Keoghan's Heroes

When He's Not Following 'The Amazing Race,' Phil Keoghan Does Some Exploring Of His Own

(CBS) 

Here's Phil's report about his trip to Hawaii:

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Bet you didn't know that hula dancing originated with men! Hundreds of years ago, men performed the hula — it was the way ancients legends and stories were passed down the generations. Phil Keoghan was in search of the real hula, not the hip-shaking version popular at the tourist hotels. He followed an all-male hula team as they prepared and competed in the most prestigious hula competition in the world.

Says Phil: "For centuries, men performed the hula, handing down ancient stories and legends thru dance. Christian missionaries tried to kill it, but hula survived, though barely.

"The only people that could keep hula alive was those way out in the boonies, or in the caves. But hula became more of a womanized form of entertainment; when the rich tourists came in, they wanted to see these maidens doing the yahakidoodle.

"Real hula survives today thanks to guys like Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, teachers, or 'kumu,' of the hula school I ka Wekiu.

"If it takes a real man to wear a grass skirt, it takes hands of steel to make one. They have thorns all along the edge and all along the spine, so your hands get ripped to pieces.

"When we caught up with I ka Wekiu, they were about to compete in the Merrie Monarch Festival, the Super Bowl of Hula. The students had been working to perfect their routine for two years, practicing two hours a day, three to four times a week.

"It was crunch time for them — just 30 hours before the competition. It's also a time to be spiritual. On the eve of the contest, they all made a ritual visit to the edge of Kilauea —offerings are made to the goddess Pele.

"If you think hula is a gentle, swaying dance, you've not seen real hula: it's a lot of effort (I know, I tried!). As one of the dancers told me, "It's vigorous; you have to be flexible, strong, you have to have good focus. It really takes a lot — it's mentally challenging, and physically too.

"Finally, the moment of truth: the stadium's been sold out for months, a massive TV audience is tuned in across the islands — two years of hard work is about to be put to the test.

"Symmetry, timing, cultural integrity — each is a vital scoring element. The crowd loved it — but did the judges?

"As the awards are announced, fourth place, then third, then second; they're either No. 1 — or going home empty-handed.

"By a single point, the men of I Ka Wekiu, celebrate top honors!"

Watch video of I Ka Wekiu's winning performance here. And see exclusive, Web-only video here.

To learn more about the Merrie Monarch competition, click here.

To learn more about the Big Island of Hawaii, click here.











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