Robert Cazimero delivered the first half of “My Hawaiian Souvenirs,” his 50-years-strong memory of hula and mele, last night (Oct. 11) at the Leeward Community College Theatre.
Laden with beaucoup recollections of his life as a student in hula, then a kumu hula, and finally an award-winning leader and mentor of hula of Halau Na Kamalei O Lililelehua, the evening was not long enough to share his abundant artistry of hula. So, a second installment will be staged at 2 p.m. today (Oct. 12), with the troupes again assembling at Leeward, continuing with a focus and emphasis hula kahiko.
In typical Cazimero fashion, part one – rendered in four quarters of style-sharing –was visually minimalist, with only one visible prop element: an oversized hanging of windows which he symbolically “opened” to acknowledge the myriad of melodies and dances in his treasure chest of souvenirs.
Of course, a journey like this embodied tales and tunes of family in Kohala, embracing the remember-when theme with landmark songs including “Maika‘i Ka Makani O Kohala,” “Alohe E Kohala,” “Nani ‘A‘ala Wale, and “Ho ‘oi Hou Kanani Ia Mahjkona.” A particularly engaing tune was the notn-Hawaiian “Only You,” with tapped personal remarks and admiration of his mama and papa.
Naturally, the gents of Na Kamalei – superb dancers and vocalists, some young, others elders – provided the fabric and finesse in the reflections. Kumu Caz affectionally calls ‘em “Bob’s Boys,” and their syncopation and harmonics elevated appeal to such numbers as “Henehene Kou Aka,” “Nani Waimea,” “Pu‘u wa‘awa‘a” and “Huapala Maka Onaona.”
After intermission, the second act began with an in-front-the-curtain chant featuring kumu hula Hinaleimoana Wong Kalu and a vigorous halau chant, a prelude to an expansive series of Na Kamalei “moments” with historic halau melodies attached to new hula classes (“Kalakaua He Inoa”). A stroll down memory lane — oli with the pahu (drums) rendered by Carl Veto Baker and Manu Boyd – also dusted off titles like “Kaulilua,” “Mai Ta Pouli” and “Halau Hanalei.”
The comebackers, a handful of dancers who returned from the past, included Gunnie on “Ke Pi‘ina” and Babooze on “Pohuehue,” which raised the nostalgia level quite a bit.
Every Na Kamalei event showcases stylish hula garb; in this outing, the primary gear included modern orange/red aloha shirt. The traditional ti leaf skirts were eye-filling as they swished and swayed during the hula, especially the ones with layers of dark green ti.
Hefty ti-leaf skirts highlight one kahiko number.
And on a hula kahiko number, with a few dancers, one outfit featured a sexy modern costume with see-through fabric. Indeed, there’s always been a yesterday, a today, and a tomorrow in a Na Kamalei show. Let’s see what today’s will offer.
And that’s Show Biz…