Letter from the Director, by Renée Tillotson

As a kid, I always loved big ideas. Maybe all kids do. Did you? I recall coming across our rambunctious 5-year-old son sitting still, alone in the middle of a play day, on top of his bunk bed. “Whatja thinkin’ about, Shankar?” I asked. “Infinity,’ he startlingly replied. For me, Still & Moving Center is becoming a place, more and more, where large-hearted, deep thinking takes place, as well as fabulous physical activities..

Imagine ideas giving the mind a workout, just as play, calisthenics, dance, etc. exercise the body. Little Renée also adored her time on the playground. Pumping back and forth on a swing, to the very top of each arc, is akin to viewing the world from a broad sweep of perspectives, from the top extreme to the opposite extreme. Hopscotch requires a light-footed agility, similar to mental agility in the face of new facts. Swinging from ring to ring on the monkey bars involves a shoulder motion called brachiation, suggesting the looseness with which we can release fixed points of view and move onward. Jumping rope strengthens our base – feet, ankles, knees, legs and hips – requiring steadiness, timing, and repeated grounding. The see-saw challenges our sense of balance. The metal push merry-go-round teaches us that going to the center gives us the still point, while going to the edge whirls us wildly through space. Down the slide requires letting go, enjoying the ride!

So, to me, exercising the mind goes hand in hand with exercising the body for whole health as a human being. I’ve been on a quest to find both.

As a bird longs to be on the wing in the open sky, I crave to live in the wide world of thought. From my earliest times, I’d quietly hang on the outskirts of adult conversations, listening for ideas that would carry my mind to broader perspectives. And I read a lot. I mean, I ate up books. One of my favorites was a big book on World Religions. That fascinated me with many ways of explaining how the world began and why we were here. 

Of course every child loves stories. A story drew me in like a spider wrapping up a fly. Why is that? I think stories help us make sense of the world. We can see how the causes people set into motion play out into logical – even if surprising – results. Look how Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol comes to see how his life so far has damaged others, and finally chooses to utterly redeem himself from his tight, mean, miserly life to one of full-hearted generosity. Such stories teach that transformation is possible!

Watching sad news on black and white television made me deeply wonder how such terrible things could happen, and how we could make the world a more livable place for everyone. Surely you had events in your childhood that led you to similar questions. Remember?

My parents were part of the World Federalist movement, and I especially liked listening to their discussions with those friends. I’m just learning now that famous advocates of World Federalism include Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Camus and Winston Churchill. Wow! No wonder I was interested in THOSE conversations! World Federalism started during and after World War II, as a way a way to avoid future wars.

I devoured fantasy and science fiction books that envisioned worlds that COULD BE. “A Wrinkle in Time” captivated my imagination: three youngsters “on a journey through space and time, from universe to universe, as they endeavor to save [their] father and the world…. The novel wrestles with questions of spirituality and purpose, as the characters are often thrown into conflicts of love, divinity, and goodness,” per Wikipedia. Yep, that’s my kind of book!

One day, probably when I was home buried in a book and all the other kids on the block were outside playing – my mom suggested that I might want to make some more friends. I responded, “My books are my friends, and when I want more people friends, I’ll go out and make some.”

By 7th grade I left my bookworm habits behind, but you know, I didn’t really know who I was looking for. I could not have put into words, “I’m looking for friends with big ideas for the world.”  By the time I got to college, I was finally able to find people like that, including my now husband Cliff.

At UC Santa Barbara. I heard about a Professor Raghavan Iyer, as an amazing speaker who always wore a red or orange or gold colored shirt to class. I recall sitting in the big lecture hall next to Cliff, waiting for the professor, when suddenly a small-statured Indian man, wearing – yes – a deep orange shirt under his dark jacket, came striding down the aisle. As he began speaking, I was transfixed.

The ideas that streamed non-stop out of Professor Iyer’s mouth for the next hour filled every nook and cranny of my mind… and then kept pushing it out farther and farther. The topic was something about politics, religions and literature… I can no longer recall the subject matter – only that these were stupendous ideas about the human race, its problems and its possibilities. My note-taking hand cramped trying to keep up with his full flood of remarkable notions from East and West, ancient times and modern headlines. But my hand cramp was nothing compared to the panting satisfaction that my mind and heart felt bathing in his colossal vision of a possible world that we – those of us sitting there in that very hall – could bring into being.

