Mahalo for taking the time to tag along kā mākou huakaʻi hele iā Merrie Monarch!
Aloha, hola, hello!
I’m Sammie (: I hope y’all have enjoyed reading these blogs as much as I have. I’m here to share my story a little but I mainly want to talk about the journey many of these dancers are on. So let’s paint a picture for y’all real quick, just imagine hearing...
I walked through the doors of AHA not wanting to dance hula...
20 years later, I’m the last one of the friends that’s still here.
Art Sapiandante 1/28/2024
Rediscovering my Roots
Hiiiiii everyone! Krystal here-
Aloha and thank you for your kind donation to support AHA’s journey to the Merrie Monarch stage.
Angela Louie 1/9/2024
Jazzlyn Kaleohano Burget
...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.
Jazzlyn Kaleohano Burget 1/9/2024
Aloha! My name is Keilani Martinez
I started polynesian dancing at 4 years old. My first halau was Taimalietane Islands of Polynesia located in Santa Rosa, California where I learned how to dance Kapa Haka, ‘Ori Tahiti, and a little bit of hula.
Keilani Martinez 1/5/2024
“There are times, when you’ll need someone.
I will be by your side. There is a light that shines, special for you and me. A love like this. It’s been 20+ years since my love cup was full like this. It’s a different but familiar kind of love...
Dorothy Dela Cruz 12/24/2023
Kiyomi Deschamps
As I sit back and reflect on this past year it amazes me how what seemed like a sacrifice in the moment later turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Dancing has been a part of me from before I can remember...
Kiyomi Deschamps 12/24//2023
Aloha kakou, my name is Simone!
I am a daughter, big sister, story teller, creative, and entrepreneur. Raised on occupied Ohlone territory, also known as “Deep East Oakland”, I am the eldest sister and middle child out of my other three siblings...
Simone Hufana 12/23/2023
Hiiiiiii! I’m Melia
but everyone knows me as Tita.
I grew up in the halau, born into this forreal! I don't remember when I started dancing, all I remember is coming to the halau to play with my friends while our parents were practicing.
Melia Hoʻomalu 12/23/2023
Aloha! I’m Tina.
I began dancing hula at a very young age. Aunty Loke Thomas was my first teacher with a smile so big and a personality to match. Over the course of many years, she would take me to workshops held by teachers from Hawaii and Tahiti to broaden...
Tina Rueb 12/22/2023
Aloha, I’m Alyson!
Like many others in this group, my first taste of hula was as a little girl trying to get in touch with my family’s Hawaii roots. I remember feeling challenged but determined having come from recreational dance classes that were all about fun...
Alyson Au 12/22/2023
My name is Eric Dong,
Dance isn’t in my blood, but it hasn’t stopped me! I’m the first-ever dancer in my family, and I’m proud to showcase the stories of Hawai’i in my hula.
...and I’m so excited (and terrified) to be training with the Academy of Hawaiian Arts for Merrie Monarch 2023.
Eric Dong 12/22/2023
My Hula Journey
Aloha! My name is Chelsie
...and I have been dancing hula since I was 5 years old. I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up on the “9th Island” in the bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada!
Chelsie Martin 12/22/2023
Whats poppin? My name is Jaysun Kaleohano, but here I go by Pono.
My journey with the Academy starts before I was even born. My mom, Josette Kaleohano, was dancing with Uncle Mark’s previous halau, Na Mele Hula Ohana. Growing up in the halau, I was surrounded by plenty of great hula dancers, and that definitely helped me get to where I am today.
Jaysun Kaleohano 12/22/2023
Aye howzit goin y’all, my name is Mark Ho’omalu III, but I go by KoluBoy.
So as you may have notice by my name... yes “He” is my father. Growing up in the halau all my life definitely had its share of ups and downs but without it all I wouldn’t be person I am today and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu III 12/22/2023
ALOHA, Iʻm Nani
Kumu Mark says that at the Academy of Hawaiian Arts we dance to inspire the next generation of dancers. I remember being 11 years old, watching the AHA wahine performances at the ‘Ia Oe E Ka La competition in Pleasanton, and thinking to myself,
Nani Friedman 12/22/2023
Aloha, my name is Feye with a silent “e” at the end.
I was in high school when my mom brought me along to watch her hula class that was taught by Clark Bolivar Jr. since I was done with my homework and carpool as the commute was from San Jose to Redwood City.
Alooooooha!!
