Who We Are
For The Community
We embrace community service and sharing as part of our philosophy of perpetuating the Hawaiian culture and aloha spirit. Recent activities of ours include performances for schools, churches, and senior residences. We thoroughly enjoyed dancing for a fundraiser for Shriners Hospitals for Children, our 2018 ho`ike dedicated to Queen Lili`uokalani, and other events.
The Ohana Dance Group received a grant from the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC) which helped to fund a Slack Key Guitar Concert with Kevin Brown and Patrick Landeza in September 2008. A Kevin Brown Slack Key Guitar performance was also provided for students at Luther Burbank High School which allowed us to bring the Hawaiian culture to youth who may not have a chance to experience this art form. We also enjoyed our fun concert/ho`ike featuring Faith Ako in September 2009. In July 2011, several community groups partnered with us to present a successful Ka Pilina presentation that was free to the public.
In August 2012, Ka Welo O Ka Hula, Our Tradition, Our Hula, was presented in Sacramento, CA, so the community could enjoy the dances na kumu hula o ka Papa Laua`e learned in their hula training with Loea Kawaikapuokalani Hewett.
We received a three-year grant for 2015-2017 from SMAC for our cultural endeavors
Ohana Means Family
The Ohana Dance Group and Kuhai Halau O Kaponookalani Pa Olapa Kahiko is a non-profit, multi-generational hula kula where students of various ages, backgrounds, and abilities are exposed to the Hawaiian culture and music through traditional hula. Because ohana means “family”, our goal is to maintain a family-oriented atmosphere where students can enjoy learning about the Hawaiian culture.
We maintain a caring and compassionate approach in all that we do. We explore the depths of hula by learning the mele (poetry) of our songs, because hula tells a story through its motions. By learning the mele, we are able to dance the songs with our inner spirit, with deeper feelings of aloha (love).
Students learn about the Hawaiian culture, music, language and dance. Gradually they learn to use some of the implements that the Hawaiians used to portray some of their songs. Students are taught the proper Hawaiian names for the hula steps, which are introduced as they learn their dances, and may also be exposed to dances of other cultural groups.
“The Ohana Dance Group’s efforts to preserve the native Hawaiian culture through practices and educational awareness are highly commendable. Mahalo for enriching the lives of those in your community through traditional native Hawaiian performing arts.”
Neil Abercrombie, Governor, State of Hawai`i, January 10, 2011.
Significant Achievements Through the Years
2023
April: Ho’ike – Nana A’o Ho’owale Nei I Ka Moana
May: International Childrenʻs Festival
August: Open House, National Night Out, Miwok Staff Appreciation
September: Maui Relief Benefit Concert, Sacramento Aloha Festival, Kiwani Luau, New Glory Maui Benefit, Miwok Preschool International Festival
October: Polynesian Cultural Center Moanikeala Festival
December: APAPA National Awards Banquet
2022
May 2022 – Big Day of Giving
June 2022 – Almond Heights Sr. Living, Benefit for Sac Food Bank
July 2022 – Oakmont of East Sac
August 2022 Yolo Library Eskaton Gold River, Sterling Court Assisted Living, South Land Park Association’s National Night Out, AARP Block Party
September 2022 – Mercy McMahon Assisted Living, Revere Court Memory Care, Sacramento Aloha Festival
October 2022 – Belhaven Senior Care, Lehua Kawaikapuokalani Hewett’s 50th anniversary on O’ahu
December 2022 – Sunrise of Sacramento, One Community Health, Holiday Ho’ike
2021
April 2021 – Sac Post-Acute
May 2021 – Leisureville Community, Big Day of Giving
July 2021– Lehua’s Name Day Festival , Teen Mom Picnic
September 2021 – Mercy McMahan, Oakmont of Roseville, Sacramento Aloha Festival
December 2021 – Ohana Holiday Show
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2020
January 2020 – Workshops with Kumu Lawrence Pau
March 2020 – ODG Open House
August 2020 – Oakmont of El Dorado Hills
September 2020 – Oakmont of Folsom, Al-Anon Fundraiser
October 2020 – Sacramento Aloha Festival
2019
February 2019 – Disney on Ice,
March 2019 – Halftime at UC Davis Basketball, Ni’ihau Shell Workshop with Kai Hyde
April 2019 – Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Library Show
May 2019 – May Day Festival in Pleasanton, International Children’s Festival, The Met, MIND Institute
