HALAU HULA O KE'ALA LAUA'E

San Diego, California


 

 

 

                  

                                                                                         

 

 

 

 

        

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 Mission

    Since 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.

Biography

Halau 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

 

Douglas Grube or Kuuipo Kanamu-Grube

Telephone
858-560-0966
FAX
Postal address
4738 ALLENHURST PLACE, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92117
Electronic mail
General Information: hulaolapa@hotmail.com
Sales:
Customer Support:
Webmaster: kealalauae@hotmail.com

 

 

Hit Counter

[ Home ] Photo Gallery ] Halau Information ]

Send mail to kealalauae@hotmail.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2002 Halau Hula O Ke'ala Laua'e
Last modified: May 18, 2002