Hula and Kung Fu at the firehouse
Jul. 12th, 2009 02:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Last night was The Big Show, the one I like to have every year where we get to do all the dances; the entire set, audience participation, and a huge sound system. My friend and old training sister Merrie Laugh got the job for us. Even better, she asked if the Gold Dragon could come down and demo some Kung Fu between our Hula sets, which he did.
Originally they wanted us to light the fire pit, and I was more than willing. I was even going to do a live chant with my ipu, just make something up in Hawaiian, something about lighting the fire in the pit, asking Pele to be present or something like that. After all, Pele is ka wahina o ka lua o ke ahi: the woman of the fire pit. I thought it would be appropriate. But in the end, they decided to light it later at night after we had already finished dancing.
So I got there with my flowers in my hair and my red lava-lava and I saw Merrie Laugh, and at first she didn't seem to recognize me. Then she found the perfect place for Kamila and I to set up our gear and stuff: in the apparatus room in the fire house. We were able to hang all of our huge costumes up among the fireman coats and stuff; our implements were on the back of a fire truck. Bear in mind that fire trucks are my first phobia. They scare me just a little bit more than zombies.) But it was an awesome set up because there was a door from there that went right to where we were dancing on the grass. (Oddly, neither Gold Dragon nor Kamila seemed to recognize me right away last night either. In both of them, as in Merrie Laugh, I saw that fleeting moment of "Who is that girl and why is she walking towards me?" Weird.)
The sound system ROCKED. I brought my iPod and was able to hook it up to their speakers which were massive. They had a mic set up so I could introduce each song and read the translation.
The Hula itself went off without a hitch. Well, with one minor hitch as I called out the wrong kahea during Waikiki Hula, but that was about it.
We did a fantastic show. Too bad that most people there didn't really want to see it. I get that; seriously I do. When people go to a hula show, they want to see Hula. That's why they're there. When they go to a party, they want to party, and if a show is going on, sometimes that's neat, but most of the time they'd just rather go about their business. This is why it's so hard to do parties, especially where drunk people are involved.
Interspersed among our set, the Gold Dragon came on and did three forms. At the end, he did broad sword, but he didn't have his sword; luckily I had mine in my car and he used that one.
The whole show was over by around 6:45.
Afterwards, I gave out the leis that I had made for people. I only had nine of them so I gave one to the Gold Dragon, one to Merrie Laugh, a few to the kids (who enjoyed it more than the adults,) and some to the older people in the audience who seemed really into it. But most of the folks there seemed uninterested. They didn't even really watch the sword form and even though they'd been asked to hang onto their kids, because it is, you know, a real sword? There were still kids and even adults wandering around close to him, as if he wasn't even there. As Gold Dragon put it as he was helping me put my stuff in the car, "God...tough crowd."
Kamila had to leave directly after dancing, but they invited Gold Dragon and I to stay and eat. The food was yummy so we both took them up on it. We took seats by the now-lit firepit and ate and talked probably until around 9. The music was terrible (mostly country and some crappy old 80's metal, liek the worst they could find,) and we were right under the speakers, but that's where we ended up so that's where we stayed. It was goddamn cold last night--as it has been this entire summer--and the fire was really nice.
A few people came up to us and said, "you guys did a wonderful job," and one lady apologized for some of the other people there. I told her, "Look, it's a party; people are here to party, not to watch a show that they don't really get. This happens a lot so we're kind of used to it. And at any rate, it's so much better than a handful of shows where people are too into it and get inappropriate."
Another woman came up to me and said, "I know it looked like no one was paying attention, but a few of us were and I have to tell you: Girl, you can move." Then, like I said, there were some older people there who seemed really involved in it. And there was this one little chick around 13 or so who followed us around chatting to us. She asked me to tie her lava-lava on her the way I was wearing mine (as a dress instead of a pareu) and I did, and after that we were like besties. It was really cute.
If even a few people get it, then it's worth it.
But even more than that, last night I got it. I was right down in it with Real Hula; not backyard party Hula, but really doing my thing like I know how to do it. Performance-wise, I think it was one of my best. I did it for Pele and Laka, and I was really happy with it. I think maybe it even shows in the photos. It's weird to me how I look like a totally different person when I'm dancing; like even my face looks different to me. I don't look at those pictures and cringe.
Gold Dragon made a comment too. We were talking about confidence for some reason and he said to me, "The girl you are tonight, when you're out there dancing? That's how you should always feel about yourself."
Anyway, so those pictures!
These are the leis that I made.

