What a grand hula weekend we just had! My kumu hula (hula master), Michael Pili Pang, and his haumana (student) Davin Pascual arrived last Thursday at 3 am from Honolulu. That began a warm and wonderful series of events that started with us learning how to make 'uli'uli (feathered gourds) and ended with a potluck on Sunday with dancing on the pa hula (mound) in our backyard. Over a hundred fifty people participated in our workshops, lecture, demonstration and performances - making it a rousing success! It is a special event when your kumu comes to visit you and your halau (school). Kumu Michael opened my eyes to the myriad, magnificent and sacred world of Hula. He helped me practice intensely to embody the Hula Ku'i styling of his beloved kumu hula, Maiki Aiu Lake. I don't have it all right, but that doesn't stop me from practicing and working to get better. Hula is different for different people. For the serious hula student, it's a commitment to "be" with hula in such an intimate way that hula becomes you and you it. Yet at the same time, you don't become lost in the hula. You stay aware of what's going on moment by moment. Hula is a discipline in a halau. And like any discipline, it's about ho'omanawanui (perseverance and patience). It's about watching your kumu and trying to repeat what you see. Whenever you are learning something new, repetition is the key, the way you ho'omakaukau (prepare) yourself to know it. My teacher's presence was fresh air for me. As I reflect on this past weekend, many things arise. I remember the importance of my hula lineage and that hula is not just the dance. It is also how we are as people - how we practice ho'omaika'i (respect for all - including self), how we carry ourselves in the world and what kind of integrity we maintain. When we say we will do something, do we do it? Are we on time for class or do we keep others waiting? Are we open and receptive? Are we holding on to resentments? Are we procrastinating? How good are we at forgiveness? Are we patient? For me the entirety of life is a sacred, spiritual process. We know when things are not pono (right). When I feel unbalanced and ungrounded, I take the time to re-balance. It could mean resting or speaking from the heart with a friend. Regular meditation also helps me with spaciousness and getting back to balance. My husband wrote an insightful blog article called "Sacred World, Sacred Work" that discusses what spiritual life is. We all worked very hard this weekend and joyfully so! Kumu Michael's knowledge and skills were on display - his mastery of the dance and of different hula implements such as the nose flute, the 'ukeke, the 'ulili. He is a choice, highly prized and rare blossom indeed! Here are photos of our time together by KP Perkins. One of my favorite images of the weekend happened Saturday night after the sold out performance. A few other haumana and I were at home busy sewing feathers to finish our 'uli'uli for the workshop on Sunday. Kumu Michael decided to make a snack for all of us - fried rice with all the leftover food. He worked silently and with much skill to put together a delicious dish that we loved. Then he cleaned up the kitchen. It was a simple act - not showy- using what was at hand and filled with aloha. It was a great pleasure to work alongside my kumu, the haumana (students) and see dear friends and meet new friends who came to the different events. Let's work on making this an annual event so we can gather joyfully again!
Malama pono (take care of body, mind and heart), June Kaililani Tanoue Kumu Hula | 
