Hurricane Flossie on its way and we celebrate with Hula

 

 

In Hawaii, it's rare to get hurricanes to come to Hawaii and on the occasion that they do become something, it usually gets quite devastating. But the majority of the time, the two large mountains of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea creates enough buffer to change the directions and minimize the impact to the Big Island. In spite of recent updates and hurricane advisories, our hula group still decided to still gather have our hula and luau in Wailoa park on a spectular sunny day in Hilo.

 

 

On such a nice sunny and blue sky day, how can you cancel anything on this beautiful Sunday - besides it's the calm weather before the storm and it was quite a gorgeous day and celebration. The dancers start to filter in and put their prepared specialties for the typical Hawaiian pot luck lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, we pule (pray) and ask for blessings before the feast and dancing gets started....okay everyone, let's dig in, and what a spread there was with all the good local kine food! Every dish tasted ono (tasty) and everyone kept going back for seconds including some amazing desserts.

 

Placing fresh flowers on the head of Alakai sister, Darline and celebrating her visit back to Hilo.

 

Under the direction of our kumu Iwalani Woo O'Brien, who teaches at the Kamana, Keaau and Pahoa community centers, each class gathered for the first time and danced together as a group ensemble. Crank up da music, we are all ready to get started.


 


Iwalani showing us how to pick up those fresh blooming puas (flowers)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before everyone started to fall asleep or take naps, the music started up and everyone jump to the floor sans flip flops and started to sway to some old favorite tunes that Iwalani taught all three classes to perform. I chose to sit out to take some pictures and video for the party so I could post these later on this blog.





Beautiful aloha smiles and expressions.

 

 

Of course the late afternoon light was just perfect along the Wailoa river to go some group shots, it took a little bit of direction but I finally got everyone in order and here is the final shot - smile everyone!

Here's the final picture with beautiful light and gorgeous hula sisters and just us two kanes (guys)

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Not a bad day to hang out at Wailoa park, enjoy some good food, friendship and dance a shared hulas together. No worries about hurricane Flossie today, the weather is perfect before the storm.





 

Merrie Monarch parade in Hilo, Hawaii.

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One of the largest and most colorful parades to attend in Hawaii is the annual Merrie Monarch Parade in Hilo, Hawaii. This beautiful parade caps a week-long celebration of hula events all around Hilo and celebrates hula as the basis of each participating entrant to the event. This year’s parade with over 170 participants was the largest number of groups active with the celebration.

Along with the usual bands, civic groups and clubs, the Merrie Monarch parade celebrates everything surrounding the week long hula fest.  There is usually a variety of pageant queens including our own Miss Aloha – hula contestant winner.

 

 

 

 

Then there is a contingent of this year’s Hawaiian royalty, kings, queens and other historical members of the Hawaiian royal family who are chosen to be this year’s royal court members.  The royal float contains live music performers serenading the court and is filled with fresh tropical flowers and exotic plants.

All the floats are lavishly decorated with colorful flowers like orchids, gingers and plumeria which are grown commercially for export and showcasing the abundance of plant and tropical flowers grown on the island.  Many of the floats feature live performers singing favorite Hawaiian tunes along with local dancing hula halaus (schools) dancing in perfect synch to the music.

A favorite of the audience are the local pa’u riders (parade horseback riders) with their extravagant outfits and vivid floral displays of leis and other adornments. Representing each island with their local official color and flower, each pa’u rider is an amazing sight to behold in the procession. Even the horse poop carriers and scoopers are creatively presented and fun to witness their vital task of pooper scooper tasks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even the paniolo men (cowboys) were handsomely presented with their horses in beautiful regalia to match the island colors and flowers.

At the tail end of each horse contingent are the pooper scoopers, this was actually one of the favorites at the parade, due to the unique and colorful presentations that were present at this parade. This one was my favorite with the pineapple princess representing Lanai.

Unique to the Hawaiian islands are contingents that celebrate local activities like the Red hat ladies, marching bands, the taiko drummers, the local ukulele marching band and various dignitaries. It all makes for a unique blend of participants that creates a fun parade experience.

 

The Merrie Monarch parade celebrates hula and the entire community at its best and most welcomed Aloha.  Its a beautiful event to witness and photograph with each new contingent approaching and exciting events unfolding spontaneously.


Thanks for visiting and experiencing this event online, hopefully next year you may come and visit Hilo to experience this exciting festival and parade in person.

To see more photographs on this event, please visit this flickr site for more images.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12701042@N04/sets/72157633210534314/

 

 

©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.

Hilo Obon Dance Festival

Obon Dance at Sangha Hall in Hilo 2012. Images capture the raw, flowing and impressionistic expressions of participates during the dance ceremony.

©Noel Morata, All rights reserved

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