Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie
Hālau Kahulaliwai
(Hula Dance)
About our Hālau
Our Hālau is a traditional Hula School. We teach ages 12 and older, kane (men) and wahine (women). We offer classes in hula kahiko (ancient hula), hula `auana (modern hula), oli (chant), and Hawaiian culture under the direction of Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia of Oahu, Hawaii and Kumu Juni Kalāhikiola Lovel of Sacramento, California. We are the largest and longest running Hula school in Montana. We have been teaching since 1993 in the beautiful Flathead Valley. We share our love and respect of Hula by performing at community events and with students at school enrichment programs.
We are supported by the 501C3 Organization, Launahele, (The Forest Groves) whose mission is to share and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and Hula.
Our Montana Leaders
(from L to R) Alaka`i Dominica Kau`anoku`uipo Esperas, Po`opua`a Sharon Kawaokelenuimakamae Pillsbury, Alaka`i Skye Kalaniakea Hatfield.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
This is our time to share the Hula Dance and our culture, because it is something we truly love and respect. Through our learned principals, we shall pass down to the generations, just as those before us. Confidence, humility, and a true nurturing for those around us and all that we are blessed to share, allows Hula to flourish.
About Our Kumus
Kumu Juni Kalāhikiola Lovel
Kumu Juni Kalāhikiola Lovel was born on the island of Kaua`i. Kumu Kalāhikiola started Hula at the age of eight and has studied under several Kaua`i Kumu Hula over the years. Kumu Kalāhikiola opened the Sacramento branch of Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie in September of 1999, and Antioch in March of 2001. Our Montana school joined her Hālau in 2005. She is proud to teach the hālau vision: to enhance and sustain strong cultural and spiritual values by better educating the hula practitioner to care, support and respect the dance, so, as they aspire to their full potential, they can spiritually and humbly make a contributing impact (through example) to the community and all walks of life. She is also proud of the Hālau mission whereby all properties of knowledge, wisdom and cultural aspects belonging to the dance as passed down from generation to generation, shall be maintained by the Hālau principals for the benefit of all who are part of the dance.
Kumu Blaine Kamalani Kia
Kumu Blaine Kamalani Kia is a renowned Hawaiian Hula and cultural expert who founded the non profit organization, the Kalaua'e Foundation, whose sole purpose is to perpetuate the Hula by passing information in a direct, accurate and traditional manner while teaching the hula practitioner to care, support and respect the hula. He is married with 3 children and resides in Kailua, O'ahu. Kumu Hula Kia is an accomplished musician, song writer, dancer and instructor with over 1,200 students worldwide including Hawaii, California, Japan and now Montana. He comes from an impressive hula lineage which includes Daryl 'Ihi'ihilauakea Lupenui and Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, has won many hula awards, and has recorded 5 CDs. We are honored to have Kumu Hula Kia's involvement and aloha. Links of Interest will direct you to information on the Ka Laua'e Foundation, it's annual Hula Retreats E Pili Ka Kou in Kaua'i, Japan, Sacramento and Los Angeles, and how to purchase Kumu Hula Blaine Kia's CDs.
Class Information
Our classes are currently on break. Mahalo!