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Hula is very important in my life. Not only because of the many friendships, enormous fun and wonderful experiences it brought me, but most of all because it made me to the person I am right now. Hula has effected the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of my development. When I dance my body and soul are in perfect harmony and I feel complete and content.
My Kumu Hula: Stephanie Lindsey, Thomas Tunui Tully and Al Makahinu Barcarse showed me that Hula is a way of life. It is about respect and love for Hawaiian culture, the land, nature and each other. To me Hula means to give unselfish and unconditional and to find peace within one self.
I try to convey my Halau the knowledge and wisdom my Kumu Hula shared with me. Because of the love and dedication I feel and see with my dancers and musicians, I know that Hula also touched their lives. It doesnŽt matter who we are or were we come from, Hula unites us and makes us happy and in harmony. That is why Halau Hula `O MaiŽana is much more than a dancegroup. It is ohana!
Conchita Joenoes -
Kahi au
Kumu Hula
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My binding with Hawai'i is originated in my youth.
Instead of Gamelan and Krontjong music you would only hear Country & Western en Hawaiian music (remember Blue
Hawai'i van Elvis Presley) in our livingroom.
I am already dancing for 25 years and since 3 years I am teaching (jr. instructor)
and many people ask .......why Hawai'i instead of Indonesia.
I have been in both countries and I do not want to deny where I come from,
because I am proud of the land of origin of my parents.
It is a feeling that is hard to explain and that you wonŽt understand if you havenŽt felt it.
In Hawai'i I experienced for the first time physical, emotional, mental and spiritual feelings, because of the authentic music and dance.
The 'Aloha Spirit' is not only about kindness, a way of life and Ohana, it is also a powerful way
to solve any problem and reach every goal.
In Hawaiian Aloha means much more than 'hello', 'goodbye' or 'love'.
The deeper meaning is 'joyful
(oha) sharing (alo) of breath of life (ha) in the present (alo)'..................
Po Hakala -
Dancer&junior instructor |
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At the age of eleven I started dancing with a real Polynesian
dansgroup and now 27 years later, it still is my biggest passion.
I can translate all my feelings and emotions in dancing
and everytime it is a great challenge to give a beautiful show
together with our live-band.
But there is much more than only beautiful dancing and entertainment.
It is part of me and I try to pass it on and share that with the audience.
I cherish the many perfomances, adventures, journeys and close bond with my
'halau sisters'. They have enriched my life.
The meaning and background of the dances have come even more clear to me after
I visited Hawai'i for the first time in 1992. It seemed as if I came home.....The feeling,
nature, the culture, the people.......everything seemed right and I experience that feeling
every time I dance.
Coming from 2 cultures I recognize my self in the people and the life overthere.
After 1992 I have returned many times and I consider Hawai'i as my second home.
I am proud of my dutch-indonesian roots, but I am definitely Hawaiian at heart!
Mahinalani -
Dancer |
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It is hard to explain my feelings about dancing, therefore I have to use poetry:
With Hawai'i I am connected
Not in an ordinary way
Spirit of Aloha
Takes my breath away
My heart is filled with passion
When I perform the ancient dance
And makes me relive
The legends of the Hawaiian lands
Pilahi La'akea -
Dancer |
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To me the most beautiful thing of Hula is the feeling it gives me when I dance.
Especially since we danced in Hawai'i it has become such a part of me that it is hard for me not to move as
soon as I hear Hawaiian music.
At KingŽs Intermediate School in Kane'ohe, where we had our classes and got in touch with other students, it was
good to see how Hula is part of daily life. In the evening we would sit on our veranda having fun playing the guitars and
ukuleles and sing and dance. This happy and relaxed atmosphere is a state of mind that will always come to me with the music.
That is also why our live-band give our dance perfomances extra 'spirit'.
Especially dancing for an enthousiastic audience gives a thrill and I will always show the best I have and give everything I got.
But most of all we have a lot of fun on stage!
Anuenuelani -
Dancer |
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Ever since I was born Hula was part of my life. As long as I can remember there was music and dancing in our house.
I always have had over ten aunties and now I also have all my Halau sisters.
It is impossible for me to describe the bond and feeling that Hula gives me. MaiŽana has become so much a part of me, that I can not imagine my life without my ohana!