The Gold Dragon does his thing.


The Gold Dragon does my thing.

LOL, okay!
Na Wahine O Ka Mokupuni Lo'ihi do their thing.






This is my favorite picture!

That's one of my favorite sections to that Hula, which is my absolute favorite Hula. It's called O Keahi A Lonomakua and tells the story of Kamapua'a's reaction to the destruction that Pele caused after he insulted her. It's a very feminist chant (Pele is a massively feminist icon,) and I get so much out of performing it. I even chanted it last night too. Anyway, this is the part that says, "Kei ki'i mai nei Hawai'i," or, "Hawai'i is summoning me."
These are all after the show.






When I came home, I still wanted to feel like I was Pele. I wasn't ready to give that person up yet. :)




It is traditional, after Hula, to dispose of live flowers at the beach, or by burying them.

So I took Sano on a walk to the beach today and threw my haku lei, a maile, and my flowers into the bay.
And that was that!
More, locked!
no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 07:35 pm (UTC)My legs look like two flourescent light bulbs, but thank you! ^_^
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Date: 2009-07-12 07:54 pm (UTC)Omg I lol'd so hard at this. I'm pretty sure mine are 1000 watt and that I should chose carefully when and where I expose them so nobody suffers from snow blindness.
You and Mr Dragon are cute together, and I'm glad you got a lot out of the dance and reached some people. Sorry the drunken idiots had to be there.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 08:00 pm (UTC)Man, drunk fools are just about everywhere. I'm trying to get into a mindset where I do what I do regardless of whether anyone else gets it or not. That goes for all aspects of life. That's harder than it sounds though, at least for me. ^_^
Oh, the Dragon; we're just friends is all. I squeeze all of my friends. ;D He is seriously a cutie though and everyone who knows him says so.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 08:21 pm (UTC)And light bulb legs? Right here! The vast majority of the time I spend out in the sun is while I'm training horses. Thus: tank top = the brownest my arms can get; breeches = ivory legs. It's sparked comments at the boxing gym.
And might I add it's freaking awesome that you're a woman who happens to have a spare broad sword in her car in case someone needs a loaner.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 08:29 pm (UTC)Yep, same thing with Kung Fu; we train outside in tank tops and long black pants. Brown arms, blinding legs!
Heh, I take the broadsword with me everywhere; the staff too. The staff takes up a lot of room and annoys whoever has to go in the car with me.
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Date: 2009-07-15 01:39 am (UTC)Breeches are the reason my legs haven't seen the sun for years.
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Date: 2009-07-12 08:31 pm (UTC)That looked so cool. One of the kids there looked like my daughter! How did she get there?
You are beautiful, I know you don't think you are, but you have elegance, poise and grace. I loved the blue/green dress you wore. And your eyes are like mine, hazel/green. Also Gold Dragon is pretty tall isn't he?
Thanks for sharing, glad you had a fab day.
FASC
xo
no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 08:42 pm (UTC)Funny, one of the girls there looked almost exactly like the other dancer's daughter; for a second I thought she'd brought her there. It was a night of clone kids! Spooky.
I'm 5'9" so yeah, he's pretty tall; I think he's 6'1" or maybe 6'2". O_O
no subject
Date: 2009-07-12 11:14 pm (UTC)By the way, I think The Gold Dragon is cute and and that was such a sweet thing he said. Can I have a Gold Dragon, too? ^_^
~Smoke~
no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 05:17 am (UTC)Everyone should have a friend like the Dragon, amirite? :)
From Cloud
Date: 2009-07-12 11:58 pm (UTC)Re: From Cloud
Date: 2009-07-13 05:16 am (UTC)Cloud? As in? ;)
I forgot all about that mail. I'll go check, eh? ^_^
Gold Dragon is right!
