In Loving Memory Kumu Raylene Ha'alelea Kawai'ae'a

I never knew tears could feel so good......

until I opened my heart and found they come from the same source
as boundless laughter

Instead of blurring my vision, they bring beauty into focus

Instead of burning my cheeks, they wash away dusty dryness

i used to hide behind.....

Let sorrow have me now for surrender has freed me
to savor the bittersweet nectar that flows

in measureless abundance

from within....

My heart is heavy for Hawaii's loss of Kohala's most precious Kumuhula, 

Aunty Raylene Kawai'ae'a. Sadly she passed away from a single car accident on March 9. This dear lady my family has known for many years. I started my teaching career in Kohala because Aunty Raylene opened the door for my journey back to my Hawaiian heritage and my beginnings in the Kupuna Program . Aunty went on to a position at Lili'uokalani Children's Center and I took her position at Kohala Elementary and Hala'ula Intermediate.

A most self-less and beautiful individual full of 'aloha' for all. If you met her for the first time, Aunty always made you feel like you knew her forever....So full of compassion and joy for others and always with a smile on her face. I will always remember her 'smile'. I used to look in the mirror and tell myself, " put a smile on your face like Aunty Raylene and give 'aloha' to everyone you meet!"
        Among Aunty's many attributes, she also was a master in Ho'oponopono, the process of 'making things right. I so wanted to attend the service in Kohala for anake, but my health has prevented me from going, so I just wanted to say something from me to Aunty Raylene.....watch this video and you can feel her aloha.....

Although, I haven't seen Aunty very much, but every now and then. I know she knew how much she meant to me. Knowing she was always within reach was a comfort, but now I will miss her so much knowing I can't just call her. She will always be in my heart.

Aloha wau ia 'oe e anake and mahalo ke Akua for sharing an angel with us....

Dedication at Pahukini

Aloha kaua!

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!  As I am sitting here looking forward to what just may be my most meaningful and 

inspiring New Year,  I wanted to share with you a little glance of gratitude for the journey hula has taken me on last year and how it has influenced my life. These photo's are but a glimpse that can be had when you follow the path of hula.

With my most recent visit to O'ahu and my sister halau from Kailua and Japan, here we are at Pahukini for a pahu ceremony where we dedicated our pahu (drum) for use in traditional hula.

These beautiful pahu above were made with much thought and inspiration. Each ho'opa'a painstakingly worked on their own design that they added to the traditional style pahu .

Pahukini,  sits quietly at left behind the simple chain link fence. Posted with the National Register of Historic places in 1972, the heiau was officially dedicated in 1988.

Pahukini, means 40,000 drums. Said to have been built by 'Olopana, of my kupuna Mo'ikeha 'ohana.

                                                                                                                                                                                                It started out cool with a heavy downpour right after our ceremony that forced us to leave in a hurry.  Here i am at right with my dear hula sister from Japan, Leimamo.                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                   

Its not unusual for such sacred ceremony to bring tears of joy to the hula folk. 

Below Kaimi and Springs hold on to the moment.  

                                                                                                               
             

Here Kumunui at realhula.com and Kumu Sandii of http://sandii.s168.xrea.com/studio/  two of the most dearest of friends and Kumu Hula.

Before the Pahu ceremony we had prepping and gathering to do:

These are the hula dancers from 'Okinawa. They were so nice to be around.   Yes, hula on Okinawa!

 

Along with the pahu, some of us made kilu, the small drum or puniu, the knee drum like the ones above

with real kala fish skin. Aren't they lovely? I mean the puniu?!

Leiawapuhi and Makanalani enjoy the hula dancers Hawaiian gathering rights!

Okay, it's getting late now and the site isn't doing what i want so time for me to put up the pc.

 I will post more photos soon of my journey in hula.  I hope you enjoyed seeing what fun a hula life can be. In my little corner of the world.

A hui hou,

Mo'ikeha

   

New Hula Kahiko Begins!

New hula kahiko class begins!

Aloha my friends, my topic today is my new hula kahiko class. 

If you didn't know already, along with 'modern hula' or 'auana, I teach traditional kahiko.  That is hula known as ancient hula.  This type of hula refers to the hula passed down from generation to generation before the 'ukulele hula's that we have come to know.  It is not easy to start a new class of traditional hula.  Especially, if you have adult dancers. 

  In the old days the hula practitioner would begin to teach hula to children or the young adult.
A student is much easier to teach when they are young and their bodies are pliable. Strong and flexible.  Can the adult student be taught kahiko? Absolutely, especially if they are ready to learn.

 An older student can usually follow the style being taught easier than if they had never danced hula before. Yes, I find that to be more true, because it can be hard to 'unlearn' a foot motion, or body motion that you have been doing for however long.  In our 'olapa class we learn the basic foot and hand motions that are so consistent that it can translate a moment in time and history.  Motions that can express the feeling of a person, or describe a place or a famous deity is so remarkable that this Hawaiian dance has grown to become the most beloved of all the Polynesian dances. 

                                                                             

 Our basics are just that, basics, which means they don't change. 'Basics' are the foundation of hula that once learned will never be forgotten.  Each halau is different. So what is true in one school may not be the same in the other.  Ka hula o na mamo o Mo'ikeha is considered a 'water' halau, very fluid with lots of motion. In both our kahiko and 'auana hula. 

My new 'olapa students are off to a great start. They are excited and so am I and we are all ready to take on the challenge to learning the traditions that make hula what it is today.

Do you think you have what it takes to be a hula dancer? I invite you to check out the video above where you can see alakai'i Ahonui demonstrating a hula 'auana I created for our recent Macomber 'ohana reunion.  If you would like to learn 'Ka Ua o Ha'ao' - written by my cousin Shaula, send me your email and i can send lyrics and motions.  Yours in hula!

The Best Wedding of the Year

Aloha na hoaloha!
So much has happened since my last post. I will promise to continue posting on a regular basis from this day on!  Yeah, right!
           Anyway let me share with you the wonderful things that have been going on. Two months ago I was honored to have the opportunity to officiate at Ahonui & Esau's wedding on May 15.  It was a beautiful day with family and friends coming from as far as Samoa to California. The wedding took place at Puna coastline across Malama Ki Forest Reserve.   Yes, that is Kapoho-Kalapana road for those of you are familiar with the area. It was a warm yet beautiful day for a wedding. This was a perfect spot for the young couple to share their vows and although it was a little warm everyone was patient while the bride was 'fasionably late'. 
                We had some chairs placed there for Kupuna and even had a porta potty dropped off that turned out to be displaced about half a mile , but all in all it was a perfect ceremony with myself and Mama Chioke (Esau's mom) assisting. It was a large wedding party with 8 groomsman and 7 bridesmaids! You can see by the picture how beautiful everyone looked, especially the bride. I was definitely the proud mother that day.

I actually had to psych myself out the previous week so as not to spoil the day with an overflow of tears of joy. Only for a second was there a glitch during which i had to sniff a bit, and that was only at the very end when I said "...by the power invested in me by the state of Hawaii..." only then did it hit me.  One hears these words all the time, but until it was directed at my daughter did the words have a different ring. Anyway, I'm happy to welcome my dear Ahonui to married life.