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Posted: Wednesday, March 30th, 2005 5:38 AM HST

Male dancers from Japan to perform at Merrie Monarch

By Associated Press

HILO, Hawaii (AP) Male dancers from a Japanese hula school are set to perform in Hawaii for the first time at the Merrie Monarch Festival's Wednesday Night Hoike. The hoike, or exhibition, will also feature presentations by three renowned hula masters. Kumu hula Tony Tauvela will bring 16 men from Tokyo-based Halau Hula Mele Ohana to the hoike. They will be the first men from Japan ever to perform at the world's top hula competition. They will perform between presentations by Pualani Kanakaole Kanahele and Nalani Kanakaole, and Johnny Lum Ho, three of the world's pre-eminent hula teachers. Hula schools from abroad have never participated in the competitive segment of the festival. Assistant festival director Luana Kawelu says here are so many halau vying to perform, organizers give preference to those from Hawaii and, in some cases, the mainland. (Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved.)