Hula Performance Wows Crowd in South Orange, NJ
The first gig after a 14-month long pandemic break was a great one! More than 200 people gathered in Spiotta Park to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
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New York Hula at 92Y Street Fest ’19
What an adventure and privilege it was to perform at the 92Y annual Street Fest! It’s a free, public outdoor festival that boasts 50,000 attendees and features performances and activities for adults and children.
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Liliʻu: Tribute to a Queen
We define our family, our ‘ohana, very broadly. It may have be begun with our parents and brothers and sisters, but it now includes hundreds of people who give us the support necessary for our creative endeavors.
– Hula Master Robert Cazimero
Seven and a half years ago, I could not believe that I was on stage with Kumu Robert Cazimero at The Power of Hula at Ellen Stewart Theatre. Now, we’ve done it again! Only this time, it was even better. To perform among a special collaboration between artists from Hawai’i and New York, under the guidance of N? Kumu Hula Robert Cazmiero, Vicky Holt Takamine, Jeffrey Takamine, and Michael Pili Pang. Lili?u: Tribute to a Queen was unlike any performance New York City has ever seen! It was an honor to be on stage and an experience that I will cherish and carry with me always.
Hula on The Untitled Action Bronson Show
We were invited to perform Hawaiian music with hula dancers on the The Untitled Action Bronson Show. What a crazy experience! American fashion designer, entrepreneur, and artist Marc Ecko was a guest. And I was delighted to meet Top Chef contestant Sheldon Simeon. Turns out that Chef Sheldon plays a mean ?ukulele too! Before taping, he and I jammed on some Ka?au Crater Boys songs! A very cool memory. Look for us on VICELAND.
Hula at American Girl Place in New York City
Skye and I were honored to perform at American Girl Place at 75 Rockefeller Plaza to celebrate the launch of Native Hawaiian doll, Nanea Mitchell. Her character grows up during World War II. We enjoyed performing Hawaiian songs and teaching young girls how to dance hula. We appreciate Nanea’s story of resilience, responsibility to others, and contributing for the common good or k?kua, as it’s known in Hawai?i.
Mahalo American Girl!
May Day is Lei Day in New York City
Thank you to the Church of the Intercession and N? Lehua Melemele for organizing this wonderful community event. There was hula dancing, lei making, kid activities, art, and more.
It was exciting to screen the film Sons of H?lawa followed by performances by Jason Poole and N? Lehua Melemele. I had the pleasure of playing a few songs for PUA ALI?I ?ILIMA (The Royal ‘Ilima Blossom) and Halau Na Pua Mai Ka Lani Nuioka before the film screening.
H?l?wai was a sponsor.
Keo Woolford Memorial at LaMaMa in New York City
I am so glad to have been a part of this special evening full of healing friendships and performances. Here is my intro at 11:26.
Robert Cazimero once said, “We all can be made better for daring to dance.” I was a student in Keo’s New York kāne hula class albeit a remedial student who never graduated beyond basic hula movements. On the other hand, watching Keo dance brought joy – there was bravery, courage, self-belief, and beauty in his movements.
Tonight it is my honor to perform a favorite song of Keo’s and one of Hawaii’s most blessed and beloved songs, Kanaka Waiwai.