When Professor Iyer’s soaring lecture finally touched down and came to a close, a breathless pause ensued, then every person in the hall sprang to their feet and burst into a long, standing ovation. And for the next three years that I took Professor Iyer’s classes, I experienced all of our eyes brighten, our hearts swell, and our minds sail on the winds of his ideas for a more intelligent, compassionate world. 

Soon Cliff found out that Professor Iyer, with a number of his students, were restoring an old Victorian house in downtown Santa Barbara to create something called the Institute of World Culture. Danson from Kenya, Ingrid from Germany, Carl from Quaker country in Pennsylvania, and all manner of other idealistic people worked through the weeknights and over their weekends to restore the house to the stately beauty the Institute deserved. 

On July 4, 1976, the Institute of World Culture opened with the Declaration of INTERdependence! I include that Declaration below in Word to the Wise. From then on, Cliff and I feasted on endless programs devoted to lifelong learning, from Mozart’s music, to Ramunagen’s mathematics, to Vandanava Shiva’s seed banking, to Shakespeare’s play the Tempest, to how saving the wolves transformed Yellowstone National Park. And most of the programs were put on by the members themselves, learning about and presenting the subject matter. We also received remarkable visiting presenters, such as His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama.

Moving to the islands in 2002, I missed the Institute’s programs and conversations – my life of the mind. However, Cliff and I found so much richness in the Hawaiian culture, it hugely helped the transition. Cliff dove into paddling Hawaiian canoes, encountering the legendary Hawaiian kupuna (elder) Nappy Napoleon. And thank my lucky stars, I met kumu Mālia Helelā, who so graciously shares her tradition through hula, ōlelo (language), history, love of the ‘aina (land), and the generous heart of aloha.

Fortunately, too, I became better acquainted with a vast range of movement practices from around the world through Still & Moving Center. In addition to hula from the islands, we had Bharata Natyam dancing, Bollywood and yoga all from India. Tai Chi came from China and Qigong came from Korea. Israel gave us Feldenkrais, and we got belly dance from both Egypt and Turkey… and the list just keeps growing – like the new ELDOA from France. We are essentially creating a world university of mindful movement. And we have always kept conversation going through our weekly Satsang centered on our Still & Moving Center Almanac of inspirational quotes from around the globe.

I still keenly missed our wide-ranging programs and conversations at the Institute of World Culture. 

With the pandemic came a pause, a pivotal turning point, and something shifted. Suddenly, at the time of our 9th birthday, Still & Moving Center went online, and went global. Overnight, our friends from across the map could join our classes without flying to Hawaii. I realized, “This is our chance at Still & Moving Center to cultivate the life of the mind!”

Our banquet table for the mind grew more plentiful. All our meditative offerings are free of charge and online. We now provide two seated meditation sessions a week. Our Sunday Satsang gathering is now frequented by off-island participants for a fuller diversity of viewpoints. On Fathers Day, for example, we talked about how the living practice of fatherhood has evolved over the generations in Japan, the Philippines and the U.S.

Our ‘Gems from the Wisdom Tradition – a Conversation Circle’, an online weekly gathering, launched in April with 14 participants from various islands, states and countries, all talking about fascinating, make-a-difference ideas. Some of our friends from the Institute of World Culture attended, too! Yay!  Last week at Gems, kumu Maliā approached the Buddhist topic of Right Speech by addressing the Hawaiian proverb:“I ka ʻŌlelo no ke Ola” – In the Language there is Life, complete with chanting in Hawaiian. And I loved hearing the ancient Greek story of Prometheus stealing fire from the gods on Mount Olympus for humanity – hearing that fire in fact represents the light of the mind, which, like a candle, can be shared over and over, illuminating the darkness, without ever being diminished itself. Wonderful stuff. My body and mind are now both satisfied now!

Ironically, I spent a quarter century after college pursuing the life of the mind without much physical exercise at all, until I started practicing Nia and moved to Hawaii in 2002. Through Nia and the moving practices at Still & Moving Center, I had learned an important lesson. So I had slated myself in 2020 to go to San Diego, Brazil and the Ukraine to give talks on the Joy of movement, I wanted to convince some rather sedentary, philosophical groups to get up and move their bodies if they really wanted to have healthy minds.

