New times for Hula classes with Mālia Helela

New classes and class times

Sundays:
• 2-3 pm Hula Auwana

Learn modern style hula, accompanied by songs played on the ukulele. Taught by our experienced Kumu Hula, Malia Helela. If you are interested in performing, with Kumu Malia’s permission, you can use this class to prepare for performances.

• 3-4 pm Hula Kahiko beginners (new class!)

Hula basics form the foundation of every hula dance.  This class will systematically work the entire body from the feet on up.  Elements of Hakihaki (manual therapy) and Haki Kino (body limbering) will be used throughout the class.

• 4-5 pm  Hula Kahiko intermediate (Kumu approval required)

Learn hula in the ancient style to the beat of the ipu. Emphasis is on understanding the underlying meaning behind the dances. Class begins with vigorous basics and concludes with oli. If you are interested in performing, with Kumu Malia’s permission you can use this class to prepare for performances, including the Queen Emalani Festival on Kauai every October. If you are interested in joining, please contact Kumu Malia in advance. After the first class, joining the halau requires at least a 6 month commitment. The halau’s hula kahiko and oli (chanting) classes happen twice a week: Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings. Halau members are invited with their families to participate in cultural events, such as quarterly hi’uwai (ocean cleanses) on the solstices and equinoxes, as well as the chance to volunteer at the sacred site and kalo (taro) patch in Kailua called Ulupō, of which Malia and her family are caretakers.

Fridays:
• Ukulele 2:30-3 pm  $10

Bring your ukulele and strum along with Kumu Malia!  This half hour class progresses from chord positions to strumming and includes basic arpeggios.  This fun and lighthearted class is a perfect start to your weekend!

Thursdays:
• 5:30-6:45 pm Intermediate Kahiko 

This traditional hula class is taught to the beat of the ipu and pahu drums. Emphasis is on understanding the underlying meaning behind the dances. Class begins with vigorous hula basics and progresses through various hula kahiko dances. Class concludes with oli, including voice warm-ups and introduces various chanting techniques. In learning chants for various occasions, you will gain new insights into Hawaiian language and culture. The breath work in oli cultivates lung-capacity, vocal strength, clarity and confidence.
This class is part of Still & Moving Centerʻs resident hula halau, Na Hula Ola Aloha. If you are interested in joining, please contact Kumu Malia in advance. After the first class, joining the halau requires at least a 6 month commitment. The halau’s hula kahiko and oli (chanting) classes happen twice a week: Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings. Halau members are invited with their families to participate in cultural events, such as quarterly hi’uwai (ocean cleanses) on the solstices and equinoxes, as well as the chance to volunteer at the sacred site and kalo (taro) patch in Kailua called Ulupō, of which Malia and her family are caretakers. For dedicated students interested in performing, with Kumu Malia’s permission you can use this class to prepare for performances, including the Queen Emalani Festival on Kauai every October.

Mālia Ko’i’ulaokawaolehua Helelā

Kumu Mālia is beloved by students around the globe for her kind heart and loving style of teaching, not to mention her deep knowledge, beautiful voice and exquisite dancing. She is a traditionally graduated kumu hula and lomilomi practitioner/trainer, as well as a cultural consultant for Still & Moving Center.

Malia Helela completed her hula ʻuniki (graduation) under Kumu Hula Puluʻelo Park in 2002, and studied oli (traditional Hawaiian chant) under Kumu Hula Keola Lake. Malia has been teaching both practices ever since to a wide range of students, from infants to kupuna, and leading her halau (school), Nā Hula Ola Aloha. Kumu Malia has personally taught thousands of hula students in Hawaii. Additionally, the many Japanese hula teachers whom she has trained over the years teach hundreds of their own students in Japan using the style, method and philosophy of Kumu Malia’s hula lineage.

Kumu Malia considers her hula practice and lomilomi practice to be two parts of the same whole. From her 20 years of lomi experience, she developed a 128 hour massage training program of her own called Puana Lomilomi, based on the intertwined practices of lomilomi, hula, pule, oli and lei-making.

As a member of Ka Pā o Lonopūhā, Malia participates in the sharing of native Hawaiian healing arts that focus specifically on lomi aʻe and elements of haki kino, laʻau lapaʻau and hoʻoponopono. Malia regularly teaches lomilomi for the Salvation Armyʻs Womenʻs Way program representing their cultural healing classes for women in recovery.

As an ambassador and guest lecturer of Hawaiian culture, Malia has delivered presentations for Leeward Community College, the Hawaii Yoga Institute, Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Mid Pacific Institute, Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Manoa Cottage, Honolulu Theater for Youth, numerous groups of International middle and high school students and Still & Moving Center. Kumu Mālia Helelā is currently researching and writing a trilogy of historic novels centered on the Kawehewehe and Kalia area. As a kumu hula and lomilomi practitioner, she looks to the ‘āina, the land, for grounding and inspiration.