Halau Hula O Kawahineali’inohoikeanuenue-‘elua

Specialties

Halau Hula ‘O Kawahineali’inohoikeanuenue-‘elua is a hula school that teaches the dance, language, and culture of Hawai’i. We offer hula classes for men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds in both the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, and their surrounding areas. Dancing for over 40 years and teaching for over 20, Kumu Hula Mikilani Young is certified to carry on the teachings of her kumu (teachers) before her, and carry on the traditions of the Hawaiian people.

Every year the halau puts on a performance entilted, «Kanikapila,» an exhibition that displays the school’s learnings for that year. In addition to the annual show, Halau Hula ‘O Kawahineali’inohoikeanuenue-‘elua has also been hired to perform at birthday parties, luaus, weddings, retirement parties, school events, and any other event that would like to bring a little aloha spirit to their event-​goers.

History

Established in 2000.

Halau Hula ‘O Kawahineali’inohoikeanuenue-‘elua came to be in the Summer of 2000. After moving to California from Hawai’i, Kumu Mikilani Young started teaching beginners’ hula classes through Los Angeles Mission College’s extension courses. From those classes she began building her hula school from 3 students to 40 students within the first year, and later went on to teach at other locations in the San Gabriel Valley as well. Throughout the years, the halau has grown not only in size, but also in its expertise and execution of the hula.

Meet the Business Owner

Mikilani Y.

Business Owner

Mikilani Young has been a student of the hula all of her life. She began dancing at the tender age of 1, due in part to her mother, grandmother, and aunts having been dancers, and them bringing her to hula classes when she was just in a stroller. She danced for Kumu Hula Puluelo Park of Kailua, O’ahu for almost 20 years, before moving on to her second Kumu, Stanette Nu’uhiwa of Kaimuki, O’ahu. From Puluelo Park, Kumu Mikilani carries on the older hula traditions from the line of Lokalia Montgomery, and from Stanette Nu’uhiwa, she has inherited the teachings and style of world-​renowned Kumu Hula, Darrell Lupenui. There is a famous Hawaiian proverb: «A’olé pau ka ‘ike i ka halau ho’okahi» (not all knowledge is contained in one school). Mikilani Young continues to learn from others and add to her knowledge of the hula.