Kumu Hula Ab Kawainohoikala'i Valencia was born and raised in Honolulu, O'ahu, in the Liliha area, and grew up in Kalihi-Pālama.

His mother is Naomi Kapuanani Kalua Valencia, a full Hawaiian. His father is Benito Felipe Valencia, Sr., from the Philippines. They were married during WWII.

His maternal grandmother, Veronica Heleloa, is from Hilo. His maternal grandfather, Isaac M. Kalua, is from Ewa, O'ahu. They met on O'ahu after his grandmother paddled in a canoe from Hilo to Honolulu. Our family lived in the Pālama area of Honolulu where he attended Farrington High School then UH Mānoa. Ab transferred to the University of Kansas, in Lawrence where he studied and worked in architectural design, drafting and construction technology.

Ab Kawainohoikala'i Valencia:  Growing up I was always surrounded by Hawaiian music and culture. I didn't get involved in hula until my adult life. One evening, I attended a music concert at UH. A male hālau hula was one of the performers: Robert Cazimeroʻs Hālau Hula Nā Kamalei. It was an exciting event and it piqued my interest.

My first hula lesson was in 1979 at an adult education class at Kamehameha School in Kapālama, O'ahu. The kumu hula was Māpuana de Silva. Needless to say, I was immediately hooked! Kumu de Silva invited me to come to her hālau, Hālau Mōhala 'Ilima, in Lanikai which I did.

I went to Hālau Hula O Maiki in 1981, joining a new beginning men's hula class. It was here that my love for hula became my life's passion and where my journey began in an ever unfolding lesson in life of learning and sharing Hawaiian culture. With Aunty Maiki's permission, I began training in hula kahiko.

After her passing, I studied and uniki'd as an 'olapa and ho'opa'a from Kumu Edward Kalahiki. I 'uniki'd as kumu hula in 1991 from Kumu Mae Kamāmalu Klein. In 1996, with blessings and a hālau name from Kumu Kamāmalu, I began Hālau Hula Kalehuaki'eki'eika'iu (the majestic lehua high above) in Kaka'ako, O'ahu. The hālau continues today at our home in Volcano, Hawai'i.

Since moving to Hawai'i Island and to Volcano in 2004, one of the activities my wife Pua and I enjoyed was becoming volunteers at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea, Kalua-o-Pele, Pelehonuamea mā, including the entire life and breath of the 'āina (land), ke ao nani (the beautiful world), are important aspects of our daily lives. We are fortunate to be able to participate as kokua (volunteers), as workers, as students and as teachers who are allowed to share our understanding and knowledge with visitors and residents of the 'āina.

We both worked for non-profit organizations that support Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and we continue to share our traditional knowledge with visitors and residents.  I am sometimes called upon to provide traditional cultural protocol for groups visiting Pele; lead cultural hikes and walks through different areas of the volcano; share native hula plant knowledge and the cultural aspects and protocol of hula adornments: including gathering and hands-on experience of traditional lei making.

June Kaililani Tanoue: Tell me about your halau and your philosophy of hula.

Ab: Hālau Hula Kalehuaki'eki'eika'iu is a non-competitive, inclusive place where one can learn Hawaiian culture and understand its values and practices as it is revealed and expressed through mele (songs) and dance. As quoted by Aunty Maiki Aiu Lake: "Hula is the Art of Hawaiian dance expressing all that we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and feel." Hawaiian values are universal values of respect and courtesy. We are all learners. We all wish to experience life. "Hula is Life." Hula is meant to be fun; at the same time it should always remain respectful. Hula is not simply dance: it involves all aspects of the Hawaiian culture, and the hālau becomes a learning place, one of many learning places, that encompass the sharing of hula.

June: What is it like to practice hula in Volcano, HI - the home of Pele?

Ab:  We feel privileged, honored and blessed that we can live and dance hula here at Kīlauea, at Kalua-o-Pele, for Pelehonuamea, in honor of Pele mā, and especially in respect of our kupuna (ancestors). I am humbled by the forces of nature that surround us, that envelope us and allow us to become a part of its expression. I am thankful to my teachers, my kupuna and all the others who have shared their 'ike (wisdom), mana'o(thoughts) and aloha that we may continue the legacy of Hawai'i at this very special ka wahi kapu (sacred place). Mahalo ia ke Akua (Thanks be to God).