's four main islands.
In her solo, Manu Ku dances the lovely "Hanalei Moon," which was inspired when the composer saw his beautiful wife illuminated by the moon while they spent time near Hanalei Bay on Kaua`i.
We love to share our hula, and our audience was happy to step up to the "pa" and learn to dance!
As a surprise, Salena bought an ukulele for her mother, a gift she's always wanted. She asked me to play it, and I serenaded her with "Lei Nani" at the conclusion of the show. It was an honor for us to be asked to this celebration, and a joy to perform at the behest of another dancer. Mahalo, Salena!
After our traditional opening with an oli, we performed a chant honoring the physical beauty of Queen Lili`uokalani. We dedicated this chant to Salena's mother.
We brought Hawaiian percussive implements, too. In a segue from the chants to more modern songs, I use a gourd drum, called an ipu, to dance to a song about the steamship "Pueo-kahi," which made inter-island journeys. This song introduces the theme to our show, a musical trip to Hawai`i's four main islands.
In her solo, Manu Ku dances the lovely "Hanalei Moon," which was inspired when the composer saw his beautiful wife illuminated by the moon while they spent time near Hanalei Bay on Kaua`i.
We love to share our hula, and our audience was happy to step up to the "pa" and learn to dance!
As a surprise, Salena bought an ukulele for her mother, a gift she's always wanted. She asked me to play it, and I serenaded her with "Lei Nani" at the conclusion of the show. It was an honor for us to be asked to this celebration, and a joy to perform at the behest of another dancer. Mahalo, Salena!
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