This is the first dance they did. The "sticks" they are using to keep rhythm are called kala'au. They are the first learned of many implements the dancers use as they advance at hula. The song is "Likelike."
There are two songs in this video. The first song is the traditional "Kawika". The second is the hapa-haole standard "Keep Your Eyes on the Hands."
This is the hapa-haoule song "Ulupalakua." The song is about the Ulupalakua ranch on Maui. If you watch closely you can see the dancers slinging breadfruit and making paniolo lassos over their heads.
This dance is to the song "Royal Hawaiian Hotel." Reina says this is her favorite hula song.
Here's the keiki dancing to "Tutu E". Sorry for the jittery start: I had to move b/c I couldn't see Reina. This song is about "grandma" who drinks some rum and does hula. Reina loves doing the "drunk" part.
The last song they danced to was "E Huli Makou"
Next up are some stills from the day (click to see larger image).
Reina, mid-performance.
Reina watches the older students do a song in between sets.
While waiting for Reina's performance to start, Noa and I checked out some fire trucks.
After the performance, Reina and Karen got to meet Jake Shimabukuro. If you don't know who Jake is, he's a kind of mix of Eddie Van Halen and Chet Atkins on ukulele. Here's a video of him covering the Beatles' While My Guitar Gently Weeps (which he performed right before Reina came on and I was too dumbfounded to record it):
