Read Lulu in Honolulu for Free Online Page B

grand three-story ’Iolani Palace. Their faded OHANA CAMP flag, stuck into the ground near them, hangs down. There’s not a puff of breeze in the hot, moist air. A big bowl of Lulu’s homemade mango salsa and a tub of taro chips sit in the middle of straw beach mats. Auntie Moana walks around, making sure all the kids drink enough water. Caridyn sits with the kids and softly beats her pahu drum.

    CUT!! Just so you know, right now, I’m over the tippy-top stressed. I’m worried about Noelani being able to lead our hula AND about Lex getting my parents off the set and here to watch. When I get up onstage, I’m gonna be shaking like a ti leaf! I wonder if, like a hundred years ago, Hawaiian kids ever felt this scared performing for the Hawaiian royalty? Did you know that Hawaii is the only state in the United States that was once its own kingdom with its own king and queen and real royal palaces? That’s where we are now—on the grounds of Hawaii’s fanciest palace. Back to: ACTION!!
    Lulu watches Noelani’s foot shake up and down.
    LULU
    (to Noelani)
    You OK?
    NOELANI
    I’m super-whopper nervous.
    LULU
    Yeah but what’s that brave word again?
    NOELANI
    Koa .
    LULU
    Just focus on your inner koa .
    Lulu feels a tap on her shoulder. She turns quickly, thinking it’s her parents.
    CLOSE-UP reveals Khloe and the Cs wearing matching aqua dresses.
    They glance at Ohana kids chatting, giggling, eating, or just goofing around on the grass.
    KHLOE
    (to Lulu and Noelani)
    How are my old partners from my Ohana Camp days? You guys danced yet?
    LULU
    Aloha, you guys. Nope, we haven’t.
    Carole gives Lulu a once-over.
    CAROLE
    (to Lulu)
    So where’re your famous parents?
    CATE
    I thought we’d get your dad’s autograph?
    KHLOE
    I wish he was here to see our dance. We’re gonna win. We were perfect.
    (glances at Cate and Carole)
    Don’t you guys think so?
    CAROLE
    Way for sure.
    CATE
    We danced Ka wailele o Nu‘uanu . A song about a river or something.
    NOELANI
    (softly, almost to herself)
    It’s about a waterfall.
    CAROLE
    Whatever. It’s a hard hula, so just doing that dance is gonna get us high points.
    LULU
    (looks at Noelani)
    Do you know it?
    Noelani nods.
    Khloe and the Cs scamper off when they spot other girls wearing the same aqua costume.
    NOELANI
    (to Lulu)
    In case you were wondering, seeing them rained on my teeny tiny koa flame.
    Auntie Moana puts up her hand to stop Caridyn’s drumming.
    AUNTIE MOANA
    Keiki , listen.
    Ohana campers gather around.
    AUNTIE MOANA
    Uncle Akamu will not be coming to play ukulele for the dance. He stayed up all night on the beach, waiting for the little one’s mother. At sunrise this morning, I got him and put him to bed.
    Some kids look down. Others twitch or wiggle. They do not want to be alarmed at performing without Uncle Akamu’s ukulele because they know waiting and chanting for the seal pup’s mother to come back is more important than hula. Still, they get nervous. No one looks at each other.
    After a few quiet seconds, Lulu jumps up.
    LULU
    C’mon! I just heard them call Ohana Camp. Let’s go.
    Kids bolt up. Maleko and Liam sprint ahead.
    Lulu scrambles after them. Her I USED TO BE A PLASTIC BOTTLE tote bag clonks her thigh as she runs.
    LULU
    Geez peas! Wait!
    EXT. ’IOLANI PALACE GROUNDS, AREA BETWEEN STAGE AND JUDGE’S TABLE—CONTINUOUS
    Auntie Moana shhhs all the kids. Lulu arrives. Between panting and pushing the stitch in her side, she reaches into her tote bag and pulls out yellow hibiscus and bobby pins.
    LULU
    I brought these for everyone. I almost forgot.
    Lulu plunks down her tote bag and kids dive in for the flowers. Petals and fingers get crushed.
    AUNTIE MOANA
    Mahalo , Lulu. You brought the Hawaii state flower.
    The girls pin them in their hair. The boys stick them onto their shirts.
    LULU
    I cut them from plants around my house this morning. You always