The road to winning Ka La Hula i Reno (also known as Heiva i Reno):

First, practice, practice, practice. And preferably find someplace fun to practice. Like Half Moon Bay. You know....on the beach....where hula was meant to be done.

Always listen to your Aunty Moe - she knows what she's doing:

Now follow her lead:

Next, find a group of people at the beach who are celebrating a birthday, then perform for them to get experience in front of an audience (sorry you can't hear the song):

Arrive in Reno and hang with your hula sisters to wait for results from the tahitian competition (and be ecstatic for them when your sisters Chelsea, Katelyn and Kalene take 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in their age category - and don't forget Francisco in the back row with the lei who took first place in his age category for Kane [men]!)

Next, run over to a conference room at the hotel and watch the big girls rehearse for the next day:

Then you rehearse with your crew for the next day:

And sneak in a solo rehearsal or two:

Wake up the morning of the competition and go over to the ballroom to watch the big girls block and rehearse their dance:

Then block and rehearse your dance:

Now you can take out the braids mom spent two hours putting in two days ago. Get big girls to do your hair while telling you all their horror stories of how much it hurt to brush out their hula hair when they were little (try to listen and take comfort through tears....then get mom to take over brushout so that it's not quite so painful....or at least you can yell at her and somehow that makes you feel better):

Now go to another parent for be-flowering (hey - no fair - how did YOUR mom get the sucky job of hair brushout?) Notice big smile to get be-flowered:

Some final touches with the flowers:

Such a pretty smile. And look at that great hula hair!

Awwwwww

Now, be sure to let off a little steam in the hotel room, overlooking beautiful downtown Reno:

And be sure to blow us some kisses backstage right before you perform:

Okay....here it is - the big moment! Si is on the far left. Three judges - not too scary, right? Although the one on the far left (in purple) is a Merrie Monarch judge - the superbowl of hula competitions:

Waiting with hula sisters for the results to be announced:

Oh my gosh! Is that right? We won? Let's go get our award!!!!

Pose with sisters - Sarah, Jessica, Jordan, Jasmine (hidden from view) and Sierra - and with judge and Aunty Moe and Uncle Kalen:

Now, go up and hang onto the premiere award - The Adjucator's Pick - the Best Hapa Haole Hula Award:

By winning this award they now automatically become finalists in the Hapa Haole Festival competition being held in Hawaii in October.

In all, Ke Ola Loa (Te Ora Roa O'tea) won the following:

1st place Keiki Hula Auana (that's Sierra!)

2nd place Wahine Hula Auana

1st place Wahine Hula Medley

1st place Music

1st place Costume (older girls)

Best Hapa Haole presentation

And don't forget the tahitian competition from the day before - 1st, 2nd and 3rd place PLUS a 1st place for Francisco

Now pose with everyone associated with the halau (except mom who is taking the photo):

And that's the road to winning a competition. Phew. Take a rest, spend a couple of days in Tahoe, then go see grandma. Life is good.