Hard-core hula

Posted Monday, March 31, 2008, 9:59 AM by Lonely Planet

Think hula is all grass skirts and coconut bras? Think again. Starting yesterday, the Big Island of Hawai'i hosts the 45th Annual Merry Monarch Festival, which offers opportunities to witness some serious hula and authentic Hawaiian dance. If you've seen only hotel or lu'au hula shows, be prepared for these dancers' skill and seriousness to give you a whole new perspective in this Olympics of hula.



The world-famous three-day hula competition, held in Hilo, begins on Thursday 3 April with ten young women vying for the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2008. On Friday the 4th, the top kane (men) and wahine (women) troupes from across the Hawaiian Islands dance the kahiko, traditional dance. The festival culminates on Saturday the 5th, when the groups perform their 'auana (modern) dances and the awards ceremony is held.

Not fortunate enough to be on Hawaii's Big Island this week? Watch the festival live on KITV/TheHawaiiChannel.com, which also offers heaps of hula and festival info.

Established in 1964, Hilo's premier attraction honors King David Kalakaua (1836-91), who almost singlehandedly revived Hawaiian culture and arts, including hula, which had been forbidden by missionaries for almost 70 years.

Aloha!

Emily K Wolman, Commissioning Editor - Canada, Alaska & Hawaii

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SF Welcomes Outside Lands

Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2008, 10:02 AM by Lonely Planet

Austin has South by Southwest. Tennessee has Bonnaroo. Now San Francisco gets a piece of the action with the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, which will take place in Golden Gate Park, August 22-24, 2008.

Sure to give the old guard festivals a run for their money, Outside Lands has confirmed their initial lineup, and it's stellar: Radiohead, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jack Johnson, Beck and Wilco, among others. And there are more to come - they're gearing up for over sixty acts on five stages over the three days.

Tickets go on sale this Sunday, March 30, at 10am Pacific time, so set your alarm clock! You'll also need to set aside a good chunk of change, since this three-day party in the park ain't cheap - tickets for the whole shebang will run you $225.50 plus charges. (One-day tickets are pending availability, meaning the fest folks are seeing how much they rake in with the three-day-ticket sales before they release any single-day ones.)


Jennye Garibaldi, Commissioning Editor, USA

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