I BELIEVE IN HULA

Taking the first steps onto the stage, I breath in the fragrance of the many different flowers that surround me. I focus and envision the dance that I'm about to perform. It replays again and again in my mind as the anticipation grows. I take a deep breath and the adrenalin spikes. huki step right, huki step left. We travel as one, breath as one, dance as one. Kaholo forward and freeze! Silence penetrates the air. The real journey begins.
My kumu onc told me that the kaholo is the most difficult motion in hula. In Hawaiian kaholo means to move. The kaholo is a step that is used in both Awanna and kahiko. It forces the dancers to sway their hips and travel at the same time. "No Problem" I exclaimed as I strode onto the dance floor. I stood with a proud figure as I waited for the chanting to begin. As soon as the chant started I panicked and suddenly lost my head! I had forgoten all that i learned and all that I knew. That was the moment when i truly understood the meaning of his words. I was lost and confused, unsure of what was to come. My name is Kristen this is my story.
In life (so far), I've encountered many obstacles that have affected me in good and bad ways. Recently bad more than good. But one of the good things that saved my broken spirit was the acceptance of a life time. On January 7, 2007 I accepted the honor of competing in the largest hula competition. The Annual Merrie Monarch Festival. This festival is the grand daddy of all hula competitions. Halau's from all over the world fly to the Big Island to compete. My mom and I have watched the Merrie Monarch every year since 1998. It's a tradition that we love sharing with eachother. Every year my mom has told me that I would soon be dancing on that very stage. Back then, I thought she was crazy, I couldn't imagine dancing in front of millions of people. But last year, as i watched my hula sisters gracefully dance, I was determined to dance at the festival.
I always use this joyous memory to keep me up during the hardest and most challenging times in my life. Experiencing the moment again and again in my mind as I plow throught the difficult moments. Keeping me happy and Inspired to pick up where i left off and continue on.
We dance into our exiting formation as my kumu chants. His voice speaks to use, almost as to say, "maikai girls". We continue dancing, but not cause we have to, but because we want to. Kaholo back, uehe right, uehe left. We finish the dance. The crowd goes wild, as we say ahuiho. As i walk off the stage everyone talks about how the dance is over and done. But for me, the dance held more meaning. I looked at it as the begining of a wonderful journey....