So it takes something like the Pro Bowl to motivate me to start a blog! Leave it to the event coordinators at e2k.com to come up with the idea that dancing the hula to the Star Spangled Banner and the Goo Goo Dolls is the way to showcase hula. Erin Olmstead responds by saying: "As far as the hula performance, we were consulted by a well respected woman in the industry, named Olana Ai, who has done nothing but great things for the community. She founded the Halau Hula Olana, the School of Living Hula, in 1975 and it has grown to become one of the largest hula schools in the islands. Repeatedly, the halau has been recognized for its excellence...." Yes, they have been recognized for its excellence of traditional hula. But they have never performed the Star Spangled Banner, danced to the Goo Goo Dolls or Pocahontas at any of these competitions because she knows that the judges would never approve of it.
I should know, I've judged those competitions for more than ten years.
definitely shameful! >:{
ReplyDeleteI must admit that reading this blog and postings on FB get me all fired up and miss the days of UH hula! :)
I had never been so active in protests and marches until your classes! :)
I wonder what the heck motivated her to do this? It sounds so far off track according to whatʻs been said.
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