And instead I’m finding myself bringing more of the life of the mind to a place where people love to move. Don’t you just love it?!?

And there’s more to come! AHHHHHH…………

Live Japanese Translation by Eriko Jones　日本語通訳付き

12:30-2:30 PM HST  — (Japan time 7:30am Friday)

$59 for two participants in the same home　家族・親子２人で参加（２人で＄５９）

（日本語：下記参照）

Lomilomi has traditionally been practiced in the home.  This two hour workshop will provide you with practical and accessible lomilomi techniques that can be safely shared with your family and friends.  Our live, interactive online format lets you learn in the comfort of your own home. Lessons begin with self massage techniques and then progress to lomilomi for others. You will practice on each other during the workshop.

Therapeutic touch begins when a mom first smoothes her hands in wonder over her growing belly. Across human experience, skills develop as parents perform endless diaper and clothing changes and learn what helps to soothe their individual keiki. The need to provide reassuring touch continues through the bumps and bruises of childhood to the aching hearts of teenage life.  Whether or not we are parents ourselves, we remember what it felt like to be young and hurting and cared for – or wanting to be cared for.

We reach out in sympathy and kindness to friends who experience pain, both physical and emotional.  We gently hold hands with precious elders who may not be moving around the way they used to.  At the heart of the human experience is a calling to care for one another, and this can be accomplished beautifully through lomilomi.

Please make sure to have a pillow and a pareo/sarong nearby for class.  Lessons will take place on the floor. 

家族で気軽に参加。家で安全にできるロミロミマッサージ手法を学べます。

Directions for Signing up Two Participants　参加方法

（日本語：下記参照）

Please, have the first participant enroll and pay for the workshop here.

Once you’ve paid, please have your housemate create a profile here. **We need liability waivers for both of you. 

Our front desk will then email you (the first participant) a link for your Zoom workshop 1 hr before the start time. Once you’ve logged into Zoom, please state the name of your partner so the teacher can confirm attendance.

まず始めに１人目の参加者がこのワークショップ に申し込み、支払いをする。お申し込みはこちら：here.

次に家族の名前を登録。登録はこちら：here.

ワークショップ開始時間の３０分前までにZoomのリンクがEメールで送られます。

開始１０分ほど前からZoomで入れますので、ご家族のお名前をお伝えください（参加者確認のため。）

Kumu Malia　クム・マリア

Kumu Malia Ko’i’ulaokawaolehua Helela  strives to live a life of grace. She began her formal training in lomilomi as a teenager. She was licensed by the State of Hawaii as a massage therapist in 1998 and as an esthetician in 2002. Her hula practice and lomilomi practice, she says, are the same. Her hula halau, which meets at Still & Moving Center, is Na Hula Ola Aloha. Completing her ‘uniki under Pulu’elo Park, Kumu Hula,  in 2002, Kumu Malia now teaches hula and oli to a wide range of students, from infants and toddlers to kupuna. Malia studied oli (traditional Hawaiian chant) under John Keola Lake, Kumu Hula. She has received her advanced lomilomi training from Kumu Keola Chan. She continues to look to the beauty and grace of the Hawaiian environment for grounding and inspiration.

クム・マリア　コイウラオカヴァオレフア　へレラは優美ある人生を生きることをモットーとしております。１０代後半でロミロミの正式なトレーニングを始め,１９９８年にマッサージ・セラピスト、２００２年にエステティシャンのハワイ州認定ライセンスを取得。クム・マリアはフラとロミロミの訓練は同じだと語ります。クム・マリアのハラウ・ナ・フラ・オラ・アロハはスティル・アンド・ムービングセンターでクムの指導の下、レッスンに励んでいます。クム・フラ・プルエロ　パーク氏に師事、２００２年にウニキ終了。現在、乳幼児からクプナまで、幅広い年齢層の生徒にフラ・オリを教えています。クム・マリアはクム・フラ　ケオラ　ライクの教えの下でオリ（伝統的なハワイのチャント）を学び、クム　ケオラ　チャンから上級ロミロミ・トレーニングの指導を受けました。美しいハワイの自然の恩恵に感謝し、ハワイの大地に本質とインスピレーションを求め続けています。

毎週水曜日　Wednesday 3:30-4:30 pm (HSTハワイ)

(日本時間：木曜日10:30 – 11:30 am)

２０２０年７月８日スタート！　Starting July 8, 2020 

＊このクラスは日本語で行われます。This class is taught only in Japanese.

