Hui O Hula bring the aloha back outside

After spending the winter dancing at Veterans Plaza because of COVID-19 restrictions, Hui O Hula’s dancers are glad to be back in a milder climate. All LWers are welcome, regardless of skill level, to join these free classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Basic hula lessons are given by Yo Kishi every Thursday at 1 p.m. for about 30 minutes. Newcomers are welcome to dance along with the old-timers after the lesson. The club’s house band, led by Larry Yamashiro, plays there every Thursday from 2 p.m.; the musicians—all volunteers—enjoy taking requests.

On Tuesday, instructor Jojo Weingart teaches new hula dances as well as reviews older ones. The current subject is “Ku’u Lei Hulili,” which means “My Dazzling Lei” in Hawaiian. The first verse of the song talks about the constellations, which, as seen near Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain on Earth at 32,696 feet, resemble a dazzling lei. Dancers are learning how to express wearing a lei of stars, picking flowers in the cold and being in love.

Hula is a gentle workout, in which dancers stretch and bend along to melodic Hawaiian music. Many participants show up more for the camaraderie and fresh air than perfecting dance moves.

Contact the club at (562) 431-2242 or Jojo@JojoJoe.com for more information on classes.