Halau Ka Lei Kukui Hi'ilani
Halau Ka Lei Kukui Hi'ilani
Mainland USA Extension - San Diego
A Traditional Hawaiian Hula School
Caring for the Hula | Body, Soul + Spirit
Led by Alaka'i Hula Auntie Kahanoa Floresca
Founded by Kumu Hula Leihi'ilani Kirkpatrick of Kaua'i
A lineage of Lehua Hula Kawaikapuokalani Hewett,
Kumu Hula Joseph Kamoha'i Kahaulelio and
Kumu Hula Philomena Keali'i Waine'e Mahelona Aranio
ALAKA'I HULA
AUNTIE KAHANOA FLORESCA
Auntie Kahanoa began dancing as a child growing up in Hawai'i and continued after her completion of an Architectural Engineering (Structural Engineering) degree from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. She continues in her full-time professional structural engineering career for over 30 years while serving over 25 years in church family ministry and almost 20 years in the Hawaiian hula community in California. She combines her decades of education and experience as a design project engineer/manager, Hawaiian hula educator and ministry volunteer in her passion and unique mission of Caring for the Hula - Body, Soul and Spirit through a traditional Hawaiian hula school.
HULA AND HO'OLA LINEAGE
She has a rich hula and ho'ola lineage attributed to her current Kumu Hula, Leihi'ilani Kirkpatrick who resides in Kaua'i, Hawai'i, her first Kumu Hula, the late Auntie Philomena Keali'i Waine'e Mahelona Aranio. With these lineages connected to Lehua Hula Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett and Kumu Hula Uncle Joseph Kamoha'i Kahaulelio, she obtains her inspiration in their teaching traditions in ancient hula (kahiko), modern hula (auana) and worship hula (ho'ano).
KUMU HULA IN-TRAINING
Auntie Kahanoa is currently under the tutelage of Kumu Hula Leihi'ilani Kirkpatrick of Kaua'i since October 2014. Her regular Hula Intensive Training in Kaua'i are also supplemented with the Hawaiian Hula Workshops by Kumu Hula Leihi'ilani Kirkpatrick.
ALAKA'I HULA
Auntie Kahanoa serves as the Alaka'i Hula for the Mainland USA extension of Halau Ka Lei Kukui Hi'ilani founded by of Kumu Hula Leihi'ilani Kirkpatrick in November 2014. Dance North County was established at its hula school home in May 2016.
CONTRACT HULA INSTRUCTOR
Auntie Kahanoa has proudly served as the Contract Hula Instructor of three classes for the City of San Marcos Recreation Services since August of 2013.
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER
She provides a free community Meet Up, Mana'olana Hi'ilani (Hope In The Arms of Heavan). This Meet Up was formerly FREE Hula-At-The Park Meetup through which she provided free monthly lessons from 2013 - 2018.
FOUNDER OF HAWAIIAN HULA INTERNATIONAL, INC. (temporarily inactive due to pandemic)
Auntie Kahanoa has founded Hawaiian Hula International (HHI), her formal commitment to be true to the legacy of her inherited lineage of hula and ho‘ōla with the help of some of her hālau haumana of Kumu Hula Leihi‘ilani Kirkpatrick’s Halau Ka Lei Kukui Hi‘ilani – Mainland USA Extension (established in November 2014).
• THE MISSION OF HHI is “Caring for the Hula - Body, Soul + Spirit” through public education, training, scholarships, products and services locally, nationally and internationally.
• THE GOAL OF HHI is to provide all levels of education and training to preserve and perpetuate the cultural integrity of Hawaiian hula, traditions and history, and to honor and glorify Ke Akua (God) in all He has given the Hawaiian people.
• THE VISION OF HHI is to provide events for all races and sectors of hula dancers to establish lōkahi (unity) and effective, loving communication through the practice of Biblical and Hawaiian values and the common purpose of SHARING ALOHA and CARING FOR THE HULA.
“Native Hawaiian” is a racial classification recognized by the United States. In the 2010 Census: 527,077 people reported that they are Native Hawaiian alone or of a mixed race that includes Native Hawaiian. There now may be as few as 8,000 pure-blood Native Hawaiians remaining in the world (www.hawaiianscribe.hubpages.com). With your help, we can keep the traditions and ALOHA of the Hawaiian people alive for our future generations by caring for the people committed to learning, preserving and perpetuating it.
All proceeds are used
• to financially support Hawaiian Hula Workshops for any Kumu Hula interested in marketing support
• to establish Hawaiian Hula International as a non-profit organization to accomplish its mission, goals and vision locally, nationally and internationally, and
• to provide scholarships for Hawaiian Hula Workshops and hālau education and training, especially for children demonstrating financial need and families of Hawaiian decent. Priority will be for committed members of hula schools and then to other children and Hawaiians locally, nationally and internationally.