Hula broadcast comes to mainland

Kirk Baird

Friday, April 5, 2002 | 9:58 a.m.

What: Luau and Merry Monarch Festival broadcast.

When: 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Where: New Frontier's Gilley's Saloon, Dancehall and Bar-B-Que.

Admission: Adults, $27; ages 6-12, $13.50; children under 6, free.

Information: 794-8434.

It is nearly impossible to think of Hawaii without a quick image of a Hawaiian woman, wearing a grass skirt and lei, standing on a beach performing the hula.

It is, after all, part of the Aloha State's legacy.

But to Hawaiians, the dance is more than a stereotype.

"Hula is the culture of Hawaii," said Mel Ozeki, a Hawaiian expatriate who has lived in Las Vegas since 1996. "Hawaiians were the first settlers in Hawaii and hula was part of their culture."

The hula is so popular in Hawaii, in fact, that the Merrie Monarch Festival, essentially an annual three-day hula competition, remains one of the most popular TV specials among Hawaiians. It is aired live throughout the islands from Honolulu.

"The hula festival is paramount to the Super Bowl of hula competition," Ozeki said. "And I say that because in past years, even CNN has gone to Hawaii to film that (festival) and show it on the world news."

Tonight's competition of Kahiko, the more traditional style of hula, can be seen tape- delayed Sunday at New Frontier's Gilley's Saloon, Dancehall and Bar-B-Que.

About a month ago, Ozeki, who is editor of Ohana (family) magazine, a locally published bi-monthly publication for expatriated islanders, had the idea to show the hula festival in Las Vegas.

On a whim, he contacted both the producers of the festival and TV station KITV in Honolulu, which broadcasts the event. Ozeki wanted to see if they would be interested in finding a way for Hawaiians living in Las Vegas to see the contest.

At first Ozeki considered airing the show live, but both the $1,000-an-hour cost and the time difference (Hawaii Standard Time is two hours behind Pacific Standard in the winter) made it impossible.

So Ozeki worked out a compromise to show a taped version of today's competition, which he said is the most popular of the three nights, which began Thursday with Miss Aloha, an individual talent contest, and Saturday's auana competition, which is a more modern hula dance.

He then contacted New Frontier about hosting a lunchtime luau around the festival. While the country-and-western decor of Gilley's may not mesh with the grass skirts and leis of a luau, the purpose behind his location selection is of a practical nature: three big-screen TVs, perfect to view the contest.

Because Ozeki has not had much time to advertise the event in advance, he is not counting on a big turnout.

"I'm just hoping for a 100-plus people," he said. "That will be a surprise."

But if everything goes well, Ozeki said he plans on arranging another luau around a tape-delayed showing of the festival next year.

He estimates that there are approximately 40,000-50,000 Hawaiian expatriates living in Las Vegas -- easily enough hula fans to merit his efforts.

"Ex-islanders here have such a yearning for things of a Hawaiian nature," Ozeki said. And, for non-Islanders, "It's an opportunity to see the best of what Hawaiians have to offer."