E Komo Mai…Welcome!


Hālau Kalikopuakalehua is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and sharing of Polynesian cultural arts. Rooted in Native Hawaiian traditions, we teach and practice the living cultures of Hawai‘i, Tahiti, Sāmoa, Tonga, and Aotearoa. Through intergenerational learning, we strengthen families, foster identity, and carry ancestral knowledge forward.
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Hālau Ho’okahi I Ka Hula sharing ‘Ori Tahiti (Tahitian dance) at the 2024 Arizona Aloha Festival
OUR MISSION
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​​Hālau Kalikopuakalehua's mission is to perpetuate the native Polynesian cultures through their arts, music, dance, language, traditions, beliefs and practices.
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Hālau Hula ‘O Kalikopuakalehua sharing a hula at the 2024 Iā ‘Oe E Ka Lā hula competition in California
SUPPORT
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With the support of our donors, we are able to continue this vital work - keeping traditions alive, empowering future cultural leaders, and ensuring that the voices of our ancestors continue to guide our communities.​
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Kainoa performing a siva afi (Sāmoan fireknife dance) at our 2024 Huaka’i Fundraiser
​OUR HĀLAU
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​Hālau Kalikopuakalehua operates under two distinct DBAs, each serving a unique role in our mission of cultural preservation and education:
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  • Hālau Ho‘okahi I Ka Hula
    This is our welcoming and inclusive hālau for students of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are just beginning your journey or seeking to deepen your understanding, this group is open to all who wish to learn.
  • Hālau Hula ‘O Kalikopuakalehua
    Our advanced hālau for dedicated cultural practitioners. This group is for experienced students who are committed to mastering the deeper cultural and technical aspects of Polynesian dance and protocol.
  • Nā Pua ‘O Kana‘iaupuniokahonua
Only our top cultural practitioners of Hālau Hula ‘O Kalikopuakalehua are chosen to begin their journey to earn the title of ‘Ōlapa (expert dancer of a particular hula lineage), through years of additional training. They master a required repertoire of songs and ‘ūniki, or graduate.

Together, our hālau work to uphold and share the living traditions of Hawai‘i and the broader Polynesian community.
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Hālau Hula ‘O Kalikopuakalehua and Hālau Ho’okahi I Ka Hula sharing a hula kahiko (ancient Hawaiian dance) at the 2024 Arizona Aloha Festival

‘Ōlelo No‘eau - Hawaiian Proverb:

“Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike - In Doing, One Learns”
​True understanding comes from engaging and putting knowledge into practice.