I was born and raised in Hawai‘i on the Wai‘anae coast of O‘ahu. In the seventies while a student at the University of Hawai‘i, I enrolled in a hula class that sparked an interest in Hawaiian dance. This turned out to be an opportune moment for me, because a cultural renaissance of things Hawaiian was bringing male involvement in hula to the forefront. I began formal studies at the University with Kumu Hula Ho‘oulu Richards Cambra, who had studied with Hula Master Maiki Aiu Lake. Soon thereafter, Hula Master Maiki Aiu Lake invited me to train with her at Hālau Hula ‘O Maiki. This eventually led to the opening in 1978 of Hālau Hawai‘i at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza under the direction of Kumu Maiki Aiu Lake. In August 2006, after almost three years of intense study, I earned the title of Kumu Hula from Hālau Hula Kukalehuaika‘ohu, under the guidance of Kumu Hula Mae Kamamalu Klein, also a graduate of Maiki Aiu Lake. These years of concentrated study, culminating in the formal ‘uniki ceremony, have prepared me for the ultimate responsibility of teaching others the art and culture of hula. My goal in opening Hālau Hula ‘O Kupukalau‘ie‘ie is to honor that responsibilty and to perpetuate the tradition and legacy of Kumu Hula, Hula Master Aunty Maiki Aiu Lake. |
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