Enjoy live Hawaiian music and dancing on April 18

HUI O HULA

Hui O Hula, Leisure World’s Hawaiian dance club, welcomes residents looking for a fun and low-impact way to stay active. Free hula dance lessons are offered Tuesdays at 1 p.m. upstairs in Clubhouse 4; and Thursdays at 1 p.m. in the Optum Health Care Center conference room, next to the pharmacy. Stop in anytime to observe or join; participants are advised to wear comfortable clothing along with soft shoes or socks.

To showcase Hui O Hula dancers and musicians as well as share Hawaiian culture with the community, the club will host a ho’ike/exhibition on Saturday, April 18, from 2-5 p.m. in Clubhouse 4.

Hui O Hula dancers’ performance will run from 3-3:45 p.m.; live Hawaiian music will be performed before and after the hula program from 2-3 and 4-5, when the dance floor will be wide open and song requests are welcome.

The afternoon is designed to feel like a community jam session. The event is first come, first served. People can bring their own food and beverages. There will be a 50/50 drawing—half goes to winners and half goes to the musicians.

Entertainment will include musicians Carrie Kumabe, Diana Pemstein and their band; LW’s Fortunato Revilla and Craig Wilson (Coconut Breeze) on ukulele and guitar; and Ron Hom of the musical band H3O. Hawaiian music legend Pete Kahele is also expected to appear with his steel guitar.

For this exhibition, dancers are currently practicing “Honolulu I Am Coming Back Again,” to be sung by Revilla, also known by the club as “LW Elvis.”

That this is not a sit-quietlyand- watch kind of afternoon. Audience participation during the live jam sessions is encouraged.

The biggest sing-and-sway moments are expected during crowd favorites like “Hukilau” and “Tiny Bubbles.” One goal of the party is to welcome Leisure World newcomers and offer them a taste of retirement life in a community where music, movement and friendship are always on the program.

Hui O Hula will also offer a free beginner hula series in May and June for anyone who wants to start from the very beginning. For class information, party details or song requests, text or call 562-338-1502 or email jojo@huiohula.com.

The club wishes happy March birthdays to dancers Sue Brown (front), Sue Shigemi Yokomi, Lori Chamberlain and GeeGee Kwok. The club itself will be 21 years old on St. Patrick's Day.

Jojo Weingart