Hula beginners class cancelled; new dances begin
Hui O Hula offers hula lessons twice a week on Tuesday upstairs in Clubhouse 6 and on Thursday at Veterans Plaza— or inside Clubhouse 3 when weather is unfavorable. Both classes start at 1 p.m.
All are welcome. Beginners class cancelled
The six-week class for absolute beginners, which cost $25 for material reimbursement, was scheduled to begin June 6, but has been cancelled due to an unexpectedly heavy performance schedule in June.
Dancers are gearing up to entertain the LW Latino Club on June 8; the LW Christian Fun and Fellowship Club on June 20; Rowntree Gardens Assisted Living on June 22; Korean Military World Celebration on June 25; and the LW Hearing and Sighted Impairment Club on June 27.
Longtime member moves to Ohio
After living in LW for over 35 years, beloved dancer Donna O’Keefe’s hula family bids farewell and fond aloha as she gets ready to return to her family in Ohio. The club wishes a happy June birthday to Cynthia Saxon (pictured, third from left).
After retiring 10 years ago, Saxon has been dancing with Hui O Hula for nine years. She enjoys travelling solo.
“Not being able to hear everything, I welcome mother nature in silence and take in all sights delightfully,” she said. Her sense of humor enables her to enjoy life and be welcomed everywhere.
New dances introduced by volunteer teachers
Even though the special beginners class is canceled, anyone new to hula is welcome to drop in to the club’s meeting upstairs at Clubhouse 6 every Tuesday at 1.
Dancers Susan Cucci and Keiko Kawamoto have been volunteering their time to help the malihini (newcomers) with the basic hula steps and different dance subjects.
Dancer Yo Kishi, who has been teaching hula to beginners for more than a decade, remembers more basic hula steps (there are 17) than Jojo Weingart, who started Hui O Hula. She is also willing to help. In fact, most old-timers are happy to share their hula knowledge in this friendly class.
Twice a week, dancers enjoy friendship and swaying to melodic island music together. In nearly two decades, more than 100 hula have been taught and learned. Old hula often become new hula.
Besides the “oldies but goodies,” dancers are now learning how to use the pu’ili (bamboo rattles) and the ‘ili’ili (river rocks) in song “Ka Huila Wai” (The Water Wheel). It is amusing to see the dancers using the implements to tell the story instead of their hands.
For more class information or performance schedule, call 562-431-2242.
—Jojo Weingart
Beloved dancer Donna O'Keefe (center with lei) bid farewell at the last Hui O Hula meeting. She is moving to Ohio.
Jojo Weingart
