‘Ōlelo means “language” in Hawaiian. This 30 minute Hawaiian language lesson will focus on the different mele hula with the goal of better understanding the stories behind the dance. Hula tells stories with the hands and the most important aspect to conveying the song is understanding what you are dancing about. We will go over vocabulary & sentence structures of hula songs, and also discuss places mentioned and possible deeper meanings to the imagery. Come join us! We will conclude each class by singing the song together while Kumu Malia plays her ‘ukulele. This Hawaiian language class is for both English and Japanese speakers.

Mālia Helelā

Kumu Mālia Ko’i’ulaokawaolehua Helelā 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. Mālia studied oli (traditional Hawaiian chant) under Kumu Hula Keola Lake. 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. She continues to look to the beauty and grace of the Hawaiian environment for grounding and inspiration.