COSTUME GUIDE

Dressing for kahiko, or ancient-style hula, is done in a set order from

head to toe, as a dancer prepares to enter the spiritual realm of hula.
The adornments — lei on her head, neck, wrists and ankles, are
considered the kinolau, or earthly manifestations of the gods,
according to kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine. Costumes are consid-
ered part of the overall performance at Merrie Monarch Festival
competitions. This illustration was inspired by a Star-Advertiser
photograph of 1999 Miss Aloha Hula Keolalaulani Dalire.

LEI PO‘O (HEAD LEI)

This lei is made of
palapalai ferns and red
PA‘U SKIRT and yellow lehua. The
Skirts are made lei po‘o should be worn
traditionally of tapa level, parallel to the
(pounded bark), floor.
sometimes ti leaf (at
least 100) or more
commonly several
yards of a natural LEI A‘I
fabric, fastened at the (NECK LEI)
side with a braided Many halau
cord and often deco- make their
rated with geometric lei the day
patterns. before a
perfor-
mance out
of forest
plants, and
some even
gather the
materials
themselves.

KUPE ‘E (WRIST AND ANKLE LEI)

These are often made from ti leaf
or palapalai ferns.
MARTHA HERNANDEZ / MHERNANDEZ@STAR-ADVERTISER