Our story
We Are Hula
For over 30 years, Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua has been perpetuating Hawaiian Culture through the dance of hula to all age groups with studios in Hawaiʻi and Japan.
Hālau Hula 'O Nāpunaheleonāpua
HILO | OʻAHU | JAPAN
Nāpunaheleonāpua Latest
Introducing New Workshops
Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua is adding a new workshop to it’s list of classes offered to our Hula community.
Along with our regular hula classes for Keiki Hōlona – Beginners, Keikikāne, Kaikamāhime, Kāne, Wahine, Lokomaikaʻi, Kupuna and Zoom classes, we are proud to introduce Workshops for Kumu Hula and their hālau that do not have direct contact with Hawaiian Kumu Hula.
Nāpunaheleonāpua Latest
2023 Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition
Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua participated in the 2023 Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition that took place at the Brigham Young University-Hawaii Cannon Center. Our hālau entered in all the Divisions of Cometition – Miss and Master, Kaikamahine and Keikiāne Kahiko and the Kaikamahine and Keikiāne ʻAuana Competitions.
We are proud to say that our our boys placed 4th in the Keikikāne Hula Kahkio and the Keikikāne Hula ʻAuana Compettiions.
Below are some photos of our Keikikāne that were taken in the Divisions that they placed in.
Click on photos to view larger photos
SHARING OUIR KNOWLEDGE
It is valuable to our hula lineage that what we bring to the hāumana is true to our Hawaiian culture
OUR KUMU HULA
Rich Pedrina
Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina has been teaching hula for about 30 years and has performed throughout the world.
He has taken his Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua to Merrie Monarch and The Keiki Hula Competitions and has performed worldwide with famous Hawaiian artists The Makaha Son’s, Theresa Bright, Holunape and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.
2021 MERRIE MONARCH
Kaleikaumaka Destiny Kaimanaimoliʻi Bartolome Cruz
Play Video
Video Courtesy Merrie Monarch YouTube Channel
Kaleikaumaka Destiny Kaimanaimoliʻi Bartolome Cruz of Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua under the direction of Kumu Rich Pedrina performing “Pua Māmane.”
“Hawaiʻiʻs songbird,” Lena Machado, wrote scores of mele, many of which were inspired by personal events. She wrote “Pua Mamane” to honor her eldest brother William “Bill” Kauila Waiʻaleʻale. Growing up Oʻahu, it wasn’t until her teens – with Bill’s help – that Lena forged bonds and relationships with her siblings and their ʻāina ʻohana on Kauaʻi.
Pua Mamane speaks to her found memories of hiking with him deep into Waiʻaleʻale on Kauaʻi and seeing the Pua Mamane trees there in the piko or center of the forest. As the Pua Mamane was the piko of the forest, so too was her brother that Pua Manane at the piko of her family, reconnecting Lena to people and place.
OPEN CALL FOR HAUMANA
We are presently casting an Open Call for new dancers in all of our Hawaiʻi studios. Our Hālau follows all mandated guidelines and is offering Zoom classes Worldwide.
Kaikamahine and Keiki Kāne that are 6-12 years old can join our Keiki Hula dancers and Kāne, Wahine and Kūpuna that are 13 years and older are welcome to dance with us.
Call for more information at 808-247-0700 or use the below link..
HAWAIII NEWS NOW
Merrie Monarch Feature Story
Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua and Nā Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina was featured in a Hawaii News Now story from the 2021 Merrie Monarch Festival. Watch it the Hawaii News Now website using the link below.
THROUGH THE DANCE OF HULA
We travel in history to the ancient chants and stories of the Hawaiian people in the lively and enjoyable hula of modern times