Hula is our way of life.
Earl Sherman Maikahikinapamaikala Pamaikaualililehuakenaikawaipunaolaniloa Tenn had worked for years as a successful businessman in the transportation industry before he found his other calling: hula. Among the many mentors who guided him were Henry Moikehaokahiki Pa, Maddy Kaululehuaohaili Lam, Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona and Nadine Alexand
Earl Sherman Maikahikinapamaikala Pamaikaualililehuakenaikawaipunaolaniloa Tenn had worked for years as a successful businessman in the transportation industry before he found his other calling: hula. Among the many mentors who guided him were Henry Moikehaokahiki Pa, Maddy Kaululehuaohaili Lam, Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona and Nadine Alexander (Laka) Kahanamoku, wife of Olympian swimmer and surfer Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. After receiving his certification as kumu hula from Father Franklin Chun of St. Peter’s and Rose Kapulani Joshua of Magic Hula Studio, Tenn taught and led the hālau at Windward Community College for 17 years. He has also toured throughout Mexico as co-founder of Ka Leo O Na Hula Teachers Association for nearly three decades, teaching hula fundamentals throughout the country.
“Prior to coming to hula, I became traffic manager for Honolulu Iron Works and Theo H. Davies and then opened my own business as an industrial traffic consultant. It got terribly boring. So I asked for guidance. Four words came. They were, ‘It’s time for hula.’ The process began of releasing all of my traffic knowledge and absorbing matters concerning hula.
When I started working with Uncle Henry Moikehaokahiki Pa, I was already in my 30s. He asked if I had any formal training. The answer was no, so he said, ‘Go to State Council On Hawaiian Heritage.’ There, Auntie Hoakalei Kamau‘u taught the fundamentals. About two years later, I returned to Uncle Henry, who taught the dance department of the Kamehameha Hawaiian Civic Club at St. Andrew’s. Staying with him until his transition, I inherited all of his hula notes, instruments, clothing. All of the knowledge from Uncle Henry is absorbed. He made sure all hula routines were recorded in writing.
Maddy Kaululehuaohaili Lam took me under her wing and shared her knowledge of culture, her specialties being music and hula. Today, I hold the copyright of her compositions. Both of these teachers collaborated closely with Mary Kawena Pukui.
My parents were issued to move to Kam Homes, the first type of federally subsidized housing, in the middle of July 1940, where I was born that October. Hawaiian was not spoken at home, it was sung. My mother was a manager of a Hawaiian musical group. I liked the melody and rhythm, so I would get up and dance.
It was when I went to Uncle Henry and Maddy that I began to understand the language more and understand the kaona of what was being done. The poetry of the text is the kaona. It’s the underlying meaning of why they use a certain word to describe a person, place, or thing. It’s the choreography that enacts the language or text. If you choreograph for a deaf person, they should understand what the text is, Auntie Pat would say.
The most important thing is that you dance with the heart and that you understand the text. All of my teachers said you do it with the aloha that lies in your heart. ”
Kawaiola Noelani Deguilmo founded hālau Ka Pā Hula ʻO Kawaiolanoelaniokane of Reno NV on July 7, 2012. Kawaiola received her ʻūniki (graduation) rights from Kumu Pamai Tenn in 2014. She has been teaching hula for 10 years in Northern Nevada. Her mission is to preserve all things Hawaiian, Kumu spends her life learning, teaching, and shari
Kawaiola Noelani Deguilmo founded hālau Ka Pā Hula ʻO Kawaiolanoelaniokane of Reno NV on July 7, 2012. Kawaiola received her ʻūniki (graduation) rights from Kumu Pamai Tenn in 2014. She has been teaching hula for 10 years in Northern Nevada. Her mission is to preserve all things Hawaiian, Kumu spends her life learning, teaching, and sharing her culture through hula and cultural arts with the greater community of Northern Nevada.
Kumu Kawaiola is also a very talented haku mele (song writer) and you can find her compositions on the award-winning album "last dance" by Nā Hokuhanohano award winner Jason Kaleo Phillips.
Kumu was raised by her maternal grandparents. She attributes her grandmother Elizabeth Kalalealea Paleka Shaw for instilling her love of hula and all things Hawaiian.
When asked, Kumu describes hula as being the dance of nature. Hula is a reflection of our environment coupled with our innermost feelings that resides in us all.
The purpose of our Hālau is to create a safe space where all interested peoples can come and learn about the Hawaiian culture. It is our mission to help perpetuate the traditions of our kūpuna (ancestors) through oli (chant), hula (dance), mele (song), and ʻōlelo (language) while maintaining the authenticity of our Hawaiian culture.
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The purpose of our Hālau is to create a safe space where all interested peoples can come and learn about the Hawaiian culture. It is our mission to help perpetuate the traditions of our kūpuna (ancestors) through oli (chant), hula (dance), mele (song), and ʻōlelo (language) while maintaining the authenticity of our Hawaiian culture.
Aside from hula, we also provide workshops for the general public to teach them about the Hawaiian culture through native Hawaiian arts and crafts, traditional Hawaiian values, and lifestyles. This has helped to develop a greater appreciation and understanding of the Hawaiian culture from the greater community of Northern Nevada.
Jade-Kapeka Kanoenanoelehua Vares
Nancy Puanani Wahinehoʻokae
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