by Mentor Artist Shawna Alapa’i Update: See Shawna and Halau Hula Na Pua O Ka La’akea at Marin County Fair on Thursday, June 30 at 6 pm.
Hula hit the scene at Laurel Dell Elementary School once again, and this year’s students were no strangers to the strum and dance of Hawai’i!
Students dance at the Fiesta del Sol.
Haumana (students) fell right into the flow of the steps and movements as we began our session in March, and we kept going strong all Spring. Even the Pre-K students who were new to the dance found their groove! Incorporating the art of Ha’i ‘Olelo (Storytelling) into teaching a dance to the youngest children was an especially fun way to engage them and help them to connect to the movements and motions to tell the story of their hula.
“Aloha!”
Last years’ favorite mele (song) to dance to was “He Mele Inoa No Lilo” from the movie, Lilo and Stitch. Since it was such a huge hit, I decided to choreograph a hula to another song from that same movie. This year we rode the surf of Hawai’i and enjoyed the bliss of a Hawaiian beach, with the male “Hawaiian Roller Coaster”. And without a doubt, those Hawaiian waves can truly feel like you’re on a roller coaster ride on your surfboard…”Whooooooooaaaaaa!”
We had a great culminating performance at the Fiesta Del Sol, on Saturday, June 4th.
Aloha…Mahalo…and as always…Hula On!
Mahalo to the California Arts Council for helping to make this Travel the World residency happen.
