KEKUHI
Hula Tradition
Kekuhi Kealiʻikanakaole is an educator who has trained in the tradition of Hula ʻAihaʻa and Hula Pele, chant and ritual for 39 years under Hālau O Kekuhi, named for her grandmother, Edith Kekuhi Kanakaʻole. She was ritually elevated to the status of Kumu Hula (hula master) of Hālau o Kekuhi by her mother, Kumu Hula Pualani Kanahele, and her aunt, Kumu Hula Nalani Kanakaʻole.
Kekuhi has co-produced some of Hālau O Kekuhi’s most significant contributions to oral and ritual arts stage performances, namely, Holo Mai Pele, Kamehameha Paiʻea, Kilohi Nā Akua Wahine, Hānau Ka Moku, Wahinepōʻaimoku, Ka Hana Kapa, and CD resources Uwolani, Puka Kamaʻehu and Hiʻiakaikapoliopele.
Consciousness & Current Work
One of Kekuhi's passion's is strengthening the relationship between Hawaiʻi ecological wisdom and scientific wisdom. Kekuhi served as the Senior Scholar at The Kohala Center for 20 years. She has the honor of working with some of Hawaiʻi's most passionate committed conservation and restoration organizations, individuals, and initiatives, one of them being Kā Mauli Hou - the statewide Hawaiʻi Conservation and Restoration Initiative. Kekuhi continues to facilitate ways of improving how Hawaiʻi consciousness and science & technology consciousness can work in harmony for the well-being of Hawaiʻi and the world. Kekuhiʻs most important message in this effort is: "I ola ʻoe, i ola mākou nei", my life is dependent on you and your life is dependent on me.
In an effort to broaden her service to people beyond the hālau, Kekuhi has developed Ulu Ka ʻŌhiʻa - Hula Consciousness Seminar and Hālau ʻŌhiʻa - Hawaiʻi Stewardship Training to teach basic Hawaiʻi practices that can connect anyone, anywhere, to their inner and outer landscapes. Kekuhi and her husband Tangaro also offer an annual Kū E Ke Olioli: Chanting for Wellbeing Series. Additionally, she has created an online chant program, Oli Honua, to support learners worldwide.
"Hula and oli teaches that we are reflections of every big and little being in the world. If we dance, they dance. When we sing to them, they sing back. And when we chant the vibrations of the cosmos, guess what? They chant back!"
The Charm of Mele
In addition to hula, chant, and Hawaiʻi-ecology. Kekuhi’s love affair with music as a way to heighten and expand vibrations of well-being in the world, inspired a singing career. As co-creators, Kekuhi and husband Tangaro gave birth to 3 CDs: "Hahani Mai" (Punahele Productions), and "Kekuhi", and "Honey Boy" (MountainApple Company). She was honored with a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award as Female Vocalist of the Year in 1999, and has performed on numerous concert stages over the past 20 years. Kekuhi spends part of her music career with her daughter Kaumakaiwa Kealiʻikanakaʻole and artist and producer Shawn Kekoa Pimental. Their most recent single release is Moloka'i Jam, 2013.
