Jazzlyn Kaleohano Burget

My name is Jazzlyn Burget (Kaleohano)

...and Iʻm a halau baby.

As a child, I was lulled to sleep in the corner of the halau to the sounds of mele, oli, and kaheas during late-night practices. I grew up watching implements being made, leis being braided, and costumes being sewn. I learned about productions, rehearsals, lighting, and sound. I passed out flyers, worked food booths, and sold tickets. I watched and listened, wide-eyed and starstruck as my mom, aunties and uncles filled rooms, theaters, stadiums and hearts with amazing hulas, inspiring me to be like them.

Those same aunties and uncles encouraged my first tiny hula steps in the halau, first performances in a middle school gym, and first competitions on a fairground stage.

My hula journey has been a lifelong journey that I get to share with my family. My mom danced hula since before I was born and my younger brother, like me, has been dancing since he was born.

After I got married, I introduced hula to my new sister. She was 8 when she started her first keiki class. She is 13 now and I watched her perform in her first hula competition last summer. I also made my own halau baby, who is growing up in the same halau I did and will learn many of the same things. She is my new motivation as I train for Merrie Monarch for the sixth time.

I have performed at Merrie Monarch four times. The first time was with my mom in 2012 and my last performance was in 2016 as the Academy of Hawaiian Artsʻ first Miss Aloha Hula.

I was the only wahine to perform that year. The rest of my hula sisters did not perform due to unforeseen circumstances. We had prepared for months and were heartbroken. I hesitated when given the opportunity to train again for the 2020 Merrie Monarch but accepted and let the training begin.

Again we prepared and again we were dealt another devastating blow when Merrie Monarch was canceled that year due to the COVID pandemic. So here we are 4 years later preparing once again and this time we’re going to make it. Get ready everyone, we have been waiting to hit that floor and you wonʻt want to miss it!

Mahalo for your support!