I'm Nicole, and my hula journey began before having ever stepped foot in halau. Having just seen the movie Lilo and Stitch, I became obsessed. I watched it over and over until I knew every word. Soon enough I started watching the "How to Hula" video at the end of the movie and my little heart just knew this was for me...
Nicole Jung 12/20/2023
Why Hula, and why AHA?
It started in my Tutu’s living room in Waialua, Hawaii. She taught a couple of mele hula to me at 7 years old and from that point, I was inspired. I am not Hawaiian by blood but being born there and nurtured by my elders that lived there all their lives...
Aloha! I’m Kaitlin...and this is my dance evolution.
Aloha! Iʻm Pele...
When I joined AHA in January of 2023, I knew that I would be getting in some good dance movement, be able to learn some ōlelo hawai’i and get to connect with the Hawaiian and Pasifika community at large here in the Bay Area. What I didn’t know was how quickly, and happily, I would be welcomed and nurtured in this hula community.
Aloha! My name is Kimo
...and I am preparing for my first journey to the Merrie Monarch stage. Words cannot describe how excited and anxious I am about this. My journey as a hula dancer and a haumana of Kumu Mark started when I was 7.
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.
Aloha! My name is Toni.
My hula journey started about 40 years ago. In the beginning it was unplanned and unintentional. Now, hula is very personal and intentional. I am deeply grateful and humbled for the journey that brought me to this moment.
Toni Scannell 12/18/2023
Aloha! My name is Ka’imi,
... and my official journey with the academy started in 2018! Back in 2017, my mom took me to see their ho’ike where I immediately fell in love with them. The way they looked captured my attention and it inspired me...
Aloha I’m Sophia! Aka (Sophie) ...
Hula has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Dancing since the age of 4, practice was something I looked forward to every week! My summers were filled with weekends at the hālau and hanging out ...
Sophia Munoz 12/18/2023
Aloha! I'm Kalisi!
My journey to the Academy of Hawaiian Arts (AHA) started when I was suffering with symptoms of senioritis during undergrad. Senioritis...what? Yes...
Hey hey kakou!
Let’s see where to start? Oh yea Aloha I’m Jes, that’s right just 1 “s” because I don’t need the redundancy... but anyways let’s make this fun!
So I have been attempting to be a hula dancer since 2004 (still attempting by the way) and my first cruise ship excursion from San Francisco to Hawaii onboard NCL America’s Pride of Aloha.
Aloha! I'm XIA ◡̈
My story with AHA began when I had just turned 12. The hālau that I was originally with had performed at a Hawaiian festival held at Mountain View's Shoreline Amphitheater. I watched Uncle Mark and the team perform and I. WAS. SHOCKED. There I was, eyes full of wonder and a newly lit fire within me wanting to know more.
Living this little hula girl’s dreams!
Aloha! My name is Janae and I’ve been dancing with the Academy since I was 5 years old. In 2005 my mom and I joined her dream halau, and hula has been a passion and lifestyle of mine ever since.
Janae Del Castilloo 12/15/2023
Aloha kākou! My name is Marissa David (also known as Booby).
As a child of an extremely strict and religious Filipino immigrant family, I didn’t have any relatives who danced Hula. I did, however, have a childhood best friend (former AHA dancer “Mangabat”) ...
Marissa David 12/15/2023
Aloha kākou!
Here's a story about a little Japanese girl growing up in Hawaii dancing hula. And this story...you guessed it, is about me 😊
My hula life began at the age of 9 but it started off with me being "forced" to go to class.
Kozue Mitsunari 12/14/2023
Maile K Ho'omalu
Born and raised in Oakland, CA I am the product of growing up in the 80’s in a place where creativity and self expression were both nurtured and encouraged. I found my passion in dance and performing. Starting ballet at the age of 3 and continuing on through most of my teenage years, I found my place at Oakland Ballet.
Aloha, Iʻm Mikey!
About 20 years ago in Monterey County, Kumu Mark established the Academy of Hawaiian Arts. My family took the opportunity to dance with AHA but they weren’t able to continue after the halau relocated to the Bay Area.
Aloha! Maloelelei! Hello!
My name is Ariana and if you’re reading this right now, you’re helping us get to Merrie Monarch! MAHALO NUI! A little bit about me, I am a mom to a 7-year-old teenager who also dances hula with AHA...
I love hula!
Iʻve been in a 40+ year love affair with hula. It all started from a television broadcast on a black & white television, on the Japanese channel 13, KIKU, in the 60ʻs. There she was, the most beautiful girl I ever saw...
Kumz 11/21/2023