Hālau o Keikialiʻi

Kumu Hula Kawika Keikiali’ihiwahiwa Alfiche has been teaching hula and Hawaiian cultural arts for over 28 years. Kawika is the Kumu Hula (Master teacher) for Hālau o Keikiali’i, and is the Director for the Kaululehua Hawaiian Cultural Center in South San Francisco and Napa. Hālau o Keikiali’i, Hawaiian cultural & dance group, strives to help perpetuate the rich culture of the Hawaiian people through educational workshops, performances, and other cultural events.

Traditional Hula is a dance form accompanied by the Ipu Heke (drum) and chant. The chant/song is called a mele. The mele (songs) are prayers often made to specific Deity, Ali`i (ruling class), and/or geographic location.The hula is the body movement made to express the mele. All hula is accompanied with lyrics and is commonly divided into two broad categories: Ancient hula, as performed before Western encounters with Hawaiʻi, is called “Hula Kahiko” and is accompanied by chant and traditional instruments, and “Hula ʻAuana” as it evolved under Western influence, in the 19th and 20th centuries. These songs are accompanied by song and Western-influenced musical instruments such as the guitar, the ʻukulele, and the double bass.

A native San Franciscan, Kumu Kawika grew up in the fog. Being that composing Hawaiian songs are also encouraged outside of Hawai`i, this piece is a tribute to the fog that spends time caressing the land, but just for a night as it disappears by morning. The high pitched rolling melody is a prayer, calling for the fog to return. During late summer, this particular fog wells up from the ocean depths, moves slowly across the surface of the ocean, touches land and makes itʻs way over 3 sets of mountain ranges before touching back down on the San Francisco Bay.

The `a`ahu (clothing) are all hand sewn and woven by the students. The multiple layers of white mimic the flow of the fog. The men are draped in clothing to mimic the land and are sharing a particular style of hula called the `Ōhelo.

Song lyrics: Kaukolo Uhiwai
Ka `auinalā i ka moana makalae – as the sun falls toward the deep ocean
Ka lae ka uhiwai makahani – the mist makes its way to the edge of land Hahani mai,
He uhi moe (i) ka `āina – to come and envelope the land
Ka lae ka uhiwai makahani – the mist makes its way to the edge of land
Kokolo aku, Kokolo mai, Kaukolo Uhiwai – making its way smoothly, the mist moves