＊オンラインクラス参加方法：下記参照。

“I Love Hula” 

“アイ・ラブ・フラ”　はアロハの心を高め、楽しみながらフラの基礎を学ぶクラスです。このクラスではフラの基礎のステップや手の動きに集中します。フラのすべての要素を取り入れ、統合的なフラを学びます。ドーリスが美しく展開されるフラ・アウアナの世界をシェアし、ハワイの自然と繋がるよう導きます。ウクレレの生演奏やハワイアン・ミュージックにあわせて踊ります。フラの踊り方や表現方法、振り付けについてなどの質問も歓迎です。最も大事なことは、美しく喜びの心で踊ることを大切にすることです。この優美なダンスを一緒に踊り、アロハの精神を満たしましょう！

The “I Love Hula” class is a perfect opportunity to enjoy hula fundamentals while uplifting your spirit. This class focuses on the basic steps and hand motions of hula. You learn to put all the pieces together into one integrated whole hula. Doris shares with you hula ʻauwana’s lovely storytelling and connection to nature. You dance to both recorded music and to live music that she plays on her ‘ukulele. Doris welcomes and makes time for any questions you may have about the choreography or how to perform specific movements. Most importantly, Doris emphasizes dancing with a pure and joyful heart. Sharing these graceful dances together will surely fill your soul!

Doris Morisaki 

クム・フラ（フラのマスター講師）の下で８０００時間のトレーニングを受け、アラカイ・フラ（フラのリーダー）としてのフラ・シスターや参加者のサポートをしてきたドーリスはクム ・マリアのようにフラを踊りながら、ウクレレを弾き、歌います。

ハワイで日本人の両親の元に生まれたドーリスは英語と日本語を話し育ちました。ロコ（ローカル・ハワイ人）のドーリスは陽気で、心暖かく、アロハの心で人々をもてなします。ヒルトン・ハワイアンビレッジで働いていた時から、訪れるゲストがハワイを存分に満喫できるよう、細心の心遣いを心がけてきました。講師として、アロハ大使として、ドーリスは周囲の人達に影響するような情熱で皆を導きます。

ハワイ大学で初めてダンスのクラスを受講したドーリスは社交ダンスのクラスで夫であるマークと出会いました。２０１３年以来、フラ・アウアナが彼女の情熱となりました。クム・フラ　マリア・ヘレラのフラに没頭し、ドーリスのダンスに対する愛情、同様にハワイ語を学ぶ強い願望が増していきました。ドーリスはフラの神聖なる美しさを表現し、ハワイ文化の宝であるアロハ＝愛を伝えていくことを心から願います。そして、フラの知識と才能を惜しみなくシェアします。自然と純粋な心と喜びの笑顔で踊るフラは　自分をより良い自分にし続けてくれる～とドーリスは語ります。

With 8,000 hours of training with Mālia Helelā, kumu hula (master teacher of hula), Doris has earned the position of alaka’i hula (hula leader) under Kumu Mālia. She sings and plays ʻukulele while dancing hula, inspired by the example set by her teacher.

Born to Japanese parents in Hawaii, Doris grew up speaking both Japanese and English. A true daughter of the islands, Doris exudes a vivacious warmth and genuineness for what she loves and believes in. Doris is well-loved for sharing her aloha. Starting from her years working at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Doris loves to share every good thing her island home has to offer. Whether in a teaching or ambassador capacity, Doris lends an infectious enthusiasm.

Doris took her first dance class at the University of Hawai’i, where she met now-husband Mark in a ballroom dance class. Hula ʻauwana has been a passion of hers since 2013. Steadily absorbing hula with our kumu hula Mālia Helelā has increased Doris’ love of the dance, and correspondingly, her desire to learn the Hawaiian language. Doris humbly aspires to embody the sacred grace and beauty of hula, and to pass on the love of this cultural treasure. She gives liberally of her hula talents and knowledge.  Hula continues to make her a better person as it is imperative to dance with a pure heart and joyful smile.

