Dancing in the Sea of Life Hula Newsletter
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He hele pilali 'aina maoli no.
A sticky going, as if stuck fast to the land.
Said of one who is preoccupied and forgets to go home.
'Olelo No'eau - Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings, #574 Collected, translated and annotated by Mary Kawena Pukui
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Kumu Hula
Michael Pili Pang returns to Chicago!
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 | Kumu Michael and his birthday cake!
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May 10 - 11, 2014
KUMU MICHAEL offers
Hula & Oli Workshops
38 Lake St, Oak Park
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Mark your calendars for another unforgettable Hawaiian experience!
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A wonderful way to feel the energy of Hawaii, gently tone your body, strengthen your core, and enjoy dancing to the beautiful music of Hawaii. No experience necessary. Men, Women age 16 years and older welcome!
Mondays
6 - 7 pm
Tuesdays
11 am - 12 noon
Saturdays
8:30 - 9:30 AM
Men, Women aged 16 years and older. 6 months experience or permission of Kumu. Dance to the melodic music of Hawaii.
Wednesdays
7 - 8 PM
Go deeper into the culture of Hawaii through the chants and hula of Hawaii. Men and women age 16 years and older. 6 months experience or permission of Kumu.
Wednesdays
6 - 7 PM
Adults 1 year experience or permission of Kumu.
Mondays
7 - 9 pm
Fridays
10 am - 12 noon
Check our website for class schedules.
All classes are held at our sister organization:
Zen Life & Meditation Center
38 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL.
For more information call 708-297-6321 or email
june.tanoue@zlmc.org
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Spring in Waimea
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Waimea Cherry Blossoms
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Spring is here! After coming out of a long, hard winter, the sun and warm weather are especially welcome! I just completed another seven day sesshin - silent meditation retreat. Some people cannot imagine being quiet for more than a few minutes or maybe an hour, but never a whole day. It takes getting used to. When I first started doing sesshin some fifteen years ago, I didn't know that it would become something that I would love doing today.
Our sesshin is not complete silence. The precaution is no unnecessary talking because talking can be a distraction. Sesshin is a time to shine the light inward and do some listening instead.
Our Zen Center does three of these sesshins a year. It's one of my favorite ways to come back to my true home - something like coming home to Hawaii. Home is also wherever you are.
You can get so far from home, from your center. We get involved in too many activities and are constantly too busy doing things. There seems never to be enough time in a day to get everything done on the ever expanding list. Yet important things like taking care of ourselves always seem to fall by the wayside.
Many of us can have a gnawing sense of insecurity that we are not good enough, and, as a result, we spend a lot of time propping up who we think we are or should be. And this takes a lot of energy too. Because of this we find that we hate to be wrong or at fault, and we always want to be right and look good. We work very hard not to be criticized, and, if we are rebuked, our world is crushed.
Regular meditation helps me work with these feelings of shame or low self-worth. It builds resilience and courage. A sesshin absolutely brings me home to my true essence. I see clearer and am more focused. There is more space between my emotions and me. Sitting quietly every day is critical for my well-being. It strengthens my insight that we are all deeply connected - humans, trees, birds, squirrels, sky, elements - everything.
This sesshin followed our first major collaboration with the American Indian Center of Chicago (AIC) in a performance called "Many Traditions - One Heart, An Afternoon of Native Dance, Song and Storytelling." It was part of AIC's Native Eschikagou (Chicago): Powwow 60 series.
We shared the stage with our Native American sisters and brothers from many tribes - an inter-tribal gathering. We learned about the sacredness of Grandfather Drum, the different dances and what they meant.
For example, the Men's Grass dance told of a disabled man who's handicap showed him that, although he couldn't dance like the others, he could dance like the prairie grasses. With this insight, he created the Grass dance and joyfully joined the others on the ceremonial grounds. The Women's Jingle Dress dance is one for healing the ill. The dress was envisioned in a dream and is from the Ojibwe Nation.
