Dr. Tangaro Taupouri Dr. Tangaro Taupouri has been involved with hula for the past twenty-five years. He has performed on many stages in the United States and a few of international acclaim. Pele and Hi`iaka, and the dances of Fire, have been his main study, with an intimate look at preparing the physical body for the regimens of hula. Living in Hilo, he currently is a professor at the Hawaii Community College at Hilo as one of the leaders in the Hawaiian Studies Program. He is the head of the hula program at the college called Unu Kupukupu.
Iliahi Anthony At the age of four, Iliahi Anthony began her hula training with the Halau O Kekuhi. She has given her entire life to the dance and has traveled around the world performing hula kahiko. With a degree in the Arts, she teaches children in the Hawaiian Homestead area of Keaukaha. She has taught hula implement making for the past decade, including at the prestigious World Conferences on Hula.
Workshop : Hula Kahiko Hau‘oli Akaka is the Director for Educational Funding at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Previously he was an instructor of Hawaiian language and hula at Kailua High School for 18 years. He acquired a Bachelor’s degree in secondary education-Hawaiian language from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and is presently completing his Master’s degree in education. Hau‘oli has worked in the radio broadcast industry as a radio announcer on Hawaiian music station KCCN for 17 years. He has served as a master of ceremonies at numerous Hawaiian venues and hula festivals in and beyond Hawai‘i. He, his wife Ku‘ulei and their four children are actively involved in Hawaiian language education and Hawaiian performing arts.  Sonny Ching Workshop : Hula Auana Sonny Ching is the Kumu Hula of the award winning Halau Na Mamo O Pu’uanahulu. He began his halau in 1986 with its roots embedded in tradition. His grand mother Lena Guerrerro is credited for his humble beginnings and other kumu hula such as Frank Hewitt and Lahela Kaaihue who influenced his style. He continues to teach in Hawaii and around the world recently opening his halau in Tokyo, Japan. Keala Ching Workshop :Hula Pahu Growing up on the island of O`ahu, Keala Ching began his hula training as a dancer with the Men of Waimapuna under the direction of the late Darrel Lupenui. Under the tutelage of kumu Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewitt, Keala has spent many years learning and building his knowledge. Recently he graduated in the `uniki rites to be a kumu hula. Fluent in the Hawaiian language, Keala uses this as an important part of his foundation to teach his students. Currently living in Kona, he has opened his halau Na Wai Iwi Ola. As a composer of chants and mele, he travels the world to share hula. Charles Kaupu Workshop : Oli Charles Kaupu, born and raised on the island of Hawaii, spent most of his youth on Oahu and Molokai and now lives on Maui. He attended Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawaii at Manoa graduating with a degree in Hawaiian Studies. Currently he serves as cultural advisor to Maui Visitors Bureau, Kapalua Land Co, Maui Land & Pine and Kaanapali Beach Resort Association. Charles is a composer, musician, performer, and kumu hula. Having graduated in the traditional ailolo rite (of hula) Charles has taught hula and oli (chant) workshops in Japan, Europe, on the Mainland as well as the South Pacific. An impressive collective of kumu hula incude Henry Pa, Nona Beamer, Kaui Zuttermeister, Edith Kanakaole, M. Kelii Taua, Darrell Lupenui, and Thaddius Wilson, have contributed to his hula nurturing. A former dancer of Na Wai Eha O Puna, Charles’ current hula mentor is beloved hula icon Aunty Mapuana Yasue. |
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