Huliau foundation
Fostering programs to promote the art of hula
HULIAU was founded in 1996, as a platform to present our annual hōʻike. For the past thirty years this platform has become our foundation to preserve, present and perpetuate the hula styling, mannerisms and traditions of our Hula Matriarch Maiki Aiu Lake, respectably referred to as Aunti Maiki. In 1986, Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang, a student of Aunti Maiki, founded his hālau using Aunti Maiki’s method of teaching hula. Her holistic approach encompasses Hawaiian values, cultural understanding, and artistic excellence within a rich sense of aloha, protocol and responsibility.
Now, almost forty years later, five core programs have emerged and has become the foundation of Hālau Hula Ka Noʻeau and its mission focusing on the art of hula. These programs are the pillars that reinforce Huliau Foundation’s goal and mission.
Hālau Hula Ka No‘eau is our pouhana – the main post – the hālau maintains our cultural education and hula classes. With two schools in Hawaiʻi (Waimea and Honolulu) and a branch in Tokyo, Japan, the hālau conducts 10-12 classes a week serving wahine, kane, keiki and kupuna. Hālau Hula Ka No’eau‘s goal is to perpetuate and maintain the hula styling, traditions and creative works of Maiki Aiu Lake. Within the past four decades Hālau Hula Ka Noʻeau has conducted ʻūniki (graduation ceremonies) to put forward 65 hula practitioners: nā Kumu Hula (30); Hoʻopaʻa (11) and ʻŌlapa (24); adding to the legacy of Aunti Maiki.
Huliau: Hawaiian Dance Concert - building on our touring and theater experience, Huliau: Hawaiian Dance Concerts is our production and performing arm. This pillar allows us to showcase our work and educate others through performances, lectures and community events. It also allows us to partner with other organizations in productions, presentations and events. We have provided our production experience to the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame: Lei of Stars Concerts (1998-2010) and PAʻI Foundation’s Mamo Wearable Art Show since its conception in 2008; consulted with the Prince Lot Hula Festival on hālau hula protocol; produced the Aisa Pacific Dance Festival: Living the Art of Hula concerts; and maintain a partnership to present the Annual E Ola Mau Ka Hula Awards.
I Leʻa Ka Hula - Establish in 2019, as an international hula workshop, this project provides an opportunity to display our organizations stability and resilience as we strive to educate others on the cultural value of hula. When the momentum of this project was just building, we were faced with the 2020 pandemic which forced us to move the workshop from in person to online classes. Once the pandemic restrictions were lifted, we partnered with the Royal Hawaiian Center and created a hybrid workshop offering classes in the Centers vacant storefronts with in-person attendance and online participation. An average of 310 participants has taken part in I Le’a Ka Hula each year.
Muʻolaulani - The inherent arts of oli, mele, instrument making, floral lei making, feather work and other integral Hawaiian arts all help to make up the art of hula. This pillar also allows cultural artists an opportunity to display, sell and share their works. Muʻolaulani supports budding artists and contributes to the upward mobility of artists, supports the state’s arts economy and perpetuates the ingenuous arts.
Margaret Suite – Supports the humanity side of our hālau. As a student of Aunti Maiki, your primary role was to learn your dance; however, if you were fortunate to be invited into Aunti Maiki’s world you learned the true meaning of “aloha”. With so much capacity to share Aunti Maiki’s teaching went beyond the dance floor and into a world of caring for elders and those less fortunate. Aunti Maiki’s given name was Margret, and this program has allowed us to honor her and keep her humble work of: assisting elders and those less fortunate by dropping off foods; supporting higher education for hālau haumāna with tuition assistance; and provide funds for medication, utilities and day to day necessities for those in need.
Together, these five pillars make up the programs and mission of HULIAU FOUNDATION, to preserve, present and perpetuate the art of hula. As a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization we are creating a long-term mission to move the art of hula into the future while maintaining the integrity, teachings, values and connection to our hula matriarch Aunti Maiki.