Traditional Hawaiian Hula School Lands in Ponsonby

Traditional Hawaiian Hula School
Lands in Ponsonby

The launch of the new branding of Hawaiian hula school

Aotearoa’s first official Hawaiian hula school takes residence in one of Ponsonby’s historical treasures, Leys Institute Library Hall and launches its new holistic branding to VIP guests on Monday, 3 December at 7pm.

A timely addition to Ponsonby’s cultural landscape of holistic and alternative services the Hawaiian hula school, traditionally known as Halau Ka Waikahe Lani Malie (Peaceful Heavenly Flowing Waters Hula School), will launch its new logo, and reveal the path it will take to educate the community and perpetuate Hawaii’s cultural dance.

Through Hawaii’s songs, hula, chants and history, the Hula Journey takes its students on a spiritual voyage, encouraging them to honour and respect our land, bodies, family, friends and the community.

The halau (school) runs classes for all ages from children to seniors. It is a unique school in that it also works with the community outside of its classes by offering entertainment, team-building sessions, healing, grounding and providing light and learning to all levels of the education sector.

Hula Journey director and kumu hula (teacher) Aruna Po-Chin began teaching Hawaiian hula in 2005 in Australia. Her Grey Lynn school was officially blessed in 2010 by her kumu hula Blaine Kamalani Kia of Oahu, Hawaii. “It was very important for me to remind the community culturally that values of life and what better way to do it but through song, dance and music,” Ms Po-Chin says.

The Hula Journey is the 15th school of Blaine Kia’s global organisation that extends to Canada, Japan, Tahiti, California and of course, Hawaii. The Hula Journey offers a unique style of cultural dance, a new holistic way of dancing and learning, and looks at opening more schools in other areas of Auckland.

####

© Scoop Media