Dancers practice ‘Green Rose Hula’

HUI O HULA

Hui O Hula is Leisure World’s Hawaiian hula dance club. Dancers meet twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to learn and practice traditional Hawaiian dances. Tuesday’s class is given upstairs in Clubhouse 6 and Thursday’s class is offered at Veterans Plaza between Clubhouse 3 and the LW Library, or inside Clubhouse 3 when the weather is unfavorable. Both classes start at 1 p.m. All are welcome.

The club recently wished a happy birthday to Hui O Hula board member and longtime dancer Yo Kishi. Kishi helps look after the class while instructor Jojo Weingart is away. She recalls old dance routines, pays attention to details and has aloha galore. Many are impressed by her willingness to help others and share hula knowledge.

Instructor Jojo Weingart has taught over 135 hula since 2001 when Hui O Hula was established. Currently in class, dancers are reviewing past hula such as “Green Rose Hula” and “E Huli Makou.”

“Green Rose Hula,” about the admiration for a lady, was composed by John Almeida and his lead singer/dancer Laida Paia. Green Rose Hula was first taught in January 2006. Dancers have been reviewing it yearly for St. Patrick’s Day throughout the years. St. Patrick’s Day in 2005 was also on Hui O Hula’s birthday. This March will be the hula hui’s (hui means group in Hawaiian) 20th anniversary.

Dancers have also been reviewing party hula named “E Huli Makou.” This song/mele was originally composed in 1949. The employees of the old Kona Inn on the Big Island of Hawai’i used to produce a Hawaiian show twice a week to entertain friends and guests. Composer David Chung was a bell hop at the hotel earning 26 cents an hour. He wrote this song for the six hula dancers who were his fellow employees. They first performed this hula with the ipu—a hula implement made with hallowed out gourds to make beats.

Anyone who is interested in dancing the hula or to audit the class is welcome. For more information, call 562-431-2242.

The club wished a happy birthday to Hui O Hula board member and old-timer/dancer Yo Kishi (second from right), pictured with Lori 'Lolo' Chamberlin (l-r), 101-year-old Leona Hasegawa and Babara May. They are all dressed in green celebrating Kishi's birthday on St. Patrick's Day last year.

Jojo Weingart