Kaʻū News Briefs Jan. 10, 2025

Traditional Hawaiian Lua, fighting, will be explained on Friday, Jan. 31 at 
Nāʻālehu Community Center. Photo from kuialuaopuna.com.

LEARN ABOUT INDIGENOUS PRACTICES OF LUA - HAWAIIAN FIGHTING ARTS on Friday, Jan. 31 at Nāʻālehu Community Center. Pupu and refreshments will start at 6 p.m., followed by a free one-hour presentation, entitled Cultural Evolution of Lua beginning at 7 p.m.

    ʻŌlohe Lua, or Lua Master, Keani Kaleimamahu of Kuʻialuaopuna will give an overview and history of the practice of lua; explain the traditional profession of lua and its role in ancient Hawaiian society; and give insight into the role of lua in the modern world. He will also share the genealogy of ʻōlohe, or lua masters and teachers and show implements used in the practice

of lua. All ages are welcome.
Space is limited, so the workshop will be limited to the first 80 people who register. Secure your spot at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZiK0_9gLxU22RLZx7PKw6x9QyAoXHD6SVMXa8TaoArCL1Jw/viewform or by scanning the QR code in the flyer. Be sure to complete a separate registration for each ʻohana member that will attend.
    The presentation is part of Kuʻialuaopunaʻs Huliau Huaka'i Series and Mamao Program, offering participants of all ages the opportunity to learn about the cultural practices and life of a Hawaiian Koa, or warrior.
    The Mamao Program is sponsored by Kamehameha Schools Kaiāulu, which supports lifelong learning for keiki, ʻōpio and ʻohana.
    View a brief video about the upcoming lua presentation at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cfZzioLRoz6C9tZuY0sJ9bwnJXQPLJEr/view?usp=drivesdk
    For more information about Kuʻialuaopuna, visit https://www.kuialuaopuna.com/.

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The frisbee like disc from last year's Big Island Open Disc Golf Tournament. It's on again this

Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Julia Neal

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THE 26TH BIG ISLAND OPEN DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT COMES BACK TO PUNALU'U for two days at SeaMountain Golf Course this Saturday, Jan. 10 and Sunday, Jan. 11. Registration for the 36 holes each day is closed but the event is open for public view. There are Mixed and Women's Pro and Amateur and age group divisions in the competition. 

    Disc golf is played with frisbee like discs with nets serving as holes instead of the holes on the greens. There are pars for the hole, just like in golf.

    Tournament Director Robert Naysworthy describes the Punalu'u venue as "two unique courses with some long holes, and lots of challenges set up on Sea Mountain Golf Course which has been closed for years. We will have the place to ourselves the entire weekend. We will have two courses set up this year with 18 holes each so two rounds each day on each course. We will have room for even more people than last year. 2 courses double the fun!"

    The event is a Professional Disc Golf Association-sanctioned singles tournament with about 140 players registered.

A specialized Disc Golf cart at Punalu'u with frisbee like discs which are thrown into large baskets on poles which serve as the holes on the golf course for scoring. Photo by Nico Reese

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TWO CLASSICAL AND BROADWAY PUBLIC MUSIC CONCERTS, with voice, piano, trumpet and violin, this Saturday, Jan. 11, will present unique programs at their Ocean View and Pāhala venues.   

     The 7 p.m. evening concert at Pāhala Plantation House will include a performance of No Mercy at All from Doctor Zhivago, sung by Carlton Moe, who played on Broadway in Phantom of the Opera.

     It will include pianist Maika'i Nash, with Nocturne by Grieg, Amy Shoremount Obra singing La mi sola, Laureola, accompanied by pianist Monica Chung. Also featured will be internationally acclaimed violinist Eric Silberger with Farley Sangles on trumpet and Chung on piano with the Ewazen Trio. 

     Students of the Garcia School who work and live in far off places from China to London, New York and San Francisco will also perform.

    The concert at Ocean View Community Center at 12:30 p.m. will include classical and Broadway songs and instrumental compositions.