HALAU HULA O KE'ALA LAUA'E
San Diego, California
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HALAU HULA O KE'ALA LAUA'E San Diego, California
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| Welcome, this is the home page of Halau Hula O Ke'ala Laua'e. Feel free to browse our website and visit us anytime.
Our MissionSince 1991 the Federal Census Bureau has reported that there are more people of native-hawaiian ancestry residing in the Southern California & Nevada, than anywhere else in the world, including the State of Hawaii and the numbers are increasing. It is the mission of this halau to provide those who are interested with an education in the history, sociology, language, song and dance of the native inhabitants of the hawaiian island group located in the Polynesian triangle of South Pacific. To share the concepts of "Aloha and Lokahi" in a fun and wholesome, traditionally-hawaiian atmosphere. We emphasize in reaching out to those displaced Kanaka-ma'ole in the mainland, with the hope of instilling in them the desire to return home and reclaim their heritage and homelands.
BiographyHalau
Hula o Ke’ala Laua’e first opened its doors in 1989 and was founded by
Douglas and Kuuipo Grube (a husband and wife team).
They started with just six kaikamahine, all of them first cousins to each
other. Since then the Halau has
grown. They now have over 78
students. The Halau teaches
all ages both kane and wahine. Its
youngest member is four years old and debuted in his first Ho’ike last May.
Just recently, four-wahine kupuna joined them with the comments that
“this is hawaiian.” “It is an
honor and compliment to have our Kupuna with us.” says , Kuuipo. The
kumu, Kuuipo Kanamu-Grube, started dancing when she was five years old and after
more than thirty years, she continues on as a teacher.
She is a native-born Hawaiian and enjoys a celebrated hula genealogy that
goes back five generations. Her
grandfather, Papa Kanamu, was pure Hawaiian and Tutu was three-fourths Hawaiian
and one-quarter Chinese. Her first
kumu was a man named, Arthur Akau (Prince Hinano).
Through his love and patience, Kuuipo found her life’s passion.
Since then, there have been other kumu; Erla Paoli, Jean Kalani, Nettie
Fernandez-Tiffany, and several workshops with Uncle Joe Kahaulalio.
Kuuipo has a formal education with a bachelors-degree
in political science; However her education in “all things Hawaiian” comes
from the tutelage of her Hawaiian elders. The
person who has been the greatest influence on Kuuipo’s hula has been her
mother, Aunty Leikula Kalawaia Kanamu-Alvarez.
As a hula dancer, Kuuipo has performed all over Southern California &
Las Vegas, and her hula has taken her as far away places as Mexico, Japan,
Korea, Hong Kong and Bangkok. Kuuipo
has been sharing her craft, as a teacher and choreographer for more than 15 years.
In 1989 Aunty
Leikula gave Doug and Kuuipo her blessings to start the Halau and named them
“Halau Hula O Ke’ala Laua’e”. Although
she is retired, Aunty Kula continues to mentor them as the halau grows.
The Halau has performed at a number of local hotels here in San Diego and
has represented the Hawaiian community at the “San Diego Pacific Islander
Festival” for several years, as well as hosting its own luau and workshop
series. The Halau also does a
number of benefit performances and charity work
for the local homeless shelters, community churches, convalescent hospitals and
schools. They still have in its
ranks five of the six original dancers.
Contact Information
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Send mail to kealalauae@hotmail.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
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