We are extremely excited to announce that our Wahine was awarded 3rd place for both Kahiko and ʻAuana at this year's 2025 Kauaʻi Mokihana Festival.

Kahiko: The kahiko presentation by Hālau Nā Mamo O Ka Liko Maile O Kohala is a sacred offering of hula and oli, rooted in Hawaiian spirituality, ancestral wisdom, and profound aloha for the ʻāina and kai of Kauaʻi—especially the storied and sacred west side.

At its heart are two original compositions by Kumu Hula Kapua Francisco: the mele “Makaʻina Mau ʻO Nāmakaokahaʻi” and the oli “Oli No Nāmakaokahaʻi.” These works honor Nāmakaokahaʻi, the revered ocean goddess and steadfast protector of Kauaʻi’s western coastline. Through poetic storytelling and deep cultural reference, the mele and oli take the audience on a journey through Nōhili, Hāʻupu, and Polihale, invoking sacred natural elements such as limu pahapaha, honu imagery, and the emotionally resonant Leihoʻohihi wind. 

Together, these elements reflect Hawaiian values of abundance, balance, kuleana, environmental kinship, and spiritual connection. Through layered choreography, symbolic adornments, and rhythmic implements, the performance breathes life into the moʻolelo passed down by our kūpuna—honoring their knowledge, while inviting a contemporary sense of responsibility and remembrance. 

This offering was presented with both reverence and intention: as a living continuation of ancestral stories, a celebration of sacred lands and seas, and a commitment to uplift Hawaiian culture with dignity, artistry, and aloha. Fully aligned with the 2025 festival theme, “Nā Hula O Kauaʻi,” it affirms our collective kuleana to protect and perpetuate the mana of our people, our stories, and our ʻāina.

ʻAuana: Our Wahine Group ʻAuana presentation was a two-part homage to Makālae Niu Lani, the Royal Coconut Coast of Kauaʻi—a region of profound cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance. Through vibrant melodies and expressive choreography, we celebrated this sacred shoreline, where coconut trees sway in the Hoʻolua breeze, and the Wailua River nourishes both land and community. 

“Makālae Niu Lani,” composed by Kumu Hula Kapua Francisco, evokes reverence and love for this ʻāina through imagery of abundance, grace, and ancestral memory. Costuming, adornments, and coconut-shell implements reflect our connection to place, kūpuna, and hula tradition. 

In playful contrast, “Niu Haohao” offered humor and flirtation, bringing joy and sensuality to our presentation. Written by Bina Mossman in 1924, it celebrates the young coconut as both physical refreshment and a metaphor for love and desire.

These mele invited the audience to enjoy the simple pleasures of Hawaiian life—while remembering the cultural depth and mana of the niu. 

Together, these mele express the duality of reverence and joy. They reflect Hawaiian values of aloha ʻāina, spiritual balance, and human celebration, while honoring Kauaʻi’s east shore through movement, story, and song. 

Aligned with this year’s festival theme, “Nā Hula O Kauaʻi,” our ʻAuana offering is a living expression of love for place—rooted in tradition and made vibrant through hula.