Eo e Emalani i Alaka‘i

By Léo Azambuja

14- Kaluahi, played by Harrom Hookano Kaili, and Queen Emma, played by Nalani Ka‘auwai Brun

Koke‘e State Park once again became the stage for the reenactment of Queen Emma’s voyage from Lawa‘i Valley to the Kilohana Lookout in January 1871.

Nalani Ka‘auwai Brun embodied Queen Emma at the 27^th Annual Eo e Emalani i Alaka‘i on Oct. 10. On her own words, from the festival’s program:

“How does one begin a journey to find the inner strength to portray one who is held in such high regard by not only myself but also by the people of Hawai‘i? There are so many things she excelled at that are dear to my heart: reading, concert singing, and humanitarianism. She also persevered through so much sadness and turned to nature to heal herself and renew her soul. It is her original vision of serving the Hawaiian people and ensuring their well-being in both spirit an health that I find most dear to my own heart: for without a healthy Hawaiian people, there cannot be a healthy Hawai‘i. Mahalo to our mo‘i wahine who like Hui o Laka, saw a path for the people that needed to be cleared.”

The festival was sponsored by Hui o Laka, Koke‘e Museum, with support from many volunteers, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the County of Kaua‘i, the Kekaha Host Community and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The Ni‘ihau children from three halau from kumu hula Kaua‘i Iki

Jewelry maker Sande Lew

Bone carver Salesi Maile, with wife Taki Maile and daughter Meliane Maile

Kumu hula Kaua‘i Iki

Maria Constantina, left, and Kayla Bonnette, of the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project

Wenda Moon, of Daughters of Hawai‘i, left, and Wai Kuapahi, of Friends of King Kaumuali‘i

Daughters of Hawai‘i, left to right, Malia Hookano, Pammy Chock and Kanoe Ahuna

Volunteers Jae Kahiwara, left, and Cheryl Shinjani

Daughters of Hawai‘i, left to right, Carol Ann Davis, Bonnie Stevens and Kahana Reid

Stu Burley, of Friends of King Kaumuali‘i

The Kupuna Klub, left to right, Carrie Newcomb, Winona Steed, Pat Nitta, Schar Freeman, Renee Takahashi, Puni Patrick, JoAnn Watanabe and Cyd Arrington.