Halau Hula O Kahealani

My name is Kahealani Kamahele. I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. I have been teaching hula for 30+ years. I currently teach Dance of Hawaii at Loyola Marymount University and a member of Kūlia I Ka Pūnāwai Kumu Hula Association of Southern California. I began my hula journey at the age of nine. As a child, I learned hula in Kapahulu, Hawaii under the direction of Aunty Pauline Kekahuna and Leilani Mendez. I moved to California in 1985, for college and studied hula with my aunty Rolanda Mohala Reese, Kumu Hula of Hālau Hula Nāmeakanu O Laka O Hawai’i. In 1988, I taught hula for twelve years at Hālau Kaulana Ka Hale Kula O Na Pua O Ka ʻĀina. My grandmother gave me her blessing to teach hula and gave me the name of my Hālau. With her blessing, I formed my hula school, Hālau Hula O Kāhealani, and began teaching in 2007 in Rolling Hills, California. In 2014, I relocated to Torrance where I currently teach a variety of classes for both children and adults. I continue my hula studies as a member of Pāʻū O Hi'iaka, under the direction of Kumu Hula Hōkūlani Holt in Wailuku, Maui. My training includes attending weekly hula classes and private lessons on Maui island.