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Dancing in the Sea of Life  
Halau i Ka Pono Hula Newsletter                                                      December 2011
  
  
Halau i Ka Pono
E lei kau, e lei ho'oilo, i ke aloha.
Love is worn like a wreath through the summers and winters.
Love is everlasting.
'Olelo No'eau - Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings, #332
Collected, translated and annotated by Mary Kawena Pukui
In This Issue
Sharlene K Wong
Shane

December Events  

Week of 11 - 16 only  

then holiday break  

 

January Hula Events begin 1/9/12 

Adult Beginner
Classes
 

A wonderful way to tone your body, strengthen your core, and enjoy moving to the gentle, beautiful  music of Hawaii. 

Mondays

6 - 7 pm

  Wednesdays

11 - 12 noon or

8 - 9 pm 

 

NEW KEIKI
HULA CLASS
 

Wednesdays  

    4 - 10 year olds.   

Moms or Dads can come too. 

5 - 6 pm

 

Gracious Ladies Auana (Modern Hula) Class  

Wednesdays 

7 - 8 pm 

 

Kahiko (Ancient
Hula) Classes

Go deeper into the culture of Hawaii through the old chants and

hula of Hawaii.   

Wednesdays

 6 - 7 pm - Beginners

Fridays

10 - 12 noon - Advanced

 

 Hula Workshop

Sunday December 11th    

Perfect for beginners and those wanting to develop better technique. Will learn a hula.

10 - 1 pm  

All classes and workshops (except for Mondays) are held at our sister organization -  

 Zen Life & Meditation Center 

38 Lake Street  

Oak Park, IL.   

Call 708-445-1651 or email 
[email protected] 

 for info or to register. 

 


photo by Ricia Shema

Kokua (Help)

The concept of kokua means help, aid, assistance, relief. 


  Please consider sending a Year End Makana (gift) today! 

Please kokua  

online or mail

tax-deductible contribution to  

Halau i Ka Pono -  

The Hula School of Chicago   

163 N. Humphrey

Oak Park, IL  60302

708-445-1651

 

We will use it to enrich the Hawaiian cultural experience in Chicago. 

Mahalo nui loa!   

(Thank you very much!)

 
Quick Links

I am writing this hula newsletter in the house that I grew up in Kukaiau, Hawaii where my youngest brother Paul now lives with his son Kalei. The house is just off the main two-lane highway that goes around the Big Island.   I lived in it for some 15 years with my parents and 3 siblings. There is a eucalyptus tree forest that grows behind the house replacing the sugar cane that used to grow there. The grove of very tall thin trees block a view of the Pacific but they rustle and sound like the ocean when the winds pass through them.

 

It's refreshing to take a walk out by the forest and a small county run cemetery nearby. There are no sidewalks, just a lot of nature all around. Last night I saw my old friend Orion's Belt bright and twinkling at me in the sky. A crescent moon hung in the western sky against the black sky.

 

Shane 

My mother, Margaret Mitsuko Tanoue quietly passed from this realm ten days ago. I flew in from Chicago to be with her during her last four days. She lived at Hale Ho'ola for over five years due to strokes that left her unable to speak much or care for herself. The state run long term care facility in Honokaa overlooks the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

 

She was very calm and peaceful as she waited for death to take her. She had a bigger stroke about a month ago that paralyzed her left side of the body. In 1997, she had taken the time to have a living will drawn up. That helped tremendously with knowing what to do during her last days. We had time to hold her hand, to tell her we loved her and thank her for the often thankless job of being a mother.

 

She passed early on Tuesday morning. The Hale Ho'ola staff called me at 5:30 am. My brother Paul was already awake and we all got ready to return there. As we were driving along the coast, I noticed a low red rainbow over the Pacific. These are not so common. We got to the facility and went straight to her room. There were hugs from the nurses and CNAs along the way. She was still warm when I kissed her goodbye.

 

While we were waiting there for all the family to come, one of my nephews looked out of the window and said, "Look at the rainbow!" It was beautiful, extending from the Pacific up to the clouds. And then over time as one faded, another would start up - some were small half orbs sitting atop the ocean and then slowly they would stretch up to the clouds. One was a double rainbow, the main one accompanied by a faint second rainbow. This went on for a few hours. For us gathered beside my mother these rainbows were sure signs of joy, beauty, and love everlasting.

 

Malama pono (take care of body, mind and heart),

 

June Kaililani Tanoue

Kumu Hula


Sharlene K Wong 
Shane  

Sharlene Kananipuaohaleakala Kwai Sim Wong was born in Honolulu and lived in Kalihi throughout her childhood. She went to Kamehameha Schools (K - 12), lives in Connecticut and is Director of Food Service for the Wallingford Public Schools. She's been in food service for the past 24 years. Here is her hula story.    

 

"I haven't always wanted to dance Hula, as a matter of fact, it's been less than five years. Now, I'm proud of myself for taking on the challenge of learning the dance of my ancestors. I'm learning Hula at a time in my life when I can really appreciate the meaning of the hulas and the traditions that go with it. Hula has also helped me become more coordinated. I feel I have a better understanding of my body's mechanics.

 

One of my grandmothers lived with us and my other tutu lived a few streets away. She is the tutu of Hawaiian descent who hailed from Koloa, Kaua'i. I loved to go to my tutu's house because she had lots of jasmine planted in front. When we sat on her stoop in the evening with my cousins and uncles playing the ukulele and the zither, you could smell the fragrant blossoms. I miss that smell.

 

When I was little my mom took me to Hula classes down the street above the grocery store. I cried every weekend I had to go to class or practice at home. Finally my parents decided that I was a lost cause and didn't force me to go to Hula class anymore. But at Kamehameha they incorporated various Polynesian dances and musical implements into music class so I learned a bit of Hula there.

 

As I prepared to attend my 30th class reunion, I realized that it was important to me to try to maintain a bit of my Hawaiian heritage. I have always been in love with Hula Kahiko as opposed to Hula Auana. I viewed Kahiko as the authentic dance of my ancestors versus Auana the dance I felt was developed for tourists. Besides, my previous excursion in Hula consisted of Auana and we know how badly that experience ended.  

 

From all of my research I located Kumu June. She was traveling to NYC once a month on the weekends and that fit my schedule perfectly. I contacted her by email and phone. She kindly allowed me to join her classes. In reality, I'm sure she would have put the kibosh on that if she knew that I was just an uncoordinated Hula hopeful at that point.

 

As a student of history, I love that each Hula recounts an event from the past. It is the way my ancestors passed on their history much like other ancient civilizations that had not developed the written word. I also like the fact that dancing Hula creates an opportunity for a diverse group of people to come together and build a "family" and a community. Admittedly, I use the latest technology to keep in touch with my Kumu and with my Hula "sisters" all across the country. We live in a wonderful time where I have an incredible combination of the very old and the very new at my disposal.

 

Mahalo Nui Loa!!!

A heartfelt mahalo to everyone who helps Halau i Ka Pono.  Your love and support makes a great difference!   

 Special Mahalos to:


Na Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang, Alva Kamalani, Keikilani Curnan, Pa'ahana Roehrig, Cherise Keala'aumoe Mundon, and Uluwehi Guerrero; Ricia Shema, Karen Masaki.