Academy Of Hawaiian Arts Classes Hali'a Aloha Haumāna Contact

MAILE DUMANCAS-SANCHEZ

Aloha! My name is Maile Dumancas-Sanchez

I’ve been dancing since I was in kindergarten. My Dad, born and raised in Kane’ohe Hawaii, was our family’s root to our culture and upbringings. He was a Tahitian drummer and instructor for several halaus. Because his passion for drumming I followed more in his foots steps and preferred Tahitian than going to the Kumu he was contracted with. I think I just wanted to be closer to my daddy. My mom being of Spanish and Filipino decent adapted to my dad’s culture and danced beside him. When my mother was pregnant with me, she danced hula all the way until I was born. At the time they were dancing for Uncle Joe, in Hayward, and one night after practice she went into labor, and here I came.

 
Throughout time dancing with my dad, doing competitions, watched my mom make the dancers costumes. I still could never connect to hula, I loved Tahitian. The Kumus I danced for, I guess could not gain my attention, or I was just not ready to feel it.
 

When I was a teenager, my dad told me about a halau in Monterey, who the Kumu was named Uncle Mark (I wondered who that was) and asked if I wanted to join that group.

 
My teenage response was “Drive all the way to Monterey for hula?! No, I’m good.“ What a typical teenage response, but soon I will get it back, later in life. I just wanted to dance in the beat of my daddy’s drum. That was when I missed my first opportunity to learn hula on a deeper level.
 
 Years passed, I started my family, and one year my dad bought us tickets to Na’Mele’s Hoike, still made no connection that this was the Kumu that my dad offered to take me to in Monterey for lessons. And then... I heard Kumz’s voice... oh my, it was something I never experienced or heard anything like it before. The beat of Sally, the cadence drew me in. His dancers responding to his mele, moving in synch as one. I was amazed. After the performance my dad asked, “What did you think?” I responded, “Why have you never taken me to them before?!” His response, “Stupid! I asked you years ago, when he was in Monterey.” By now I had my hands full with my little boys, Nikko and Arnold, and would not have time to dance. But if I ever were to have a girl, I would love for her to dance here.
 
Later my dad passed away. And soon I became blessed with my little girl, Ka’imi. She was five when I first brought her to the Academy for lesson for both of us. But I could not get through one class without bursting in tears missing my dad. We were not ready, this was not our timing.

The sound of the halau was still in the back of my mind. From time to time I would ask Ka’imi if she was interested in going back, (here’s my pay back) she would repond “I’m good.”

 

There was a period of time in my life after my divorce I wanted to connect more to Ka’imi. I was able to get tickets to AHA’s hoike and I asked her if she wanted to go with me. Just that yes, made me so happy. Then she experienced what I experienced with my dad.

 

She was drawn and amazed. She was ready, I was ready. 2018 we started classes and we started connecting again, and healing. Eating dinners together at the dinner table, talking story about classes, gave us something to relate to one another.

 

Racing Keia ‘o Ni’ihau in front of our plates, lol. She won of course. The halau helped us heal and bond our relationship when our family was going through tough times. Which I am forever will be grateful for.

Our first Hoike my mom passed away. All the advise I could give her before practice was, to pound the floor, use the practice, the workout, drills, and dance to release all the sadness and anger she held. Before hitting stage, I had to tell her how proud I was of her.
 
Countless tears and fond memories I hold to my heart being able to be on the floor with Ka’imi. We share this journey together at the same time separate.
She has her road and I have mine. She is her own beautiful dancer and I just love to dance and be in the presence of my hula brothers and sisters... and Kumz of course. When were on the floor we pound, sweat, and push. We have our own struggles, and I leave it to Kumz and the Kukuis to guide her way and mine. There are days we feel defeated and there are days we feel accomplished, which both we are grateful for. I was once told, “When you have a big vision, that many obstacles are going to come your way.” The space I hold for her is to talk stories about our experience in class, our journey together when we did compete at George Naope, and now our journey to train for Merrie Monarch.

 I try not to focus on the future, I am constantly talking to myself in class, “Focus, where are your feet, what are your hips supposed to be doing, hit the marks, posture, arms, hands, bend down, eyes, voice, louder, lower, pound harder.” All of this is what makes me grateful for this time and space to have this opportunity to grow as a hula dancer. Mahalo AHA!

Wish us luck and mahalo for your aloha and support for AHA. Aloha wau ia oe, mom and dad, I know you’re with us!