Hui O Hula dancers perform with live band in Torrance

Hui O Hula, LW’s Hawaiian dance club meets, twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 1. In class, dance lessons are offered to anyone who is interested and willing to give hula a try. The hui (group) is friendly and helpful to newcomers. Dancing is a healthy workout for the body and the mind, and a lot of fun. All, including men, are welcome. For class information call 562-4312242 or email Jojo@JojoJoe.com.

The current hula dance subject is “Hawaii Calls,” composed by renowned musician Harry Owens. “Hawaii Calls” was also a radio program broadcasted live from Waikiki Beach from 1935-1975. It featured live Hawaiian music by Owens and his dance orchestra. The popular program also showcased Hawai’i’s best native musicians and singers. Authentic Hawaiian music was played weekly. Song lyrics were sung only in English because the program was intended for haole (non-native) audiences across the sea and all over the world. This hybrid version of music is called hapa haole music in Hawaiian, hapa meaning half.

The song “Hawaii Calls” starts with lyrics “Hawai’i calls, with a melody of love, dear.” Instructor Jojo Weingart has taught the dancers how to play air ukulele by strumming their fingers up and down, and with gentle sways by bending their knees, and by moving their hips from side to side.

In early February, eight dancers and their families visited Aunty Maile’s Hawaiian Restaurant in Torrance. There, dancers performed for an energetic audience with musical band H3O Mele. They went to support their friends, H3O Mele musicians Carrie Kumabe and Ron “Aloha” Hom. The Hawaiian word mele means song and singing; H represents haole, a person who is not a native Hawaiian; and 3O is short for 3 Orientals.

Not only did the dancers enjoy the rare and wonderful opportunity of dancing to live music, but also the aloha bond and delicious Hawaiian food. It was especially meaningful to be able to watch and learn from other hula dancers from different halau (schools) dance who were there also to support the band and Hawaiian music.

—Jojo Weingart

In February, Hui O Hula Hawaiian members danced to live music by band H3O Mele and a lively audience. Here they dance Puamana-a place song-about a home that they love. Puamana was an estate/home in Lahaina by the Pacific Ocean. It is among Hui O Hula's favorite hula because it has a lot in common with Leisure World.

Richad McPartland