Witnessing History: Uncle George Holokai

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006677.post-4568473959554984862006-10-15T02:41:00.001-05:002008-05-17T01:15:12.648-05:00Witnessing History: Uncle George Holokai<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/3093/977/1600/GeorgeHolokai.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/3093/977/320/GeorgeHolokai.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>(photo: Hula Preservation Society) One of the most exciting things I've ever seen...at the <a href="http://www.hulapreservation.org/">Hula Preservation Society</a> website, I viewed footage of <a href="http://www.hulapreservation.org/kupuna.asp?ID=11">Uncle George Holokai</a> dancing the hula kahiko <a href="http://www.hulapreservation.org/Kupuna_Relations.asp?KID=11&CID=9">E Ho'i Ke Aloha I Ni'ihau</a>. Why is this so exciting? Because I've witnessed another ancestral generation in my hula lineage! I learned E Ho'i Ke Aloha I Ni'ihau from Kumu Chang, who learned it from Uncle George, who learned it from his kumu hula, Tom Hiona. Uncle George has been something of a legendary character in my mind. We all so revere Kumu Chang and his mana'o. When he speaks of his kumu hula, it's almost as if he's speaking of a time and place we could never experience. It is the stuff of legend and history far beyond our reach. But in realizty, Uncle George is a living, breathing human being, and he still passes on his mana'o to hula haumâna in Hawai'i and on the mainland. (Uncle George is coming to Indianapolis, IN next month. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend, because the trip is utterly unaffordable. However, those interested in attending can contact Cheryl Bell at <a href="mailto:cbell@indy.rr.com">cbell@indy.rr.com</a>.) I met Uncle George very briefly while in Hilo for Merrie Monarch. We were in the dressing room minutes before our hâlau was to take the stage for our hula 'auana. We looked up, and there he was standing just inside the doorway. I simply could not believe that we had the honor of a visit from him, especially at such an important time for our hâlau. There was time for little else but to greet him, but still, seeing Uncle George in the flesh was a profound event for me. Though I won't be attending his workshop, though I won't have the opportunity to learn directly from him, I'm no less moved by seeing a simple <a href="http://www.hulapreservation.org/Kupuna_Relations.asp?KID=11&CID=9">video clip</a> of Uncle George dancing a hula that I know! 'Ae, all of us are aware Kumu Chang's knowledge came from a specific source, but it's a rare opportunity when we are able to witness and watch that very source! It's like finally meeting a blood relative we've always heard about but never seen...like singing a family song together, sharing knowledge we all possess but have never been able to share before. I'm so thankful organizations like the Hula Preservation Society are spending time and other resources to document and preserve our kûpunas' mana'o. There are so many of us who might otherwise never have the opportunity to partake of this knowledge. It's at times like this when I am reminded just how precious a resource is the Internet, and how important preservation organizations are to Hawaiian culture!'Ailinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679542245866889369alaranang@gmail.com