After waiting for a year and 4 months, the big night finally arrived.   32 kapa makers, representing most of the known kapa practitioners in the state, as well as one from California, filed onto the first row in front of the stage at the Edith Kanaka`ole Stadium on April 27, 2011 for the opening event of the Merrie Monarch competition. 
The Wednesday night Ho`ike event is a non-competitive evening of sharing dance and music from different cultures.  Tonight was extra special as the kapa makers eagerly watched Kumu Nalani Kanaka`ole step onto the stage and begin her chanting.  The history of the kapa practitioners spans from the early 1970’s to as recently as the last two years.    They walked in, adorned in kapa themselves, wearing sashes and wraps, sporting hat bands and carrying hand bags and clutches, all made by themselves.  They greeted old friends and were introduced to new ones… they were all there for a singular purpose….  To watch Halau O Kekuhi now uphold their part of the Hula Kapa Collaboration, which was to do what they do best…. Hula kahiko, only now, most of the group was dressed in traditionally inspired and produced, but modern made Hawaiian kapa. 

Watching in awe, this was the first time that most of the kapa makers have seen their work in such action.  It was hard to decide whether to cry or cheer, but the smiles were broad and the applause, thunderous.

Although this is a hula ho`ike, for the kapa makers, this was their showing time as well.  It was the time when they would find out if the kapa they made could bear the rigorous stylings of such a halau as Halau O Kekuhi…… if the fabric would hold or tear, if the colors would smear or run after being bathed in sweat.  As kapa makers watched, they were already planning how the next kapa would be…stronger, softer, brighter, more colorful or more boldly patterned.  They were thinking of which watermark they would choose, or were beginning plans to carve a new i`e kuku… they considered where their next wauke would come from, or decided that now was the right time to plant some in their garden.

As they heard later from the dancers themselves, who viewed the entire experience with a certain awe, and had almost vied with each other for the right to wear the limited number of kapa for the performance;  Each dancer felt a certain bonding to the maker of their kapa and were thrilled to be able to meet them and tell them how they felt to be able to dance wearing traditional Hawaiian kapa.

For the final hula of the set, a special hula noho, “Nahi`ena`ena”, was the number that was very special.  As each dancer carried in their kua and beater that would be used during the hula, many of the kapa makers commented that they had never seen that many kua (wooden anvil) all in one place.  The chanting along with the rhythmic beating resonated with each kapa maker, and by the end of the performance they were already planning the next event, the next experience…the next kapa.