Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu

Kazuko Iwazaki, from Atsugi–shi, Kanagawa, did not know about hula until she took a trip to Hawai‘i. After returning to Japan, Kazuko wanted to stay connected to Hawai‘i, so in 1999 she began learning hula at a cultural center in Japan. She fell in love with the dance and became very interested in Hawaiian culture as well. Kazuko desired to learn hula in Hawai‘i—where it was originated, so in January 2000 she returned to Hawai‘i and joined Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu where a friend was also a student. Kazuko did not have a visa, so for two years she went back and forth between Japan and Hawai‘i in order to study hula in Honolulu. From 2002 to 2003, Kazuko obtained a visa and was able to stay in Hawai‘i while volunteering as a guide at the Bishop Museum.

“At practice I learned not only how to dance hula, but also learned bout the mana‘o of the people of Hawai‘i and the history and culture of Hawai‘i. To think, I went to Hawai‘i just for a trip, which resulted in living in Hawai‘i and adopting a different perspective. From learning hula, I have am more grateful and appreciative of nature. When I dance, I feel that I am connected to the earth,” Kazuko admits.

Kazuko has been able to dance with the Japan hālau since their opening in 2006. She loves being able to connect to Hawai‘i even when in Japan through Hula. “He Hawai‘i Au” is Kazuko’s favorite song to dance to. It was one of the songs she performed in the Hālau concert “Ho’oulu I Ka Na’auao” in Japan—an experience she will never forget.