Polani Pu'u wai -
Dancer |
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Mai'ana is not only my Halau, but also my 'ohana'.
I am dancing ever since I was seven and the longer I dance, the more it means to me.
Now that I am a little bit older, I start to realize the true meaning behind the dances
and how special they are.
It is not just another hobby, but a part of my life.
Pua Olina -
Dancer |
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Aloha, My name is Mea Ola. This name is given to me and
means 'survivor'.
I started dancing in 1990.
Tahitian dancing gives me a kick together with the music of our live-band.
Mea Ola -
Dancer |
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I am very PROUD!
Proud that I can be part of this fantastic,
driven and very profesional dancegroup!
Proud of all the beautiful dancers who succeed in
making every show special!
Proud of our Kumu Hula who not only shares the dances with us
but also conveys the deeper feelings behind them!
Proud of our band DaKine which will rehurse the dances with us over and over again
and afterwards just blows the audience away!
And I fully agree with the following statement:
'Hula is the language of the heart and therefore the
heartbeat of the Hawaiian people'
But not only of Hawaiian people, but of every person
who is dancing Hula!
Mahalo ohana mai’ana!
Pua mae'ole -
Dancer |
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To me Mai'ana is more than a Halau! With
Mai´ana I got 20 sisters.
The spirituality and the fun of dancing, but most of all all my sisters
have captured a place in my heart, which I wouldnŽt miss for the world.
They give me the feeling that I belong here and that is why Mai´ana
is so special to me.
Nani Pu'u Kani -
Dancer |
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At the age of 8 I started dancing with MaiŽana and ever since that moment a new world opened up for me! It was not only the beautiful dancers and style of dancing, but it gave me a complete new family!
It is hard to believe that we will be going to Hawai'i for three weeks....... it seems like a dream to me.
I am very proud of what we have accomplished so far.
Entering the World Invitational Hula Festival is one of the highlights of my years with MaiŽana.
Kulewa -
Dancer |
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When I first saw the Hula at Halau Hula OŽMaiŽana, I started to cry because the dances brought me back to my roots.....
Back to Sabah in Malaysia. I discovered that the national flowers are similar! To dance Hula with Mai'ana makes me very happy and fulfills me with joy, because
it brings me home.
Thank you Mai'ana for 'opening my flower.'
Pua peŽe poli -
Dancer |
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I grew up in O'ahu and started Polynesian
dance when I was 5 years old.
Dancing is in my blood and keeps me in touch with where I come from.
I am very happy that I discovered Halau Hula OŽMaiŽana, because now I am able to keep on practising the
art of my culture.
Nani Kehaulani -
Dancer |
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Why I like to dance with Mai'ana? Uhm...
In some way it really brings me in touch with my feminity.
In this musculine tough world I sometimes loose that feeling. Being a woman
it is okay to be sexy and sensual.
Besides that I love the symbolic of the dances. The idea
of telling a story or a legend in the dances, beautiful...
Nani Caby -
Dancer |
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Hula , Hawai'i , Polynesia....
For me the best description is "sweet": Sweet
memories of friendship, sharing, learning, beauty,
movement, applause, admiration, costumes, laughing and crying, overwhelming
landscapes, strong stories, mystic, fun, muscle pain, companionship,
harmony, help, power, emotion... among others!
Hokulani -
Dancer |
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I look back on my time with the dance group with
a lot of fun and melancholy. The shows, especially the ones abroad,
and the fun we had in our vans with all of us. And me behind the
wheel!
Also in the hotels, madness! So much laughing with the girls and
so much fun! When I think back (and I do often) I am still laughing
about all the hylaric things we went thru!!
The conversations and stories we had were so much fun! I can go
on for hours about all the things that happened, I am afraid this
photo gallery will then become my personal one!
But the best and unforgettable memory I have is of course my fairy-tale
marriage with Ben in Hawai'i!!!!
Hinano -
Dancer |
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When I was eleven I started dancing with Mai'ana.
Ever since that day of august 12 1989 I am totally hooked on Polynesian dance.
When I dance I find my inner self and it gives me an opportunity to show my emotions.
The best moment, while dancing, is the "kick" of entertaining a big and enthousiastic audience!
Piha hau'oli -
Dancer |
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