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Research and Development County of Hawai'i, Pacific Radio Group,
Hawai'i Tourism Authority, Uncle Billy's, Kona Bay Shopping Village,
Cuzn's, Hula Preservation Society, CJ's Promotions, Hula Halau
O Kou Lima Nani, Inc. |
In her ancient dances, she was the poet of the Hawaiian people…”Honolulu
Advertiser”
The 'Iolani Luahine Hula Festival was established in 2003 with
a vision to perpetuate the hula. It also serves at a way to perpetuate
the memory of 'Iolani Luahine and her contributions to the preservation
of hula and the Hawaiian culture. The festival also provides opportunities
for worldwide halau to participate in the hula art and enables
them to build a relationship that ensures their long-term commitment
to the hula.
A pure Hawaiian from Napo’opo’o, Hawaii, Harriet ‘Iolani Luahine
was born on January 31, 1915. Hanai to her father’s ‘ohana on
O’ahu, ‘Iolani was raised by her great aunt Julia Keahi Luahine.
She named her “bird of heaven”. Aunty Keahi was the foremost hula
instructor of her day and one of the last royal dancers from King
Kalakaua’s and Queen Lili’uokalani’s court. Dancing was just a
part of everyday life for ‘Iolani.
She was enrolled in the Kamehameha Schools, but once her aunt
found out that dancing hula was forbidden by the missionary –
indoctrinated institution, ‘Iolani was sent to the Priory, at
St. Andrew’s Cathedral, where hula dancing was permitted. ‘Iolani
was an undergraduate at the University of Hawaii when she began
hula classes with Mary Kawena Puku’i. After the death of her aunty,
‘Iolani knew that her mission in life was to carry on the traditions
for the ones to come.
‘Iolani opened her studio in her home on Queen Street in 1946
and taught hula to students of all ages. Collaboration and performanced
followed with Mary Kawena Puku’I and Lokalia Montgomery to rave
reviews. ‘Iolani and Lokalia were the first recipients of the
State Order of Distinction for Cultural Leadership in 1970. That
same year, both women received medals for their contribution to
the arts from the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts.
‘Iolani took the hula to the National Folk Festival in Wolf Trap,
Virginia three times, sharing the traditional art form with all
its reverence to the goddess Laka.
Descended from a long line of Kaua’I dancers, trained to perform
for the ali’I, ‘Iolani had inspired many throughout her life.
On December 10, 1978, all of Hawaii mourned the passing of ‘Iolani
Luahine. Her gift of hula will long be remembered and this hula
festivals mission is to remember those gifts she left for all
of us to perpetuate.
E mau loa aku e ‘Iolani.
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