Uncle Chucky boy chock moʻolelo

Aloha mai kākou,

Please read on for another installment our of “kaiāulu (community) moʻolelo”.  The purpose of these moʻolelo are to share what makes Wailua special to the author.  This one comes from Uncle Chucky Boy Chock!

Chucky Boy Chock is the Executive Director of the Kauaʻi Museum. Chucky Boy is known widely as a musician and songwriter. He is generous with sharing his ʻike Hawaiʻi through storytelling. Chucky Boy uses both music and history to educate diverse populations about our Native Hawaiian and Kauaʻi-based culture. He is passionate about creating spaces where our community can learn and be a part of curating our history to empower our future here on Kauaʻi and across our pae ʻāina. I Ola Wailuanui wants to mahalo Uncle Chucky Boy for sharing his moʻolelo with us! Here is his story:

Hula Kiʻi covers a wide variety of dramatic techniques, ranging from dancers portraying kiʻi (wooden images) or puppets being manipulated as if they were dancing. Keahi Luahine, recognized as one the foremost kumu hula of her day, states that “the dance of the legendary hula kiʻi wooden images originated from Kalalau, Kauaʻi, and was danced by the kamaliʻi (children).” 

Its original form is unknown, but by the 1900s, young children on Kauaʻi would assume a stiff posture and movement mimicking the kiʻi and petroglyphs of Wailua after returning from swimming. (Pukui/Barrere) 

The dance, unaccompanied by music, was performed to the chant “Hula Kiʻi O Pōkiʻi” a story that tells of a row of genderless Kiʻi images of Ka Pae Kiʻi o Māhū that once stood at Wailua, near the mouth of the river. Archeologists believe that these ancient Kiʻi deteriorated over time and possible remnants may still be buried in place at Wailua. 

Hula Kiʻi o Pōkiʻi 

Pōkiʻi ke kiʻi The dance of the images 

Hoʻokiʻikiʻi ke kiʻi The images that tilt, 

Hoʻonaʻanaʻa ke kiʻi The images with protruding abdomen, 

Hoʻoʻualehe ke kiʻi The images with knees spread out and bent

Kaunalewa ke kiʻi The images that sway. 

Hiʻuwai i Wailua Washed by the waters of Wailua 

Ka pae kiʻi māhū Is this row of genderless images

Ua ike a. They are well known.