Hui O Hula

Everyone is welcome to Hui O Hula, LW’s Hawaiian dance club. Hula classes are offered on Tuesday and Thursday at 1 p.m. Tuesday’s class is held upstairs, in the mirror room, at Clubhouse 6, and Thursday’s class meets at Veterans Plaza or inside Clubhouse 3 if the weather is unfavorable.

Hula should be performed without shoes. Bring a pair of socks or booties because the floor can be cold during the winter months.

In class, He Aloha No O Honolulu is the current hula dance subject. This song, composed by Lot Kauwe (ca. 1877-1922), tells of his boat ride from Honolulu on the island of ‘Oahu to Kona, on the Big Island. Lot was known for using na kaona/hidden meanings in his many songs. In He Aloha No O Honolulu, He uses the kole and manini fish as terms of endearment; and ‘ho’okomo Ho‘okena’ (meaning entering Ho’okena—a place near Kona) as returning home to his lover. A big mahalo/thanks to dancers Keiko Kawamoto, Yo Kishi and Miyuki Okura. They have been dancing with Hui O Hula for at least 15 years. Personas personified, their dedication to the hula and the LW hula hui/group is inspiring. Besides being outstanding dancers, they are kind-hearted and always welcoming to other dancers in class. Since all three were born in January, here’s to wishing them a happy birthday and a year filled with joy, aloha, good health, and hula galore.

—Jojo Weingart