Nā Lehua Melemele is a hui, or group, that continues to perpetuate the Hawaiian tradition of the hula dance in New York City. Believing strongly in the philosophy of legendary master hula teacher Maiki Aiu Lake that ‘Hula is Life’, our dancers share the native art of Hawaiian dance expressing all that we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and feel. Through the songs and dances of the hula, we study the culture, legends, poetry, history, genealogy and spirit of Hawai’i. It is through the hula that our dancers remain connected to the great heritage of Hawai’i on the distant shores of the island of Manhattan.

Our hula ‘ohana, or family, is a diverse community of people that embraces Native Hawaiians and non-natives alike. The many colored varieties of the lehua are a reflection of the many different backgrounds and ethnicities that make our group unique. For us, flowers symbolize people. We believe that hula is not just for Hawaiians, but to be shared by everyone as a universal language of the heart. In our hula classes, we refer to each other as ‘hula brothers’ and ‘hula sisters’ and function as a hula family.

Our classes cultivate a community based on shared core Hawaiian values of aloha (love), lōkahi (unity), ‘ohana (family), and ha‘aha‘a (humility). More than just a dance, the hula is a way of life and nurtures the people of our community beyond the dance studio. We are not just striving to become better dancers, but better individuals through practicing these Hawaiian values. For the dancers of Nā Lehua Melemele, studying the hula is much more than just a dance class.

Nā Lehua Melemele is not a formal hālau hula, or school of hula, but we are a hui, or a group. A hālau hula is traditionally under the direction of a master teacher, or kumu hula, that acts as a cultural source of knowledge for their haumana, or students. Nā Lehua Melemele is a hui, or an informal group, that is comprised of individuals who are joined or united by a common love of the hula. Some of the meanings of the word hui are a club, association, society, company, organization, union, alliance, troupe, or team. It also means to meet, intermingle, associate, or congregate. Although we are a hui and not a hālau hula, it does not mean that we do not take our hula studies seriously. It is our kuleana—responsibility and commitment to respect the integrity of the hula traditions that have been shared with us from our teachers.

While I am not a kumu hula, I have been given permission and blessing from my teacher to teach classes in basic hula movements and repertoire. As a graduate of the Papa ‘Ūniki Lehua class of 2006, I completed training as an ‘ōlapa after several years of intensive training under Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne. With great respect for the tradition, and with humbleness and humility, I hope to continue to perpetuate the art of the hula in New York City.

HOW TO SUPPORT NĀ LEHUA MELEMELE

Formed in 2007 after the closure of the Hawai‘i Cultural Foundation, Nā Lehua Melemele continues to meet weekly for hula practices at Dance Theater Workshop in Chelsea. Relying on quarterly contributions from members, our hui is seeking donations to help support our activities and events that share and promote Hawaiian culture in New York City.

In addition to studio rentals, our hui is also seeking support for many of the activities we are involved with throughout the year including our annual Lei Day Celebration on May 1st, participation in the Central Park Lū‘au every first Sunday in June, and our annual ‘Ohana Holiday Party in December. In 2009, Nā Lehua Melemele also participated in the World Hula Conference in Honolulu, O‘ahu. Ka ‘Aha Hula ‘O Hālauaola Hula Conference was an extraordinary gathering of more than 100 kumu hula, cultural practitioners, artisans, and hula enthusiasts from around the world. In 2010, Nā Lehua Melemele was honored to be invited to perform at the La MaMa Moves Dance Festival at the Ellen Stewart Theater and director Lisette Kaualena Flanary was also the recipient of a Field Artist Residency.