Honolulu, United States - A 45-member group from the Little Companion Art Troupe of Shanghai Children's Palace concluded its five-day stay in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Aug 29 before setting foot on the United States mainland for another five days.

Hawaiian girls teach the visiting young dancers of the Little Companion Art Troupe from China to dance hula, the traditional dance of the islands, in Honululu, Hawaii, Aug 28, 2010.

The teenage troupe, comprising of 40 girls and five boys, performed at the Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu on Friday night.

"They are the prettiest kids on the island these days," said Vernon Ching, former president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

"This is my first time in Hawaii," said Zhong Ruiqi, a 10-year-old boy, who has been part of the troupe for five years. "I'm extremely glad I got a chance to perform in such a picturesque place."

The visiting group, led by Lu Ping, president of Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation, also includes 19 staff members from Shanghai Children's Palace.

The enchanting oriental dances, Peking opera, folksongs of minority ethnic groups, classical Chinese musical instrument show, piano and violin duo, as well as the calligraphy and paper-cut performance won lasting applauses during the two-hour gala.

The audience was also pleased with the Chinese performers' English-speaking ability.

"I didn't expect their English would be so good," said Frances H Goo, president of the Hawaiian Chapter of US-China Peoples' Friendship Association.

The Hawaiian Halau Hula Olana Troupe performed the traditional hula dance to the tune of a Chinese song — The moon represents my heart — which turned some viewers misty-eyed.

As the Hawaiian girls' started their choreography with the voice of Teresa Tang echoing in the auditorium, an emotional Ching said: "It's a very nice combination of different cultures. These are tears of joy."

Goo said: "I watched the Chinese kids rehearse over the past few days. They've been training so hard."

Shanghai Children's Palace Art Troupe has performed at the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Expo and the ceremony to welcome US President Barack Obama to Shanghai last November.

Since its debut in Hawaii in 1989, the troupe has returned to perform here in 1996 and 2001.

"Since our last visit, our troupe members have been succeeded by one generation after another," said Lu. "These little artists, like their predecessors, are all beneficiaries of Soong Ching Ling's lifelong cause to improve life for the universal love of mankind."

A picnic was organized for the young artists near the famous Waikiki beach on Saturday morning, following which the Hawaiian kids taught their Chinese guests some basic moves of the hula dance.

"This troupe is Shanghai's business card, and these outstanding children represent our country's image," Zhu Shizhong, an official from the China Welfare Institute, told China Daily.

Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Association, affiliated to the China Welfare Institute, which was established by Soong Ching Ling, Dr Sun Yat-sen's wife, in Hong Kong in 1938, aims to improve women's lives.

On Tuesday night, hours after the troupe's arrival, the Hawaii State Government held a reception in Washington Place, which was the governor's palace from 1959 to 2002.

At the banquet, Linda Linger, the governor of Hawaii, said: "I have been to China many times… sorry for still being unable to speak Chinese. But I hope I will be able to communicate with my Chinese friends in basic Mandarin during my next visit."

As governor, she has visited China four times. Her latest visit was in June this year to attend the Shanghai Expo.

(China Daily September 3, 2010)