I spent this past weekend at the legendary Ka’anapali Beach Hotel. This was my 18th November in a row, as a guest there. KBH, as most of us call the classic Hawaiian joint, is one of my homes-away-from-home. The staff is my family and the endless stream of food makes me fat & happy.

The occasion for my visit was again the Hula o Na Keiki (Children’s Hula Competition). The individual male and female hula dancers range in age from about 11 to 17 years old. Their dances are intense and steeped with tradition and protocol (not the cutsy type of hula you might expect an immature child to dance).

For the 18th time, I woke up early on the following Sunday morning to photograph the winners at sunrise on the beach. You see, in the lobby at the hotel is a wall of fame, where each male and female winner has a portrait hanging in perpetuity. It is a legacy that has been building from one generation into the next. A third generation of hula champions will be on the wall in just 4 or 5 more years.

That wall is one of the hidden treasures in Ka’anapali  — not because I made the photos, but because it gives true insight to the future of the hula and the direction of the Hawaiian culture. The vast majority of the children whom have won this competition have grown up to become cultural leaders and hula teachers.

Again, for the fourth year straight, the winners were students of Kumu Hula Haunani Peredes, and Brandon Peredes. If you have seen any of my posters, you know who Haunani is. She won this very event 17 years ago!

Many mahalos again, KBH, for your committment! And mahalos also to photographer Aubrey Hord for assisting me and capturing these candid images.