AIC's dances are similar in many ways to our Hawaiian hula. We dance like the breezes through the trees or the ocean caressing the shore or the vastness of mountains as we tell different stories through hula. Our dancing reconnects us to nature which helps to soften and open our hearts. Sometimes love is there. Sometimes sadness, fear or anger. We realize then that all of these feelings are what make us who we are, and we honor them. We become resilient enough to include and accept whatever arises.
We come home when we realize that we are enough, beautiful, strong and full of aloha.
Malama pono (Take care of body, mind and heart),
June Kaililani Tanoue
Kumu Hula
P.S. Here's a slideshow of our "Many Traditions - One Heart" performance with photographs by Ed Leinartas and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom's song Napua. |
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Nkosi Harvey
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Nkosi Harvey is proud to call herself a Chicagoan. Though she was born in Atlanta, GA, her parents are from Chicago. She moved back to Chicago during the first Bull's Championship. She loves how large and diverse the city is, but also how proud we are to be one community.
Nkosi graduated from Dartmouth in 2006 with a degree in Classical Studies. And since graduating she's played a lot including dancing with Halau i Ka Pono. Here's Nkosi Harvey telling us a little about herself.
Nkosi: Starting 5 years ago when I first moved back to Chicago I have tried to purposely indulge in every passing fancy and childhood whim. I have taken any number of swim, tennis, and music and art classes. It has been a lot of fun. Growing up I had a lot of defined goals, which I am very proud of, but it has also been fun to not compete. Sitting still and enjoying the fun of today is a luxury of the highest order.
June: What brought you to hula?
Nkosi: Hula found me. I stumbled over a Groupon and eventually fell into Halau i Ka Pono's arms. The form and variety have been good to me. I miss it when I am not able to dance and enjoy the classes and the camaraderie. My previous dance experience consisted of some Graham modern dance in college and a sprinkling of ballet as an adult, but nothing that even remotely compares with the texture of Hula.
June: Why do you dance hula?
Nkosi: Very simply it feels fantastic to dance. Hula reminds me to be good and of the goodness of others. I have met and admired many people that have come into my life as a result of Hula. I feel indebted to Hula because of this and want to continue to dance to show my gratitude. Hula can also be difficult and occasionally frustrating. And I enjoy that challenge as well. The basic, but still difficult task of knowing your cues mixed with the complicated, but ultimately simple task of relating to the emotions and difficulties of the song writers and dancers of previous generations. It is a dance for the soul and the body.
June: Any other interests?
Nkosi: I'm going to continue to play. Growing up is an overrated concept. Pottery, fiddle, the GMAT are all in the picture for the next year. As is patience, humor and confidence.
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MAHALO NUI LOA/ BIG THANK YOUS!!!
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 | Art by Caren Loebel-Fried
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A heartfelt mahalo (thank you) to everyone who helps Kumu June and Halau i Ka Pono. Your aloha and support makes a tremendous difference!!!
Special thank yous to everyone who attended our Many Traditions - One Heart performance and to:
Sharlene Wong, Dave Spencer, Czerina Salud, Lei Dietmeyer, Lori Murphy, Nicole Sumida, Betsy Puig, Cissy Plekavic, Nkosi Harvey, Tanya McBride, Karen Mansfield, DeLacy Sarantos, Dwight Sora, Robert Althouse, American Indian Center, Inc., Lisa Alamar, Sarah Evans, Julie Kase, Marissa Jones, Moira Bryan, Theora Humphrey, Yuka Jarrett, Ed Leinartas, Nineteenth Century Club, Chicago Community Trust, Caren Loebel-Fried, Photography by Charmian.
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About Us | |
Halau i Ka Pono at "Many Traditions - One Heart," March 30, 2014
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Halau i Ka Pono means School that Cultivates the Goodness. We teach the Hula which is the art of Hawaiian dance expressing all that we see, hear, taste, touch, and feel. Hula and healing go hand in hand in our halau. The dance connects us to the grounding energy of the earth and opens us to the warm spirit of Aloha (love). Come join us! Beginners are welcome!
Please communicate with us! Contact Kumu June at june.tanoue@zlmc.org for more information. May your lives be full of aloha blessings!
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