🌺 Hālau Update – 'Ike Kupuna 🌺

Kumu Kawahine Aulelava
Aug 9
3 min read

Welina mai kākou e nā hoa hula, 🌺

It’s been a few months since my last update, and I’m so happy to share all the wonderful things that have been happening with our hālau since the last Blog entry. Time seems to fly when we are dancing, learning, and growing together!

Our hālau ‘ohana continues to blossom—not just in numbers, but in the depth of learning and connection we share. Since my last post, enrollment has grown even more, and we’ve been blessed to add another class to better serve our students. We now have:

Keiki Class (ages 4–12)
Teen/Young Adult Class (ages 13–23) – our newest addition
Adult Class (ages 24 and up)
Alaka‘i Class (for our leaders)

Each class is now more tailored to its age group, so everyone can learn at a pace and style that truly fits them. My hope in the near future is to add a Kūpuna Class for our beloved elders—because hula is for every stage of life.

'Ike Kupuna (Knowledge of the elders): Beyond class growth, we’ve been deepening our cultural studies, strengthening our foundations in both hula kahiko and ‘auana, and preparing for upcoming performances. In July, several of our hālau (haumana) students took advantage of the KAHA Conference, held right here in Las Vegas. This conference was a rare opportunity to bring all of these kumu of various knowledge bases together to create learning opportunities and experiences, especially (but not limited to) those who live in the Continental U.S. This gathering was also an opportunity for many of us to rise above the wā o ka maʻi ahulau puni honua (global pandemic). Learn more about this incredible event here: hawaiikaha.org.

Everyone who attended truly took to heart the cultural knowledge presented to them and left feeling deeply inspired to continue learning—not only about their hula journey, but also about our people, our places, and the greater Hawaiian culture. Many of our students are already talking about attending again next year, and even about supporting other hālau students so they can join as well. Attending the KAHA Conference is a beautiful way to fill every student’s ‘umeke (mind) with more ‘ike (knowledge), and I am so proud of how our students embraced this opportunity. More conference photos [H E R E] !

As for my own hula journey, this summer brought a milestone I will carry for the rest of my life. In July, I completed my second Kumu Hula training—this time under the direction of Kumu Ku‘ualohanui Kaulia. Our ‘ūniki class was a powerful journey shared with 35 dedicated students, each reaching one of four levels of completion:

Alaka‘i Nui (Leadership)
‘Olapa (Hula Dancer)
Ho‘opa‘a (Keeper of the Beat)
Kumu Hula (Hula Teacher)

Through time, dedication, and a deep passion for expanding my cultural ‘ike, I was fortunate and honored to be among those blessed with the title of Kumu Hula. This achievement did not come easily—it demanded countless hours of study, physical endurance, and a profound connection to the traditions handed down through generations. Developing and experiencing ‘Ike Pilina—a strong, knowledgeable bond—with fellow dedicated students on the same path was invaluable. These relationships continue to support and uplift us, both now and into the future. Every challenge along the way was worth it, and I’m excited to now weave this expanded knowledge and training into our hālau’s curriculum so that our haumāna may benefit and grow from it as well. More 'Uniki Ho'ike photos [H E R E] !

Mahalo to all of you who continue to support our hālau—whether you’re dancing in class, cheering from the audience, or sending us aloha from afar. The next few months hold exciting things for us, and I can’t wait to share more soon.

“Ma ka hana ka ‘ike.” Learning is in the doing.

This proverb reminds us that true knowledge comes through doing—whether it’s stepping onto the hula floor, attending cultural gatherings like KAHA, or committing to the long path of ‘ūniki. Every action we take, every effort we give, fills our ‘umeke with the ‘ike we carry forward into the future.

E holomua kākou—let’s keep moving forward together!

🌿✨ Mahalo No, Kumu Kawahine