HANAPEPE — When Kaenon Torres takes to the stage at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, Thursday, it will be a special time for him, said Kumu Hula Leinaala Pavao Jardin.

“Kaenon’s family is from the Kalihikai area, or more commonly known as Kalihiwai,” Pavao Jardin said. “He is our Master Keiki Hula candidate and will be performing to Hanohano no Kalihi, a song written especially for the area he comes from.”

Torres is a part of 21 keiki performers who will be representing Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala at the 43rd Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula Competition at the Blaisdell Arena from Thursday and continuing through Saturday.

Monday, the halau gathered at the Salt Pond for its final cleansing and blessing prior to leaving for the competition, Wednesday.

In addition to Torres, Meiya Ramos is the halau’s candidate for Miss Keiki Hula. Both individual performers take the stage, Thursday ahead of the group competition in kahiko and auana hula.

“Meiya will be dancing to KHBC, a lively hula that honors the first radio station in Hilo, Hawaii,” Pavao Jardin said. “There is a lot of excitement going on down there right now.”

The halau will perform to He Inoa No Liliu for its kahiko number.

“This is a competition number where each halau performs the selection made by the Keiki Hula committee,” Pavao Jardin said. “It is our task to interpret and present the number. It is amazing because the mele talks about Liliu’s travels to the Big Island during the time when one of the largest flows was taking place.”

Keiki performers will perform E Hihi Wai for its auana presentation.

“This is a song written by the Rev. Dennis Kamakahi of Moloka‘i, talking of returning to his roots,” Pavao Jardin said. “The message is to not forget where you came from.”

This is the ninth year Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala will be participating in the Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula competition which is a festival to honor Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani.

Tyler Valencia earned the Master Keiki Hula title in 2017 for Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala, and in 2013 Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala was a dual winner when Luke Hunadi earned the Master Keiki Hula honor, and Jeslie Ann Pavao was crowned the Miss Keiki Hula.

The festival was organized by the Kalihi-Palama Culture &Arts Society in 1976, envisioning an event where keiki ages 6 through 12 years old could share their achievements in hula while learning about the Queen, her ‘ohana, and Hawaii’s historical past.

This year’s competition will be broadcast live on television, and also have special live broadcasts on social media, starting Thursday through Saturday.

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.