Kahuna Nui Hale Kealohalani Makua – “Love all you see, including yourself.”
Kumu Josie de Baat
OUR STORY
Poh and Rani became hula sisters through their deep connection to hula and Aloha created by their Kumu Hula, the late Josie de Baat. They met while dancing at Halau Kia’i o ka Hula, where their friendship deepened and Aloha grew. Kumu Josie had spent years dancing and training under the guidance of Margaret Hunkin, then Uncle Lanakilakeikiahialiʻi Naʻope and later on Palani Olson, on hula, history, storytelling, and spreading Aloha from the heart, spirit, mind, and body.
Inspired by Aloha and carrying Kumu Josie in their hearts, they decided to share hula with their community. This sharing grew into a place of dancing hula, learning about Hawaiian history, and connecting to land and water with their home on Turtle Island and the Coast Salish Seas.
They envisioned a place where dancers could connect deeply with hula traditions and with each other. Hula Halau o ke Kuahiwi i ke Kai symbolizing their dedication to the hula to create a legacy of love, unity, and storytelling.
Kumu Josie de Baat embodied hula and Aloha and shared her spirit, laughter and cooking with her hula haumana (students) with all of her heart. She started a small group in 1971 in the basement of her home, called Wahine South Sea Dancers. Her love and passion for Polynesian dance, culture, and story continued to grow, and so did her haumana (students). She was later gifted the halau name, Halau Kia’i O Ka Hula (School of Guardians of the Hula) by Uncle George Lanakilakeikiahiali’i Na’ope in 1997. Over the decades, Josie's studio gained significant reputation, winning numerous competitions and bringing the beauty of Polynesian dance to a wider audience. Her dedication to hula and Hawaiian culture, inspired many students and ensured the preservation and celebration of Polynesian dance traditions.
With all of her students, Kumu Josie taught with compassion, care, respect, and Aloha - and always ensuring we had a full stomach!
Kumu Josie joined her husband in the spirit world on December 28, 2022. She is deeply missed by her students and community, however, her spirit, legacy, and Aloha has a strong presence in our hearts and in Hula Halau i ke Kuahiwi i ke Kai as she continues to guide us with every step we take with our feet, every sway of our hips, and every kiss of Aloha we share with our community.
Ka Pua Aloha Band
We are so grateful to our live band who play for us at every practice and who’s dedication runs as deep as our hula haumana who join us every week and at every show. Koren, Paulus, and Andry (KPA) are the Ka Pua Aloha band who synchronize their strums, singing, and percussion to bring deeper meaning to our songs and storytelling of Hawaiian history, stories, and Aloha. Connecting to the beats, the meaning and steps of the mele, our KPA band brings life, authenticity, and love to our sharing.
Koren has been dancing with Kumu Josie for over 40 years and is our mentor, friend, and advisor of Hula Halau i Ke Kuahiwi i Ke Kai. Mentored by Kumu Josie, Koren, our kahu (protector) embodies the mana and puawai of Josie to share her wisdom from a place of care and Aloha.
Paulus has been playing ukulele for more than 4 years but has been part of our hula Ohana for more than 20 years. Along with playing in the band, he has opened up his home to create a hula community for our haumana by welcoming ukulele and hula practice, and ensuring we are all fed!
Andry is the newest member of KPA band and has an extensive background in music. Although he’s new to hula and Hawaiian music, Andry has embraced the meaning of hula and what it means to sing, play, and dance with Aloha.