クラスの参加方法：

１. スケジュール欄からクラスを選び、登録。 www.stillandmovingcenter.com/schedule

クラス開始の１時間〜３０分前までにリンクがメールで送られます。

２. クラス開始の５−７分前にリンクをクリックして入ります。

この時、自動的にズームがダウンロードされます。

３. 問題のある場合はe-mail またはお電話でお知らせください。

日本語：eriko@stillandmovingcenter.com  英語：808.397.7678

＊詳細：www.stillandmovingcenter.com/get-started-japanese を参照。

Instructions for getting to the online class:

1. Kindly sign up for your live online class at http://wordpress-466955-1661168.cloudwaysapps.com/schedule/ . One hour before class, our desk staff will email you a link to your class on Zoom.
2. Please use the link to sign into Zoom, 5-7 minutes before class, allowing extra time to download the app if you are new to Zoom.
3. Contact the desk staff at 808.397.7678 for troubleshooting.

March 20 (cancelled)

June 12, 2020.

9:30-11:30am

$69 or $49 (under 14yrs)

Minimum 3 participants

Connect with the ‘āina for a walking tour along Kalia Road and Waikīkī beach. Offer ho’okupu and learn about healing practices of the area. Discover more about Waikīkī’s rich history as Mālia shares the story of Kawehewehe and the surrounding fishponds and healing springs that were filled in the 1920s.  This thoughtful and insightful walk will challenge participants to seek traces of healing and recovery in the surrounding land and within each individual. An Optional Hula class is offered by Kumu Malia free of charge at the end of the walk.

This walk story begins at the Waikiki Bandstand in Kapiolani Park and ends at Still & Moving Center, 1024 Queen Street, Honolulu, a community based mindful movement Center that has been offering multicultural classes, events and workshops for over 7 years, in the heart of Kaka’ako.

Sign up now!

May 31, June 7, June 14, June 28    2020

*NO CLASS June 21 – Happy Father’s Day!!

Price: $60

Reserve your spot!

Keiki Hula 3-6 Year Olds:  Sundays 8:30 am – 9:15 am

Keiki Hula 7-12 Year Olds:  Sundays 9:30 am – 10:30 am

Kumu Hula Mālia Helelā

Malia is an authentic Kumu Hula: a recognized hula teacher, officially having graduated after 17 years training from her teacher, Pulu’elo Park. Fluent in Hawaiian, Kumu Malia frequently composes her own original oli (sacred chants).  Kumu Malia has an affinity for teaching young children.  For the last decade she has developed lessons specific to infants, toddlers and preschool aged keiki. She also enjoys sharing classic hula and songs with the elderly. In keeping with her tradition, she is an observant and reverent student of nature and keeper of the land – the ‘aina.

Kumu Malia Ko’i’ulaokawaolehua Helela strives to live a life of grace. Her halau, which meets at Still & Moving Center, is Na Hula Ola Aloha. Completing her uniki under Kumu Hula Puluelo Park in 2002, she now teaches hula and oli to a wide range of students, from infants and toddlers to kupuna. Malia studied oli (traditional Hawaiian chant) under Kumu Hula Keola Lake. She continues to look to the beauty and grace of the Hawaiian environment for grounding and inspiration.

Thursdays 6:45 – 7:15 pm HST

Sundays 3:30 – 4:00 pm HST

Started March 22, 2020

$10 

Sign up now!

In this half hour class, Kumu Malia leads you through voice warm-ups and introduces basic chanting techniques. As you learn chants for various occasions, you assimilate Hawaiian language and culture. The breath work in oli cultivates lung-capacity, vocal strength, clarity and confidence. Price: $10.

Mālia Helelā

Directions for getting to the online Zoom class:

1. One hour in advance, kindly sign up for your live online class on in MindBody / on our website. Our desk staff will then email you a link to your class on Zoom.

2. Please use the link to sign into Zoom, 5-7 minutes before class, allowing extra time to download the the app if you are  new to Zoom.

3. Contact the desk staff at 808.397.7678 for troubleshooting.

Thursday to Saturday, March 5-7, 2020

Price: $395 + $75 materials fee

Pre-registration is required. Currently accepting students. Please send an email to malia@stillandmovingcenter.com  to introduce yourself and share why you are interested in the course. Mahalo!

The training will be led in both English and Japanese

For all-inclusive retreat options, including accommodations and meals, please go to: www.hoaheleretreats.com

Hawaiian lomilomi massage is unique in all of the ways that Hawai’i is unique.  Lomilomi acknowledges and appreciates the influence of Hawaii’s natural environment on its healing practices. This training provides a foundation in lomilomi that is appropriate for use in a spa setting or within the family.

