March marks Hui O Hula’s 20th year in Leisure World
This month, Hawaiian dance group Hui O Hula will begin its 20th year here in Leisure World. In the fall of 2004, a few LW stockholders started their first hula dance lesson with Jojo Weingart, a newcomer from Hawai’i. The next year in March, those few dancers and Weingart started Hui O Hula. Today the group has grown from a handful to a roomful.
Hui O Hula dancers meet twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m., for dance lessons.
Tuesday’s class meets in the mirror room, upstairs of Clubhouse 6. On Thursday, they dance outside in Veterans Plaza, or inside Clubhouse 3 when the weather is unfavorable. All are welcome to join regardless of skill level or just to observe.
Learning to hula has become more meaningful as dancers realize that the hula is not just about swaying the hips and waving the arms, but about embodying a way of life. For the Hawaiians, hula is a fundamental part of their culture and identity. They dance to animate history, to tell the story of the creation of the earth and the people; the ongoing traditions, tales of the wise, and of those who came before. Besides leaning how to hula and understanding its philosophy, Hui dancers also enjoy friendship and the aloha galore within the class.
Throughout the years, many stockholders as well as groups inside and outside of the gates have invited Hui O Hula dancers to entertain at their events. Dancers are grateful for those opportunities.
The club thanks those who donate their time and talents and, especially, to Kaye “KK” Huff, Hui O Hula’s event coordinator. Huff is one of the club’s founders. She has worked tirelessly to set up the thousands of performances for the hui since the its inception. For more information regarding hula lessons, call 562-431-2242 or email Jojo@huiohula.com.