June 2019 – St. Joseph’s event, Natomas Library, Nichiren
July 2019 – Sierra Pointe Sr. Living, Arden Dimick Library, Aloha Polynesia Ho’ike
August 2019 – Mercy McMahon Assisted Living, Poly Fest
September 2019 – Oakmont of Roseville/Folsom, Ho’ike
October 2019 – Sacramento Aloha Festival, Lehua Workshops & Lifetime Achievement Awards on O’ahu
November 2019 – West Sac Library, Kalani Pe’a Concert at The Sophia
December 2019 – Holiday Party Performance
2018
January 2018 – Church Celebration of Life, Halau Offering, Church Performance
February 2018 – School Lesson, Training
March 2018 – School Lesson and Assembly, Library and After School Program, Senior Residence, Concert at Sofia, ODG Open House
April 2018 – Lu`au, Library Shows, Health Care Center, Elementary School
May 2018 – Ho`ike, Scholarship Awards, International Festival, Senior Residence, Elementary School
June 2018 – Implement Workshop, Elementary School, Library Show, Church Bazaar, Community College Event, Elementary School, Guest Performance, Winery, Summer Camp, Library Show, Senior Lu`au, Workshop
July 2018 – Library Show, Workshop
August 2018 – National Night Out, Workshop, Senior Residence, Senior Apartment
September 2018 – California Family Fitness Staff Event
October 2018 – Aloha Festival
November 2018 – Parish Festival
December 2018 – UCD Kids’ Performance, Holiday Performance, Halau Celebration
2017
February 2017 – ODG Haka Workshop, Ka Palakiko Concert for Veternas
March 2017 – Pocket-Greenhaven Library
April 2017 – APIQ Conference, Kaiser’s Pediatric Prom, VFW Centennial Celebration, Four Libraries
May 2017 – ODG Scholarship Awards Ceremony, World Festival
June 2017 – Fairy Tale Town, Firefighters Burn Institute Tropical Affair, ODG Nani Girl Workship,
Nichiren Bazaar, Church and Senior Center Lu`aus
July 2017 – International Festival, Four Library Shows, Stockton Senior Residence, School Reunion
August 2017 – National Night Out, West Sac Library, Senior Residences, ODG Celebration
September 2017 – Wedding Reception
October 2017 – Aloha Festival, including Keiki Korner
November 2017 – Juvinile Diabetes Fundraiser, UCD Children’s Medical Center, Toy Drive, CRC Heritage Day
December 2017 – Franklin Library, Garden Party Coffee and Tea, ODG Holiday Event
2016
January 2016 – Senior Residence
February 2016 – Danny Carvalho Concert
April 2016 – Antelope World Fair, APIQ Conference
May 2016 – Pac Rim, World Festival, SCC API Graducation Program
June 2016 – Filipino Fiesta, Firefighters Burn Institute Tropical Affair
July 2016 – Fairy Tale Town, Senior Residence
August 2016 – National Night Out, Sacramento Food Bank, UCD Children’s Hospital, Senior Residence
September 2016 – Aloha Poly Fest, Senior Residence
October 2016 – Aloha Festival, including Keiki Korner
November 2016 – Ka Palakiko
December 2016 – VFW Christmas, Shriners Hospital
2013
February/April 2013 – Veterans’ Events
March 2013 – SCUSD School Readiness Fair, Serna Center
May/June/July 2013 – Library Shows
June 2013 – Holomua I Ke Ao Ho`ike/Recital at Sierra II
October 2013 – Aloha Festival at Cal Expo, Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival, Old Sacramento
November 2013 – Concert with Sean Na`auao of Hawai`i at the Halau
2015
January 2015 – Concert with Danny Carvalho of Hawai`i at the Halau
February 2015 – SCUSD School Readiness Fair, Serna Center
March 2015 –International Folk Dance Concert, Sacramento City College
April 2015 – Cultural Arts Awards Grant Recipient, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission
May/June/July/August 2015 – 10 Library Performances, Read to the Rhythm
July 2015 – Veterans’ Event, Concert with Faith Ako of Santa Rosa at private residence in Sacramento
September 2015 – Gold Rush Days, Old Sacramento, Ewe O Ka Hula Workshops with Loea Kawaikapuokalani Hewett of Hawai`i
October 2015 – Aloha Festival, Cal Expo, Holomua I Ke Ao Ho`ike/Recital
2014
Feb/May/July 2014 – Veteran’s Events
March 2014 – SCUSD School Readiness Fair, Serna Center, International Folk Dance Concert, Sacramento City College
May/June/July 2014 – Library Shows
June 2014 – Poolside Concet with Kua`aina, Private Residence
September 2014 – Ewe O Ka Hula Workshops with Loea Kawaikapuokalani Hewett of Hawai`i
October 2014 – Aloha Festival, Cal Expo, Finalist, Arts Management Excellence Category, Prelude Awards, Arts and Business Council
November 2014 – Holomua I Ke Ao Ho`ike/Recital, Clark Center, San Luis Obispo
Gallery