Malia introduces bodywork in the first lesson, so look forward to giving and receiving massage in every session! Each weekly session builds upon the last so that lessons and themes are intertwined.

Topics in the training include, but are not limited to, Hawaiian terminology for the course, opening and closing protocols, palpation, using the bones as guides, and body systems found in nature. To complement the lomilomi massage techniques, students also learn relevant components of oli (chanting), hula (dance), pule (prayer) and ‘olelo (language). Lei-making develops skills in the hands and fingers and illustrates the importance of a firm yet sensitive touch. Students will also learn the significance of the moon throughout this training.

The shoulders and the hips form the 4 corners of the body. This particular lomilomi training, entitled “Corners of the Body,” weaves in deeper work for the large joints of the shoulders and hips.  These four corners mark the boundaries of the core body and its vital organs.

This “Corners of the Body” lomilomi massage training is one of 8 complementary training programs, each 16 hours long. As a whole, her 8 complementary programs, each with its own focus, provide 128 hours of training that comprises her full culturally-based approach to lomilomi massage. Malia will give this current training compressed into a single  16 hours weekend intensive. 

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.

Thursday to Saturday, Dec 19-20-21, 2019

Price: $395 + $75 materials fee

Pre-registration is required. Currently accepting students. Please send an email to malia@stillandmovingcenter.com  to introduce yourself and share why you are interested in the course. Mahalo!

The training will be led in both English and Japanese

For all-inclusive retreat options, including accommodations and meals, please go to: www.hoaheleretreats.com

Hawaiian lomilomi massage is unique in all of the ways that Hawai’i is unique.  Lomilomi acknowledges and appreciates the influence of Hawaii’s natural environment on its healing practices. This training provides a foundation in lomilomi that is appropriate for use in a spa setting or within the family.

Malia introduces bodywork in the first lesson, so look forward to giving and receiving massage in every session! Each weekly session builds upon the last so that lessons and themes are intertwined.

Topics in the training include, but are not limited to, Hawaiian terminology for the course, opening and closing protocols, palpation, using the bones as guides, and body systems found in nature. To complement the lomilomi massage techniques, students also learn relevant components of oli (chanting), hula (dance), pule (prayer) and ‘olelo (language). Lei-making develops skills in the hands and fingers and illustrates the importance of a firm yet sensitive touch. Students will also learn the significance of the moon throughout this training.

This particular lomilomi training, entitled “Grounded and Growing”, places emphasis on the limbs of the body and introduces some basic lāʻau lapaʻau herbal healing practices. We will prepare herbal remedies commonly used in lomilomi, such as teas and infusions, and also make a healing salve.

This “Grounded and Growing” lomilomi massage training is one of 8 complementary training programs, each 16 hours long. As a whole, her 8 complementary programs, each with its own focus, provide 128 hours of training that comprises her full culturally-based approach to lomilomi massage. Malia will give this current training compressed into a single  16 hours weekend intensive.

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.

4 Sundays in June

June 2-9-23-30.

3-6 year olds: 8:30-9:15 am.

7-12 year olds: 9:30-10:30 am.

Keiki students are introduced to 2 instruments in this series. They dance with an ipu (gourd) and puʻili (split bamboo). Kumu Malia also includes classic hula dances using the hands only.

Reserve your spot! Implements are not included in the series. Please contact Kumu Malia for information about where you can purchase implements: malia@stillandmovingcenter.com.

Participation in this hula halau (school) is one of the best introductions to Hawaiian language and culture. Children will learn both hula kahiko (ancient hula) and hula auana (modern hula), with the basic steps as well as oli (Hawaiian chants).

Price: $60

Our autumn Keiki Hula Halau series will run Sept 15 – Dec 15. See here.

Mālia Helelā

Malia is an authentic Kumu Hula: a recognized hula teacher, officially having graduated after 17 years training from her teacher, Pulu’elo Park. Fluent in Hawaiian, Kumu Malia frequently composes her own original oli (sacred chants).  Kumu Malia has an affinity for teaching young children.  For the last decade she has developed lessons specific to infants, toddlers and preschool aged keiki. She also enjoys sharing classic hula and songs with the elderly. In keeping with her tradition, she is an observant and reverent student of nature and keeper of the land – the ‘aina.