Kaponookalani

I am Kumu Bernadette Kaponookalani Nakamura. I started my hula journey as a support for my ‘ohana, as entertainment. My ‘ohana danced hula in Hawai’i and I was inspired to support them by dancing also. I lived in Honolulu with my ‘ohana. We moved back to California when my children were very young and I wanted to learn in a halau. I was welcomed into Kūhai Hālau O Ke’alaanuheaokalaua’e, under Kumu Anuhea Toyama. She helped me understand a deeper meaning of hula and the kuleana that comes with learning hula. It was my first exposure to the lineage and the importance of keeping the lineage at the forefront of my learning.

 I started my hula journey to becoming a Kumu Hula under Kumu Anuhea and was given the opportunity to learn the Hawaiian language with Kumu, Lehua Kawaikapuokalani Hewett. I was able to support Lehua with ‘ōlelo Hawai’I classes online. After years of studying under both of my Kumu, I was given the opportunity to study directly under Lehua to become a Kumu Hula. During my journey I completed the Hawaiian Music Certification, Ka’ohekani, with Lehua Kawaikapuokalani Hewett and Kamuela Kimokeo thru University of Hawai’i Windward Community College. Upon retirement of Kumu Anuhea in July 2021, I was given blessings by Lehua and Kumu Anuhea to take the kuleana of the hālau, as Ka Hula O Kaponookalani. I was able to continue guiding the hauamāna as I completed my Kumu Hula training. I became a Kumu Hula under Lehua Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, thru ‘uniki hu’elepo on October 14^th  2023. I was gifted with the inoa for the hālau, Kūhai Hālau O Kaponookalani Pā ‘Ōlapa Kahiko. My journey started the day I was bestowed this gift. I will work to continue the perpetuation of my lineage and give my communities the gifts I have been given.

Lehua Kawaikapuokalani Hewett

We have grown from the lineage of Lehua Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, who could be called a master of three arts: hula, ho‘ola (healing) and haku mele (song composition). He uniki’d Kumu Anuheaokalaua’e and gave the name to our halau upon her unuki. Our Kokua Kumu Kuponoikalani is currently studying under Lehua and he also provides haumana the opportunity to learn ‘Olelo Hawai’i with him online. He was uniki’d as part of Kumu Emma Defries lineage. “When I graduated from Aunty Emma Defries [halau], she gave me the name Ka Lehua O Ka Hula. Lehua is not only a flower, but also a word for expert. She gave me the lehua as my plant symbol, the color red as my color symbol and also gave me the name of the school, Kuhai Halau O Kawaikapuokalani Pa ‘Olapa Kahiko, which I founded in 1978.” – Lehua
Although Lehua Kawaikapu was raised on O‘ahu and worked there for years, he has a special feeling for Hawai‘i Island, composing many songs based on its goddesses and wahi pana (sacred places).
“In haku mele, or poetry, I capture the most important things that I feel at the moment about these fabulous people. Some say my songs are tradition already. They are already recognized as standards in both music and hula. For example, ‘Ka Wai Lehua’ has already been recorded by 65 other recording artists.” -Lehua
Lehua is known for singing his own songs, and for having his songs recorded by many of the top artists in Hawaiian music. He started recording his own music in the early 1980s and very soon after won his first Na Hoku Hanohano Award in 1981: Best Song, Haku Mele for “Ka Wai Lehua A’ala Ka Honua.”
Through the years Lehua has been a judge at Merry Monarch, has had many halau use his mele in Merry Monarch and he has received many Na Hoku Hanohano awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in October 2019 and Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2022. He continues to teach us through his weekly ‘Olelo Hawai’i and University of Hawai’i classes. When he offers workshops we encourage everyone to take part, from keiki to kupuna. There is so much knowledge to share and the purest, just as water is, is at the source.

 Kumu Anuhea

Our non-profit founder was Kumu Pat Ke`alaanuheaokalaua`e Takahashi, or Ke`alaanuhea. Many people know her as Kumu Anuhea. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai`i, graduating from Sacred Hearts Academy and the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. As Lehua Kawaikapuokalani Hewett’s haumana since 2008 she `uniki’d under him at Kahalelehua in Ola`a Hawai`i. She was Kumu Hula for Kūhai Hālau O Ke’alaanuheaokalaua’e until July 2022, when she retired and handed the kuleana to Kaponookalani.