LW hula dancers spread aloha at 10th birthday party

The playground at Larwin Park in Stanton was filled with the sounds of laughter and music as a group of 10-year-olds and their families gathered for Jaiden Riordan-Norwood’s birthday celebration the weekend of June 28.

Held outdoors under sunny skies, the highlight of the afternoon was an impromptu mini hula workshop led by Leisure World’s Hawaiian dancers Libby Bond, Lori Chamberlain and Jojo Weingart.

At her birthday party, Riordan- Norwood and her friends learned an ancient chant about Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani, and danced to “Hawaiian Lullaby,” a popular song about life on the island. Na keiki/the children enjoyed moving their hands and hips with the spirit of aloha as their parents snapped photos and videoed.

For the seasoned senior hula dancers, it was a refreshing change of pace to hula with the next generation. “These kids were naturals,” said Jojo Weingart about the children, who are also ballet dancers. “It’s not every day we get to swap our usual senior dancers for such an energetic hui/group.”

Libby Bond, who is a friend of Jaiden’s mother Megan Riordan and grandmother Janet Tarrish-Geddes, said, “It’s amazing to see their little faces light up when they realized that hula is not just about moving their hands and swaying their bodies, it’s mostly about storytelling.”

The LW hula team is glad to arrange “show and tell” hula sessions during the summer or during holiday visits for grandchildren.

“Anytime the grandkids are here in Leisure World and folks want to make a memory, give us a call,” dancer Lori Chamberlain said. “We’re happy to share hula with the next generation.”

To organize a lesson, email harmony50@verizon.net.

For Leisure World residents, hula lessons are held twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. For more class information, contact 562-338-1502 or email Jojo@huiohula.com. —Jojo Weingart

Hui O Hula instructor Jojo Weingart (l) and dancer Libby Bond (in pink) demonstrate dance moves at a party for Jaiden Riordan-Norwood (fifth from left) at Larwin Park in Stanton.

Lori 'Lolo' Chamberlin