I am delighted to be back at the Royal Kuhio again this year
and to have had the privilege of welcoming the Year of the Snake
with the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association on February 1st.
The lion dancers welcomed in the Chinese Lunar New Year
by performing a traditional lion dance for residents and visitors in the lobby.
Bring on the Lions!
Royal Kuhio
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
February 1, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
The Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association
is a non-profit organization
formed in Honolulu in 2005.
All members are volunteers made up of
students and working professionals.
Everyone should see a lion dance at least once in their lives.
Yes, it's visually exciting and throbs to the beating of drums,
the clashing of cymbals, and the singing of the gong.
But a lion dance is much more than vibrant sights and sounds.
It's a traditional Asian art form that dates back 5000 years to its origin in China. Source
Dancing Lions
Royal Kuhio
February 1, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
The lion dance tells a story and brings fortune and good luck to the audience.
Two people mimic the movements of a lion, one in the front and one in the back.
The dancer at the front leads the lion, setting the direction, pace, and footwork,
and the movements of the head, ears, and mouth.
The dancer at the back must follow the steps of the head dancer
and the beat of the music while bent over.
Lion dances are most popular during the Lunar New Year celebrations,
but they are also performed at community events, business openings, weddings, school festivals and other events. Source
Lions Delighting the Audience
Royal Kuhio
February 1, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Anticipation grew as Royal Kuhio employees set the stage for the dance,
carefully suspending a Chinese cabbage in the entrance to the lobby.
The purpose of this curious act was revealed at the end of the dance.
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
containing a gift of money was attached to the cabbage.
Other red packets were hung by the doors in the lobby area.
These packets are traditionally presented on many occasions in China
and other countries with sizable ethnic Chinese populations.
They symbolize good fortune and wealth.
They are also given to lion dance performers for their service. Source
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
People quickly filled the lobby area in anticipation of the dance,
and excitement and laughter increased as the members of the
The Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association arrived.
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Pono Ka'ahanui, the resident manager, has worked to increase cultural events at the Royal Kuhio.
I love to participate in his traditional hula class every Sunday.
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Everyone enjoyed the dancing lions as they pranced around displaying their skills.
Accompanying the lion dancers were musicians playing the drum, cymbals, and the gong.
The drum represents the heartbeat of the lion,
and the cymbals and gong represent its thoughts.
The exciting music is loud and intense to drive away ghosts and evil spirits.
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
One of the Lions Collects a Red Packet
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
And Another Red Packet
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
There are two different styles of Chinese dancing lions: Southern and Northern.
The more acrobatic Northern Dance features martial arts moves, kicks, leaps and climbing,
and the lions have a shaggier, more realistic appearance.
The Southern Dance mimics lion behavior
with lots of blinking, licking, scratching, and shaking.
The lions have oversized, stylized, dragon-like heads
and the lead dancers can manipulate their mouth, eyes, and ears.
The colors of the lions represent different qualities:
red for courage, green for friendship, and yellow for liveliness.
Southern Lion Dance
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
One of the great things about the lion dance performance in the Royal Kuhio
is that everyone could be close to the lions and see their movements easily.
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
A Parting Shot
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
And that Chinese cabbage?
It's a famous lion dance routine known as choi chang or getting the greens.
A head of lettuce containing a red packet with money
is hung high in a doorway or outside a building.
The lion carefully approaches the suspended lettuce, often performing a difficult feat
such as the front dancer standing on the shoulders of the back one.
The lion grabs the lettuce, eats it, and spits it out spreading good luck and prosperity. Source
People often take a piece for good fortune and luck during the coming year. Source
You know I got a piece of lettuce!
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
All too soon the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association members were packing up,
moving on to another celebration of the Year of the Snake.
The departure of this magical cultural group left quiet in its wake.
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Back in our condo, I wrapped my cabbage piece carefully and tucked it in my purse
next to my father-in-law's St. Christopher's Medal (the patron saint of travelers).
With luck and good fortune, I'll be back to the Royal Kuhio next year
to see the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association welcome the Year of the Horse!
I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date, Tom's Aloha Friday, and Nicole's Friday Face Off.
See you next time! Aloha! ❤️🌺🍀
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2025 – All rights reserved.
My next post will be
Friday, February14th. 🤞
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
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