Hui Na Kawaiuaili
Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
by Lovena Harwood
What’s the first thing you think of when you think of Hawaii? For some folks, its tikis, hula girl dashboard dolls and pineapples. But there is more to Hawaii than souvenirs. The heritages of the many diverse communities throughout Hawaii enrich the lives of Hawaii citizens. It is this diverseness that helps attract and keep Hawaiian culture alive, even throughout the world.
Finding Hawaiiana outside of Hawaii has always been a challenge but with more Hawaii-born citizens moving away from Hawaii, keeping in touch with one another and sharing their love for the Hawaiian culture has been made easy thanks to the Internet. Local Hawaiian and island flavor recipes are easily exchanged and coming together for kanikapila, pa’inas and luaus are just a couple clicks away.
One of the most important culture aspects of Hawaii is Hula. Teaching and sharing the art of Hula away from Hawaii is both unique and challenging. But with workshops and seminars held both in Hawaii and on the mainland, students and Kumu not only learn about the Hula, but also learn to perpetuate the traditional culture of the Hawaiian people.
This months' feature is Leimomi Hoover of Hui Na Kawaiuaili in Rochester, NH. I had just recently met Leimomi but have seen her work when she performed for the Makaha Sons concert in New Hampshire of 2007. Leimomi choreographs most of all the auana’s that her group has danced as well as performed for the Makaha Sons concert. A past co-director and performer of Touch of Polynesia Dance Troupe and now director of Hui Na Kawaiuaili (School of the River of Traditional Knowledge Pouring Forth), Leimomi has been studying and performing hula, its music and its history for almost 30 years.
by Lovena Harwood
What’s the first thing you think of when you think of Hawaii? For some folks, its tikis, hula girl dashboard dolls and pineapples. But there is more to Hawaii than souvenirs. The heritages of the many diverse communities throughout Hawaii enrich the lives of Hawaii citizens. It is this diverseness that helps attract and keep Hawaiian culture alive, even throughout the world.
Finding Hawaiiana outside of Hawaii has always been a challenge but with more Hawaii-born citizens moving away from Hawaii, keeping in touch with one another and sharing their love for the Hawaiian culture has been made easy thanks to the Internet. Local Hawaiian and island flavor recipes are easily exchanged and coming together for kanikapila, pa’inas and luaus are just a couple clicks away.
One of the most important culture aspects of Hawaii is Hula. Teaching and sharing the art of Hula away from Hawaii is both unique and challenging. But with workshops and seminars held both in Hawaii and on the mainland, students and Kumu not only learn about the Hula, but also learn to perpetuate the traditional culture of the Hawaiian people.
This months' feature is Leimomi Hoover of Hui Na Kawaiuaili in Rochester, NH. I had just recently met Leimomi but have seen her work when she performed for the Makaha Sons concert in New Hampshire of 2007. Leimomi choreographs most of all the auana’s that her group has danced as well as performed for the Makaha Sons concert. A past co-director and performer of Touch of Polynesia Dance Troupe and now director of Hui Na Kawaiuaili (School of the River of Traditional Knowledge Pouring Forth), Leimomi has been studying and performing hula, its music and its history for almost 30 years.
Born in Hawai’i, Leimomi studied both ancient (Kahiko) and modern ‘oli and traditional (auana’s) with kumu hula; Aunty Leialoha, Hokulani DeRego and Robert Lonoae’a. She has performed at Waimea Falls Park under the direction of kumu Pi’ilani Plemmer. And she attended seminars and workshops with Aunty Kaui Brandt, Sonny Ching, Chinky Mahoe, and Nani Lim Yap.
Relocating to New England in order for her husband to complete his college education, Leimomi started her hula halau 10 years ago. Says Leimomi, "I wanted to perpetuate my Hawaiian culture. My dad was a Hawaiian musician and ever since he passed on, I’ve always told myself that I would continue my culture whether it was singing or dancing hula." Leimomi's father has always been part of her inspiration to continue the Hawaiian culture. Leimomi teaches both ancient (Kahiko) & modern/traditional (Auana) hula out of her home studio.
Hui Na Kawaiuaili is both a learning and performance halau. They also perform Tahitian but it's not Leimomi's specialty. Hui Na Kawaiuaili performs for corporate function, nursing homes, resorts, weddings, schools, festivals, fundraisers.
Leimomi has performed publicity at several private educational lecture demonstrations at Franklin Pierce College in Andover, MA., in 2002, The Portsmouth Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH in 2002 and 2003, and as featured solo and ensemble dancer in "The Silken Thread," in August of 2003 produced through Act One Theatre of Hampton, NH. She was featured instructor at a private hula seminar in Kingston, NH in August 2004, Frankfort, Maine in August 2005, October 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 2009 for Cultural Week, as well as performing with the Makaha Sons at the Thomas Meehan Theater in Strafford, NH in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Hui Na Kawaiuaili performed at Wagner Middle School for a 6 week Cultural Art Workshop in 2009, Red Hook Brewery in Pease, NH in 2009, A 13th annual benefit event for Maine Coast Memorial Hospital Breast Clinics in 2006, Belfast walk arts festival in 2008 & 2009, World Dance Day in Belfast, Maine in 2007, 2008, & 2009 and 2 performances at the Alamo Theatre in Bucksport, Maine in 2005, 2007, & 2009 and Bucksport High school in 2008.
It is Leimomi's great joy to honor her Hawaiian lineage by sharing its traditional knowledge and dance with all who care to learn. Join Leimomi and Hui Na Kawaiuaili in their hula workshop and show this July. Held at the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel in Portsmouth, NH on July 24, 2011! Advanced ticket purchase and more information available at: NewEnglandHula.com.
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