The galloping vamp on the ukulele and guitar played in perfect time while Nohea danced her kaholo without effort on her right and left.
It wasn't her idea to get up and dance, nor was it an inkling in her na'au because of the song that played. It was because the stage manager, along with everyone else at the get-together, put her on the spot and would not let up until she agreed to dance. Walking up to the band, she bowed and then commented. "Take it easy."The band led with Ho'onānea, which moved Nohea beautifully across the floor. Those who didn't really know Nohea instantly fell in love with her as most are wont to do when they see her dance. For those who knew her, they knew of the years she invested in hula, but they also knew of her life struggles. She wasn't troubled financially, not at all. It was love that escaped her at every turn; it just never appeared to work out.
Ma ka poli iho no, e ho'onānea
e a ke inu wai, a ka maunu...
The band then effortlessly transitioned to Ke Aloha, where the audience felt their breath taken away. For as much as I tell you that the performance was otherworldly, it would not make the right impression upon you unless you were there yourself, because the earth moved under your feet, but you would never know it because your senses were numbed. You could not have made an audible sound because your mind could not send the signal to your mouth to form the proper words. Time stood still because there was no other moment than the one that unfolded before your eyes, where music, words, and hula existed simultaneously. When it was complete, silence filtered through the room, but only for a nano-second, then the crowd erupted with mad aplomb and tears.
"Hana hou!" They shouted. "Hana hou!"
Nohea bowed graciously and turned to the band, acknowledging them for their music. She bowed again to everyone as if she were acknowledging royalty. The band played a song for her as she made her way off the stage.
E nihi ka hele, mai ho'opā
mai pūlale i ka 'ike a ka maka
Ho'okahi nō makamaka 'o ke aloha
A hea mai ka lani a e kipa...
The same galloping vamp on the 'ukulele and guitar led her to moving right and left kaholo, her hands flawlessly moving as a gentle breeze. Her hips kicked up small dust devils, causing them to become as spouts of air, tousling the hair of distinguished gentlemen while stirring the jealousy of their girlfriends and wives. At the conclusion, she turned again to take a final bow, but the audience wanted one more ho'i. Nohea danced to the other end of the stage, milking every step she danced, her arms leading the right and left kaholo, and her hips carrying her to her final destination. "Alright, pau," she said to the lead 'ukulele player. Giving the nod, everyone understood they had reached the conclusion. Nohea walked off stage, and the audience stood once more, giving a five-minute standing ovation.
Nohea went straight to her chair at the back of the house and sat quietly, while nursing her drink and chewing on pretzels. The stage manager had been looking for Nohea for a good minute until he finally found her and said,
"Don't say anything because I don't think you realized what just happened." He swiped his phone and held it up for her to see.
It was a video of her performing her hula. Nohea looked at the stage manager and shrugged.
"Keep watching," he insisted. A second later, she saw herself literally dancing in the air. Not high up, but just enough off the stage that one could see she was not touching it. "They haven't stopped clapping! You have to back out there and do something, because those people won't leave!"
Not really comprehending what she had just seen on the phone video, Nohea returned to the stage, where the audience was still standing. The place went wild, and Nohea turned to the band, nodding.
Noenoe mai ana ia'u
i ke aloha o ka mokihana
A he hana ma'a 'ole ia'u
i ke aloha e hana nei...
Nohili e
i ke one kani
E 'uhene nei
i ka poli
Nohea beautifully transported the audience to Nohili Beach on Kaua'i, where they saw the shifting sands moving down the dune and heard the murmurs for which Nohili is famous. The musicians transitioned to E o mai, but Nohea stopped the musicians. She understood that they were moved by the moment, but she had to remind them. "Eh, we cannot have this whole audience getting orgasms all over the place, you guys! Going to be so messy! Just hit the ha'ina and let's go home!"
Although the ha'ina or the refrain was not a part of the song honoring Nohili, the musicians managed to insert it into the mele anyway and brought the evening to its completion. The audience again stood on its feet, wanting more, but Nohea approached the microphone. "Mahalo to all of you for coming. Please drive home safely and take care! Make sure not to catch a cold! Good night!"
The stage manager walked Nohea back to her car, but Nohea stopped him and told him, "Next time, when I say ask someone else to get up and hula, this is the reason why. I was raised under hula kapu. Now you understand?"
"I do understand," the stage manager said. "And I'm sorry."
"No, be sorry," Nohea retorted. "Just listen next time."
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