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Patrick Makuakane, founder-director of the 22-year-old hula troupe Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu ('The many feathered wreaths at the summit, held in high esteem'), is an amazingly multi-talented man. Every one of the previous Na Lei shows he produced, directed, cast, choreographed, MC'd, sang and danced in have encompassed deep spiritual feelings, elements of the contemporary hotel-lounge hula, high good humor, and music well beyond the confines of the Island State.

One of the most memorable shows from Na Lei came in 2003, when Makuakane used the music of the Beatles and an aria from Leo Delibes' 'Lakmé,' commingling British pop, Polynesian dance and French opera in a grand, affecting show. The cross-cultural approach made even more sense with the portrait of Hawaii's opera-loving King Kalakaua looking down on the stage.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1006054~Review__Hula_extravaganza_ from_sacred_to_profane.html

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