Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu

Lynne Chiaki Kaikainaokamanaolanaaloha Shibata Minamishin began dancing hula with the neighborhood children in the parks and recreationʻs program. She fell in love with the kahiko style when she went to a hula workshop held at Kaimuki High School. Lynne went to the classes of Darrel Lupenui and Vicki Holt Takamine. Both Kumu Hula were very gracious and she enjoyed the experience. Lynne later danced under the direction of Kamalei Sataraka until she left for college at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.

In June of 1994 Lynne joined Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu to study under Kumu Hula Sonny Ching. She loved his teaching style and especially the stories he would share with the students. Lynne began going to Japan with Kumu Sonny and Lōpaka, one of the hālau’s alaka‘i at the time, in 1999. She assisted with the workshops in Japan as an interpreter, dancer and organizer. Lynne was also given the responsibility as a concert coordinator for HNMOP with Sankei Shimbun for the production of Sonny Ching’s concerts that were held in Japan. It was a wonderful experience for Lynne a privilege to get closer to and learn more about Sonny and Lōpaka. Lynne was especially touched by their reasons for wanting to go to Japan to share the Hawaiian culture. During one of their conversations, Lynne remembers her kumu commenting on the many different misconceptions the Japanese have about hula and he wanted to help share his culture in hopes that the Japanese would embrace it and protect it.

“My kumu wanted to make a difference and help the Japanese people to learn about his culture. He felt that because the Japanese people had such respect for their culture, it would be a wonderful fit. My kumu doesnʻt compartmentalize his hula, he shares it willingly to those that are willing to care for it and respect it.”

Lynne has not only become a better dancer because of HNMOP, she is proficient in the making of leis, lā‘ī skirt, lei hulu and costumes. Through the hālau, Lynne was also given the opportunity to work under Kumu Lāhela Igarta at Nā Pua No‘eau Summer Institute Kukulukumuhana Program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa since 2003. In 2010 she was asked by her kumu to ‘ūniki as an ‘ōlapa and become an alaka‘i for HNMOP. Lynne now helps teach classes and workshops in Hawai’i and in Japan. She recently taught a lei hulu workshop for both HNMOP Hawai‘i and Iapana that included more than 300 haumāna.

“Being a member of HNMOP has truly been an honor—a journey filled with rich cultural experiences. Hālau has been a gift, not only to me, but also to the children of Hōkūlani, the ladies of the New Hope Dance Ministry, and the students of Nā Pua No‘eau. For through the teachings of my Kumu, I am able to share hula—the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people—with everyone that I am blessed to meet.”