Hawaii Tribune-Herald du lieu suivant : Hilo, Hawaii • 100

32 Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Sunday, March 31 2002 KITV to unveil new this year By John Burnett For the Tribune-Herald TT lA errie Monarch week brings hustle and to Hilo that is largely missing the AKANA KAHOANO and a local Hilo person or halau wins," Wray added, "we hope to get the reaction at the party. And then, we'll probably bring that back and play that for the viewers the following night, for example. So those snippets may be shown Friday night with reactions to what happened during the Miss Aloha Hula competition on Thursday night. "Another new feature that is rather invisible to our viewers is that the Japanese television network NHK is doing a documen- tary on Hawaiian music in general.

This is the second year mat they've done this. This year, they will include some very short clips of various performers during the See KITV, Page 33 involved in the coverage, one more than last year. 'There are a couple of new things this year," Wray said. "One is rather invisible to the viewer and one will be apparent. We are going to make more use of an independent roving camera that is going to go backstage, behind the scenes, to watch people put their adornments on, adjust their costumes and talk to people before they go on or after they come off to get their reactions.

"That same camera is actually going to rove around Hilo town and go to homes having private parties where family members of and halau will be gathered to take some shots there and watch them watching the performance. "And maybe, if they're lucky the show is over with. I know that David meets with the judges and the Merrie Monarch Festival people to see what we can do to make our coverage better. He's very interested in accuracy, in authenticity and in perpetuation of the culture." Kahoano and Akana also have a great deal of work to do prior to production, "This year, their preparation is going to be extraordinary," Wray said. "We've enlisted the help of one of the judges, Noenoe Zutter-meister Lewis, to assist us with the preparation of the script and making corrections on subjects of authenticity.

Because she is more actively involved in the script this year, the script will be done sooner, they'll be able to go over it, and I think they'll be far more prepared this year than they have been. So I think it will be a far more informative presentation than what we've had in previous years." Each year also seems to bring new technological advances to the broadcast. Two years ago a "spider cam," an overhead camera in the rafters, made its debut. Last year, KITV 4's Web site, www.thchawaiichanncl.com, started streaming Webcasts. This year, there will be eight cameras 7.

KITV 4 News Sports Director Robert Kekaula will be doing live reports during the 5 p.m. news with Gary Sprinkle and Pamela Young, and the 5:30 p.m. news with Dan Cooke which has been moved forward from 6 p.m. to accommodate the Merrie Monarch broadcast. Kekaula will also pinch-hit for Boyd on the occasions when Ho'okena is the musical accompaniment for the halau on stage.

Preparation for this year's broadcast began months ago for KITV 4 Production Manager John Wray, broadcast producer David "Kawika" Kalama and director Sid Milburn. "For this year's coverage, we actually start our planning in September and we start shooting as early as October," Wray said. "And I'm sure David Kalama starts reviewing how the coverage the previous year went right after Aloha Vclccnis, Visiters to the Merrie Monarch Festival Good Ludc to all Participants! 185 Makaala Street Hilo Ph 935-6838 Jio (9i 1 rest of the year. Hotels are full, rental cars are sold out, craft fairs abound plus the malls and other local merchants have appreciably more foot traffic. One also may have to wait longer than usual before getting seated in a local eatery.

But the halau, their supporters and spectators who come to Hilo during Merrie Monarch week are more than just visitors or even friends. They are members of Hilo's extended ohana, at least for that week. And a most welcome part of the ohana is the 30 or so people of Island Television KiTV 4. who come over every year to pull off a technological near-miracle of live broadcasts each night of the competition. Tons of equipment are shipped in by Young Brothers barge to make it happen.

And a backup generator provided and operated by Electric is on site in case of power outages such as the ones thut happened in 1986 and 1997. This will be the 22nd year KITV has covered the Merrie Monarch Festival. In the beginning, it -was a tape-delayed broadcast. Live coverage began in 1984. Radio and TV personality Kimo Kahoano has been hosting the broadcast since its' inception.

He also handles the P. A. announcing chores for those in Edith Kanakaole Tennis Studium, a dual role that would daunt a lesser broadcaster. Kahoano is a natural choice, having been a professional dancer who studied hula with the late Auntie Ma'iki Aiu Lake. His co-host is KITV 4 News anchor Paula Akana, a student of Hawaiian language and culture.

Providing commentary is Manu Boyd, an Office of Hawaiian Affairs staffer, kumu hula and member of the popular Hawaiian band Ho'okena. Boyd also provides commentary on the Merrie Monarch Parade, which is videotaped for a report on the Saturday evening broadcast. Broadcast time is 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Akana will also host a 30-minute special, "Backstage at the Merrie Monarch," Wednesday evening at GasuaI HawattaaNJvcar rft.

During the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival we Invite you to visit our booths at the following two locations In Hilo, 3 ttJ The Annual Msrrio Monarch Hawaiian Arts Crafts Fair Wed, Thiir, Frl Sat 9am to 5pm 'I Afook-Chlnen Ovte Auditorium The Hawai'i Arts. Crafts Food Festival 74 .0 1 Thur, Frl Sat am to 5pm Mall Visit our wbtltifd order oolin at namakua.com Tttephont (a08) Email: punanamakua.com 1.