About 10 years ago, frequent Isle visitors David "Kawika" and Rocky "Kaleinani" Baum decided, on a whim, to attend the King Kamehameha Hula Competition, because the halau of Robert Cazimero and Leina'ala Kalama Heine were participating, and they had seen and enjoyed these dancers before.

They would soon come to learn how unusual this festival is: offering a chanting competition and including mixed-gender hula groups, older-women groups and groups from outside the Islands. It's sponsored by the nonprofit State Council on Hawaiian Heritage (www.hulacomp.com).

At that first show, behind them, the Baums could hear whispered comments between a couple of locals and, during a break in the show, they fell into conversation with this couple, Ray and Violet Yoshimura, of Kaimuki. The Yoshimuras' granddaughter was performing with kumu hula Paleka Mattos' Hula Halau O Kamuela, and the Yoshimuras were curious about how a couple of clearly-not-locals had landed at this very folksy event, which is usually way off the tourist radar.

The Baums told how much they love Hawaiian music and culture and how Kawika Baum's parents had been coming to Hawai'i since the 1960s.

That night, the Yoshimuras offered not only to take the Baums back to their hotel in Waikiki but to pick them up the next day for the second day of the festival.

"That would never happen in Los Angeles," said Kawika Baum, drily.

The rest is a beautiful story. The Yoshimuras and the Baums (who have visited the Islands 47 times from their home near Los Angeles and spend in excess of five weeks a year here, for business and recreation) became great friends.

The Yoshimuras would take the Baums to places locals favor, such as Camellia Yakiniku and the old Tree Tops Restaurant. The couples would meet yearly for the hula competition; they met each other's friends and relatives, and recently the Baums attended the wedding of the granddaughter who was dancing the year they met.

"This all started because of the hula competition," said Baum, choking up as he noted that Ray Yoshimura died a couple years ago.

In 1997, the Baums, who operate a law firm that specializes in adoptions and do a fair amount of business in the Islands, became concerned that the competition's annual Award of Distinction, honoring significant Hawaiian elders at the hula competition, had lost its sponsorship. They called festival director Keahi Allen to ask if they could help.

Allen was stumped: Why would Mainlanders want to aid a Hawai'i hula event? But she soon recognized the sincerity of their offer (later, she would give them their Hawaiian names). The Baums, passionate about Hawaiian music, arts and crafts, and the fate of the Hawaiian people, have been sponsoring the award ever since.

Baum tells a chicken-skin story about last year's award. Long ago, his parents began bringing home Hawaiian music records. One of their favorites was Bill Kaiwa. The family would listen to his music while sitting around their pool. And last year Kaiwa was selected to receive the Award of Distinction. Baum found himself handing the award to the man who had introduced him to Hawaiian music 40 years earlier.

The award is a secret each year; recipients never know in advance. They're generally induced to attend by someone in the know.

That year, Baum gave Kaiwa a koa box, and Kaiwa danced "The Boy from Laupahoehoe." Afterward, he told Baum, "Until I die, I will never forget this moment." Said Baum: "It took my breath away."

Who's winning this year?

"I could tell you," said Baum, "but then I'd be a very nice hood ornament on Keahi's car. You have to go to the festival to find out."

Reach Wanda A. Adams at wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.