Date: 2009-07-13 12:53 am (UTC)Love,
Solly
Re: Gold Dragon is right!
Date: 2009-07-13 05:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 08:39 am (UTC)BTW, you should print a copy of the third photo from the bottom for your family. It's lovely.
And a sword in your boot?! *very impressed - only has sand and indescribeable debris*
- PP
xoxo
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Date: 2009-07-13 04:39 pm (UTC)You know it's funny, when you said "a sword in your boot" my first thought, for about ten minutes, was, "But it wasn't in my boot, it was in my car. Besides, I was wearing slippers (thongs, flip-flops...)"
It took me that long to remember that in England you guys don't have a "trunk," you have a "boot!" LOL!
I keep my sword in the back seat. In my trunk, or boot, is a blanket, dirt, and currently an extra sound system in a suitcase, on the off chance of a surprise Hula show. O_o
I ♥ you PP!
no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 01:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 04:39 pm (UTC)The Hula and Tahitian costumes are so much fun. They really change one's entire outlook. :D
no subject
Date: 2009-07-13 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-14 01:40 am (UTC)My journal is so weird sometimes. ^)^
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Date: 2009-07-13 10:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-14 01:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-14 11:47 pm (UTC)Me ke aloha,
AO
no subject
Date: 2009-07-15 12:12 am (UTC)'Ae, aloha kaua, pela paha... aka... hou hoa? 'Oia? Hui'ana, o kaua?
_
Aiwawa 'oe.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-15 12:19 am (UTC)Maika'i kou 'olelo o Hawai'i.
Ao? 'A'UME'UME? LOL. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-07-15 02:28 am (UTC)Moe me malu. Adieu.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-15 03:54 am (UTC)A'ole "adieu," aka "a hui hou," 'ae? Ko'u huoi? *henehene* Ho'ohuoi, ua lolo au! "Poi po," maopopo ia'u 'ole.
"Ikaika," pela paha. Henoheno... 'ano. Akua wahine? A'ole. :)
Moe hoihoi! E ho'i mai koke, awehewehe mana'o?
A word of warning: A friend of mine was trying to teach me Hawaiian many years ago. In the process of trying to tell him that he was "very patient," I used the wrong "patient" (ma'i, which I'm sure you know what else that means,) and the wrong "very," (nui, which I'm sure you also know.) It didn't go too well, so if I'm screwing this up, you may laugh. ^_^
But you're fluent, aren't you? You're not even looking this up?
no subject
Date: 2009-07-16 12:34 am (UTC)Haimoe loa,
AO - g2g :)
no subject
Date: 2009-07-16 07:14 pm (UTC)Also I got your message, but the blasted site won't let me write back without paying. Which I think is new because I always was able to write emails before?
I'm interested in which book you use because you're definitely speaking Hawaiian worlds better than I ever could! I just have the dictionary and lessons from about seven years ago to go on. I need to brush up. :)
But thank you again!
no subject
Date: 2009-07-16 11:10 pm (UTC)Yes, they let you search but if you want to communicate they charge, and I paid for one reason - kakau 'Oe.
Hele mai ke nui kulanakauhale! Au ana hanai 'ai hale 'aina. :)
pili mele ho'pipoipo maluna ko'u lehe
AO
p.s. Enjoy giving the hula lesson and thanks for writing back -
'OE AU LUA 'OLE WAHINE! And always will be, I'm sure.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-17 02:06 am (UTC)I thank you so much but you've got a very idealized vision of me. I'm wrought with flaws; and not cute or endearing ones either. ;)
I do think it's cool you've got the original game there. What drew you to it?
Also, how did you manage to find my LJ? It's pretty obscure. ^_^
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Date: 2009-07-17 11:37 am (UTC)What's up with your class? Did they pay but they don't show up? That's weird. And as for the six year old, the whole experience must have been like a scene in some surreal independent movie. Was everything grainy and in black and white by any chance? :) May you have a better day today!