About — Halau Hula Napuaokalei'ilima

Since 2003, Hālau Hula Nāpuaokaleiʻilima has offered Hawaiian Cultural Education to Northern & Central Arizona residents.

About Hālau Hula Nāpuaokaleiʻilima

Kumu Hula Kēhau Chrisman

**Kumu Hula** (Hula Master) **Kēhau Chrisman** was born and raised in Hawaiʻi on the island of O’ahu, before moving with her husband to Cottonwood, Arizona in 2003. Her formal hula training began in 1983, and ʻuniki hula ʻailolo (graduation or rites of passage) occurred 17 years later in 2000, under the teaching of Kumu Hula William Kawaiponimoʻikapiʻolani Pili Correa (Hālau Hula o Pili) who was himself a kumu hula graduate of Hālau Hula o Maiki, Ka Papa ʻIlima.

Her entire Hula training has been within the world-renowned Maiki Aiu Lake lineage (Leinaʻala Kalama Heine, Lahela Kaʻaihue, Coline Aiu, and Pili Correa). With appropriate approval under hula protocol, she started her ʻauana (modern hula) teaching career in 1997, and after her ʻUniki, began teaching ancient hula (kahiko), Hawaiian language and culture. In 2000, Hālau Hula Nāpuaokaleiʻilima was established in Hawaiʻi and moved to Cottonwood Arizona in 2003.

**Kēhau Chrisman** and her Kumu **W.K. Pili Correa** at Eō e Emalani i Alakaʻi Festival at Kokeʻe, Kauaʻi, 2000.

Hālau Hula (Hula School)

Kumu Hula Kēhau Chrisman opened her hula school, Hālau Hula Nāpuaokaleiʻilima in 2004 holding hula instruction classes in Cottonwood, Prescott Valley and Flagstaff, Arizona.

“Hālau Hula Nāpuaokaleiʻilima” means “The Flowers of theʻIlima Lei Hula School”.

The ʻilima flower (example below) represents the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.

Women (Wāhine) Hula - Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced and Kūpuna (elders) Classes

Hawaiian Hula Performances

Our Hālau Hula is available to share Hawaiian hula entertainment at public events or private gatherings in Arizona and frequently does so. Our shows are presentations of authentic Hawaiian culture and hula, and reflect the respect that’s pono (proper) for this art. (Please note: the quick shaking of the hips with high headdress and tassels in each hand is characteristic of the dances of Tahiti and French Polynesia, not Hawaiʻi. People see this overtly sexy dancing as a part of commercial “hula” shows in Hawai’i and elsewhere, and mistakenly think it is Hawaiian.)

Hawaiian Cultural Presentations & Workshops

Our Hālau Hula is pleased to offer presentations and workshops of Hawaiian arts and material culture, as well as Hawaiian culture and values and the ancient-way of life, by Kaʻimiloa Chrisman, M.D., Kēhau Chrisman’s husband. He is a noted researcher, artist, craftsman and scholar of things Hawaiian, and holds the title of Cultural Advisor for the Hālau. Topics for presentations and workshops focus on old-time Hawai’i from ancient times up to the early monarchy period in the mid 1800’s. For more a full list of presentations and workshops offered, please visit Aloha ‘Aina o Hawai’i.

Kapa Stamping Workshop (ʻOhe Kāpala Kapa)

Ipu Heke workshop at the 2018 Hula Conference

Halau Hawaiian Cultural Advisor

B. Kaʻimiloa Chrisman, M.D. has spent over 30 years in Hawai’i researching its past, both personally and with many Hawaiian Elders. Some of the workshops previously presented have included Hawaiian Stonework, Ipu Pāwehe (decorated gourds), Ipu Heke (double gourd instrument), ʻOhe Kāpala Kapa (bamboo stamps for kapa), Weapons, Fishhooks, Cordage, Tattoo, etc.

Hawaiian Culture and Language

Hula, the art of Hawaiian Dance, cannot be separated from the culture, language, and values of Hawaiʻi. Students (haumāna) of this Hālau are taught an integration of all these areas.

Pule (blessings) and Honi before every performance

Awaiting to begin the performance at the Arizona Aloha Festival

Our Hawaiian Cultural Scholars, Kumu Hula Kēhau Chrisman & Kaʻimiloa Chrisman

Hālau Hawaiian Cultural Activities

Making Lei

The FedEx box of Plumeria blossoms is delivered from Molokaʻi and opened the night before the Arizona Aloha Festival. Haumāna gather to inhale a burst of sweet aroma as they choose the blossoms to make their lei for the following day performance.

And the evening lei session always ends with dancing hula!

2014 Hula Conference in Kaua’i - Group photo in Hanalei

Hawaiian Cultural Excursions

Opportunities arise where travel to Hawaiʻi and other Pacific Island nations to attend Hawaiian/Polynesian cultural events - along with Hawaiian scholars Kumu Hula Kēhau Chrisman & Kaʻimiloa Chrisman.

2006 Hula Conference - Maui
2010 Hula Conference - Oʻahu
2014 Hula Conference - Kauaʻi
2016 FestPac - 21 Pacific Island nations attending on Guam
2018 Hula Conference - Hawaiʻi Island
2023 Merrie Monarch Festival - Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island

Kumu Kēhau & Kaʻimiloa Chrisman at ʻAkaka Falls

Diva Dinner

Our annual dress-up dinner event - where everybody shares their hula “diva” spontaneous moment that happened during the year. The evening always ends with a little hula.