Merrie Monarch Festival's Ho'ike Night Highlights.

Another beautiful presentation of hula dancing at its finest was to be seen in Hilo, Hawaii with Ho'ike night (a show or exhibition). Normally this is a celebration of hula and Polynesian dances from around the Pacific islands, the variety of island dances performed are colorful and presents unique dances attributed to each island culture. This year's Ho'ike event was focused on celebrating Hula's golden anniversary of the Merrie Monarch Festival from its humble beginnings into being the pre-eminent hula event.


Prior to the start, the stage is empty except for all the elaborately carved pahu drums decorated in a variety of native ferns.

 

Symbolizing passing down the knowledge and dance of hula and mele (chanting) from older generations to the young, the event celebrates the nostalgic dances and evolution from kahiko hula (ancient) through the victorian era into the modern or Auana style. Some of the ladies over 80 were performing with some of the historic halau (hula school) along with younger hula students dancing under these halau. The performance with these grand dames totally commanded the show and showcased dancing at its finest by spreading their joy and aloha to the audience.

 

This beautiful hula dancer is so graceful and completely exudes with aloha to every movement and gesture. Her smile completely lights up the performance, and the audience shouts deliriously in support and excitement to these dancers.

There was so much love and aloha with these dancers on the stage, it was just amazing to see and experience this beautiful portion of the evening's performance.

 

 

 

The introduction of the kane (male) hula division was also represented with the Cazemero brother's halau dancing from their first kane division win in 1976. The inclusion of the kane hula division has brought new excitement in hula dancing, increase viewership and participation with a new set of young dancers to learn hula and all aspects of the hula.

 

One of the highlights of the evening was a segment introducing all of the Miss Aloha dancers from the early 1970's to the present day Miss Aloha - it was a visual delight seeing all the amazing costumes, gorgeous adornments and individual dancing styles.

Ornate head pieces and leis made with fresh flowers like orchids and plumeria create beautiful statements to each Miss Aloha's ensemble and is a visual delight to see.

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There were so many beautiful presentations of different hula dances and dancers of every age and experience. The golden anniversary presentation showcased all the beautiful dances that marked highlights of dancing throughout the Merrie Monarch Festival's existence and was so elaborately presented.


Here's a look at some more images of the Ho'ike hula highlights.

 

This was a spectacular Merrie Monarch anniversary performance with an amazing array of solid performances from past shows and amazing collaborations.


A hui hou (until we meet again) - hopefully at another beautiful hula performance at the Merrie Monarch festival in Hilo.

 

©Noel Morata, All rights reserved

Come and visit my photography website at http://noelmorata.photoshelter.com/

 

Big Island Chocolate Festival 2013

The Big Island Chocolate Festival was a chocoholic fantasy dream come true at the Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii. This three day celebration of everything centering around chocolate included chocolate demonstrations, chocolate farm tours, chocolate competions and of course an ample opportunity to see and savor chocolate at its best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student participation from the culinary schools around Hawaii brought out the best in group collaborations and imaginative creations. The attention to detail and focused concentration of the students to make nothing but the best shows the anticipation and excitement to the culinary events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, it was so hard to just pick one as a favorite dessert or savory presentation an the gala night presentation. Chocolate preparations were all on display from chocolate confectioners, bean to bar creators, chefs and chocolatiers were all putting on an amazing show.

 

 

 

 

Fortunately, a judging panel chose sweet and savory winners with the culinary team at the Fairmont Orchid receiving both sweet and savory award. They also won the people's choice award for the delicious sample below,cocoa dusted spicy ahi cone with truffle orange vinagrette and chocolate nibs.

Here's a sample of other sweet and savory dishes and chocolate inspirations from the gala evening event.

You get a delicous bite with this chocolate infused Kau pork belly from the Hilton Waikoloa, made with 72% Waialua chocolate from Oahu, pickled daikon and carrots and chile cilantro in a chocolate char siu sauce

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Executive chef Donald Wressel from Guittard chocolate was busy working on a floral chocolate fantasy masterpiece. It was amazing, but I'm wondering who got away with this forty pounder at the end of the event, wish I had a big enough bag to haul this puppy away!

The beautiful floral details to this chocolate sculpture.

 

A very odd and yet delicious mixture of sensations presented was the Big Island Hog Balls made with all local ingredients including nice big chunks of Hawaiian bacon, I think I polished off a good third of this platter alone!

The sold out event at the Fairmont Orchid was truly a chocolate connoisseur's tasting experience, and it also raised funding for equipment at a local Hawaiian culinary school and a community amphitheature at a charter school at Kaleakekua.





Its always great to support and sample locally made ingredients and finished products like Hawaiian grown chocolate and the Kona chocolate association and their supporters are making great efforts to promoting Hawaiian products and events so that more people can appreciate these products.


To see more images of the three day event, please visit my flickr page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12701042@N04/sets/72157633085707831/

 

Sunset Views at Holualoa, Hawaii

 

 

Sunset views on the Kona side up at Holualoa are spectacular on clear days. Celebrating the annual Christmas night art stroll is always a fun and packed event in this artist community and everyone comes up from Kona to enjoy the views, art and spectacular sunsets.

Early evening before the crowds appear and parking is easier to find is the ideal timeframe to arrive and scout out the best dining venues for the evening.

 

 

 

The sunset views are quite nice and distant water views are still visible. I love framing tropical foliage into dark silhuoettes in the foreground to give more dimension to the imagery.

 

 

 

 

(Locally grown food served colorfully through a food truck offering wonderful local dishes)

©Noel Morata, All rights reserved

Come and visit my photography website at http://noelmorata.photoshelter.com/

The Hilo County Fair–Excitement of Twilight to Evening

 

 

 

There’s nothing like enjoying a few hours at our local county fair in Hilo to enjoy a few hours of pure pleasure. Its always fun to sample some food greasy fried food, play some of arcade games, view the cheesy displays and shows and of course go on the thrill rides. I love the fair in Hilo because our photo group puts on an amazing effort to showcase our members works, and it is a pretty talented group of artists with varied photo interests.

 

 

 

 

The best part of the fair for me is walking around the fair and taking photos of things that grab my attention like the rides, the people and quirky things that happen spontaneously. I especially love the timeframe from twilight to evening when the lights come up and everything becomes more alive and graphic, there’s a real sense of excitement in the air.

 

 

The magic twilight hour approaches, showing dramatic skies to this festive scene.

Even the food stands like this french fry booth becomes a visual delight with its colorful and graphic elements drawing you in, not to mention the smell of fried food.

 

 

At night all the colorful and flashing lights heighten the details and attracts your eye to see everything that pops up and draws your immediate attention.

 

 

 

 

The gaming arcade is brightly lit and filled with color and bold patterns with tacky stuffed animals, beckoning everyone to come and play for a few minutes or more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the sweet smiles and squeals of laughter coming from the merry –go-round.  There’s always a photo opportunity with animated animals , kids and bright lights blurring details that give a sense of motion.

 

 

A little girl with a Hello Kitty fetish has acquired a whole collection of new dolls while dispensing all her save coins at this venue, I think she wants to win as many kitties as possible before she empties out her purse completely .

 

 

 

The games attendant sweetly smiles early in the evening before the crush of kids wipes out her energy and enthusiasm.

 

 

What is it about coming up to the the ferris wheel, I’m always attracted to come up closely and take a photo,  I guess this would be your standard photo that everyone associates with being at any fair.

 

 

It was a fun day at the fair in Hilo and I enjoyed myself and I think I got some decent pictures out of it also.