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Ka Hālau
Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu is a traditional school of Hawaiian dance. It was established by Kū Koanui-Souza in April of 2001 in Kailua, O‘ahu with the goal of perpetuating Hawaiian language, culture and tradition through the art of hula. Since the beginning, our hālau has maintained a standard of developing strong practitioners of all that encompasses hula. Students are educated to dance in the ancient and modern forms, while also learning the responsibilities that comes with being a caretaker of traditional knowledge. We uphold ourselves to the promise that we will mālama (care for) the teachings that has been passed down to us through our genealogy of hula.
Philosophy : "Hānai ‘Ia E Ka Wai Māpuna"
"Hānai ‘ia e ka wai māpuna" means nourished by the spring water. This reminds us that if we partake of the fresh nurturing water that life offers, we thrive, we live. Hula lives when we immerse ourselves in all it has to offer. Our passion fuels our want to learn and it benefits us to accept it wholeheartedly because "Hula Is Life."
Our Kumu
Kū Koanui-Souza began his life in performing arts in 1989 as a member of the world famous Honolulu Boy Choir under the direction of Mr. & Mrs. Roy and Nyle Hallman. After one season he decided that he wanted to join the choirʻs hālau that was taught by Kumu Hula Chinky Māhoe. In 1994 Kū would later become a full fledge member of Māhoeʻs, Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaili‘ulā. In that same year, Kū would meet his long time mentor, Hau‘oli Akaka while attending Kailua High School who educated him in Hawaiian language, culture, hula and music. In 2000, Kū had the privilege of learning for a short period of time under master kumu hula, Kimo Alama Keaulana. After receiving his blessing from Chinky, Kū began Hālau Hula ‘O Kawaiho‘omalu in 2001. Although the hālau was successful, Kū wanted to further his knowledge in hula and be certified through traditional ‘ūniki rites. So in 2017 he was invited by Kumu Hula Kalani Akana of Ka Pā Hula O Kāheakūlani to go through this process. Kū would ‘ūniki as a ho‘opa‘a in 2019 and received the title of Kumu Hula ‘Ūniki ‘Ailolo on July 24, 2021.
