Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu

Kumu Hula Gary Casupang was drawn to hula for as long as he can remember. He admits to watching hula performances as a child and imitating the dancers’ movements and mimicking the chanters’ voices. The first hula instruction he received was when his younger sister was enrolled in ‘Iwalani’s School of Dance. Gary would sit on the side and watch the practices every week, until one day Aunty ‘Iwalani (Tseu) handed him a toere and told him to learn. “No one told me what to do, I just listened and watched and did what the other drummers were doing," Gary recalls.

Gary continued to go to practices on his own, even after his sister was no longer dancing hula, until he eventually started dancing and performing with the group. While attending Maryknoll High School, Gary met Kumu Hula Cynthia Lehua Kupau who was a teacher there. Mrs. Kupau was finishing her ‘ūniki process under Kumu Hula Ho‘oulu Cambra during his study with her. This was the first time Gary had heard of an ‘ūniki. Details of the ‘ūniki and the process were never shared with Gary, but it triggered his interest in learning hula at a more serious and deeper level.

Gary attended the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He became friends with Noah Ryan who danced for Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu. Gary was introduced to Kumu Sonny and joined HMNOP where he would continue his study until his ‘ūniki. Kumu Sonny has played the largest role in shaping Gary into an ‘ōlapa, mea oli and as a Kumu Hula himself.

“Kumu Sonny brought hula to a whole new level for me. It was his guidance and nurturing that fueled my desire to learn. One of the numerous teachings that Kumu Sonny instilled in me is to always strive for excellence. No matter what he did Kumu Sonny made sure it was excellent, and I try to carry that into all aspects of my life.”