Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu
Encyclopedia
'Mark Keali`i Ho`omalu' is a contemporary Hawaiian
chanter, born and raised in Aiea, Oahu
.
and Polynesian shows around Oahu
.
In 1979 he joined a halau
, which became the foundation for Mark's hula education as an `olapa and chanter.
Ho`omalu moved to California
in 1979 to teach hula with Tiare Clifford of Tiare Otea in San Francisco. After refining much of his teaching technique under Clifford's direction, he was introduced to Bea and Herb Hew Len. In 1988 they turned over the directorship of their halau, Na Mele Hula `Ohana to Ho`omalu.
Na Mele Hula `Ohana set high standards in hula competitions along the West Coast
and in Hawaii
. They were invited to the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival in 1997, where their men placed fourth in the hula kahiko (ancient hula) competition. They returned to the Merrie Monarch each year through 2000. Ho`omalu disbanded the halau in early 2002. He continues to teach seminars throughout country.
In February 2003, he opened a new halau, the Academy of Hawaiian Arts. The halau has participated in many events around California, including the Iā 'Oe E Ka Lā Hula Competition in Pleasanton and San Francisco's Aloha Festival. They most recently danced at the prestigious Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo, Hawaii this past April.
His style is both innovative and controversial, as purists disapprove of the liberties he takes in creating new arrangements of ancient chants.
released their animated feature film, Lilo & Stitch
, which prominently featured two songs written by Ho`omalu especially for the film, Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride and He Mele No Lilo. He performs them on the soundtrack album with the help of The Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus
.
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
chanter, born and raised in Aiea, Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
.
Career
At the age of 15, Ho`omalu started his hula career with John Pi`ilani Watkins doing various luauLuau
A luau is a Hawaiian feast. It may feature food, such as poi, kalua pig, poke, lomi salmon, opihi, haupia, and beer; and entertainment, such as Hawaiian music and hula...
and Polynesian shows around Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
.
In 1979 he joined a halau
Halau
A hālau is Hawaiian word meaning a school, academy, or group. Literally, the word means "a branch from which many leaves grow." Today a hālau usually describes a hula school ....
, which became the foundation for Mark's hula education as an `olapa and chanter.
Ho`omalu moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1979 to teach hula with Tiare Clifford of Tiare Otea in San Francisco. After refining much of his teaching technique under Clifford's direction, he was introduced to Bea and Herb Hew Len. In 1988 they turned over the directorship of their halau, Na Mele Hula `Ohana to Ho`omalu.
Na Mele Hula `Ohana set high standards in hula competitions along the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
and in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. They were invited to the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival in 1997, where their men placed fourth in the hula kahiko (ancient hula) competition. They returned to the Merrie Monarch each year through 2000. Ho`omalu disbanded the halau in early 2002. He continues to teach seminars throughout country.
In February 2003, he opened a new halau, the Academy of Hawaiian Arts. The halau has participated in many events around California, including the Iā 'Oe E Ka Lā Hula Competition in Pleasanton and San Francisco's Aloha Festival. They most recently danced at the prestigious Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo, Hawaii this past April.
His style is both innovative and controversial, as purists disapprove of the liberties he takes in creating new arrangements of ancient chants.
Lilo & Stitch
In June 2002, Walt Disney PicturesWalt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
released their animated feature film, Lilo & Stitch
Lilo & Stitch
This article is about the movie. For the television series, see Lilo & Stitch: The Series.Lilo & Stitch is a 2002 American animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released on June 21, 2002...
, which prominently featured two songs written by Ho`omalu especially for the film, Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride and He Mele No Lilo. He performs them on the soundtrack album with the help of The Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus
Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...
.
Albums
- Call It What You Like... (2003)
- Po`okela Chants (1999)
External links
- MKH Productions: Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu's Official Web Site
- American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i: PBS documentary about hula practiced on the mainland U.S. featuring Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu