The dancer from Oahu prepares to realize her dream on stage and competes for the coveted title Miss Aloha Hulaula

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – You saw the award-winning performances of Halau Kawaiulaokala’s Kane on the world’s largest hula stage.

But for the very first time, at the coveted Merrie Monarch Festival, you will see a wahine representing the Oahu Halau vying for one of the most prestigious titles in the world: Miss Aloha Hula.

“When the opportunity arose to have a Miss Aloha Hula, we were just so excited,” said Kumu Hula Kelii Puchalski of Halau Kawaiulaokala. “You know, we want our wahine to come out and the world knows that Kawaiulaokala has wahine too.”

Crishelle Kaleiohoku Young’s love for the hula began before she was even born.

“The first time my mom went back to the hula with me during her pregnancy was the first time she kicked me, so she felt like a sign that I had to hula. And that’s why she put me in hula at a young age, ”said Young.

Her childhood dream of running for the coveted title came true in a particularly sweet way – when Kumu Hula asked Kelii Puchalski Young to meet him in front of Cinnabon at Ala Moana.

“I was like, OK, this may or may not go well and either she will really want to do it or maybe she will” back and say: ‘Oh Kumu, I don’t want it, I’m not ready yet.’ “said Puchalski. “So I thought, OK, well, whether it’s going bad or good, you know what I mean, for example, having some Cinnabon right there always makes it better. If it’s a yes or no, at least we had Cinnabon. “

It was a resounding yes for Young.

“It was something I’ve always wanted to do, and the only thing you dream about is like dancing the hula when you’re so young,” said Young.

Preparing for the “Hula Olympics” requires a lot of commitment. Some refer to the trip to Hilo as a part-time job. She actually quit her job for Young in order to be able to fully devote herself to preparing for the big day.

“When times are tough, you grow the most,” said Young. “It’s like you’re being stretched and pulled and your ability to do what you can do grows and stretches.”

Pulchalski said the hula is more than just movement – there is a mind and an essence.

“We hope that people will feel the mana of the stories we are trying to tell and the presentation that we have and just the mana and spirit of the hula line we come from,” he said.

Like everyone else in Halau, Young was supposed to compete in 2020, but then came the coronavirus pandemic.

“It really helped to know that we are not alone with this and that we can all pull together and get through it together and lean on each other, because there are all the boys, there are my Kumu, my hula sisters and we are really got harder as a family to support each other during this time, ”said Young.

After two years she is living her dream in Edith Kanakaole Stadium.

Although it’s a soloist competition, the 26-year-old won’t be the only one on stage.

“My kumu always says that our ultimate kupuna is ke akua, so of course I will bring God to this level and really only offer him to him, because without him we would not have what we have and we would not have these experiences. “

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