KUMU HULA KAPUA DALIRE-MOE

FOUNDER, KUMU HULA, MISS ALOHA HULA 1991, Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea

As Miss Aloha 1991 and the daughter of the First Miss Aloha Hula, Kumu Nui Aloha Dalire, "Hula Teacher - Kumu Hula" Kapua Dalire-Moe is our mentor, leader, and one who has passionately danced hula her entire life. "Kumu Kapua is rooted in tradition through her mother's halau Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Ōlapa O Laka, founded by Kapua's grandmother, Mary Keolalaulani McCabe Wong." She and her ohana are the true definition of living the famous saying "hula is life." As the gatekeeper of the hula tradition, history, and protocol, through our Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea , Kumu Kapua is primarily responsible for teaching and mentoring over 300 "haumāna - hula students," throughout Tokyo, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, Kyoto, and Shiga Japan. She also teaches in San Francisco, California, Canada, and her home on Kane'ohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i. Kumu Kapua has invested priceless time, energy, and "mana'o akamai - spirit of wisdom" to our "Alaka'i - Leader/Director" Edrianne Dianna Kahiau 'Ekekela Flores-Arend. Kumu Kapua has continuously seen "Kahiau" grow as a dancer and blossom as a "Kalaniākea Beauty" while Kahiau trained and competed at the 2023 and 2024 Merrie Monarch Hula Competition. Kumu Kapua is truly a "life mentor" to Kahiau , especially as Kumu Kapua witnesses the next generation of hula "haumāna - hula students" boldly take on their "kuleana - responsibility" which is to perpetuate, preserve, and share our Native Hawaiian culture into the next century.

KUMU NUI ALOHA DALIRE - "The Aloha Legacy"

+ + + FOUNDER, LEAD KUMU HULA, MERRIE MONARCH'S FIRST MISS ALOHA HULA Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Ōlapa O Laka

Legendary. Hawai'i. Phenomenal. These are a few words that describes our Kumu Nui. Popularly known as the First Miss Aloha Hula, Kumu Nui Aloha Dalire, "set the highest standards in each area of the essential elements of hula - music, dance, the Hawaiian language, and lineage. For nearly four decades, Kumu Nui Aloha Dalire has continued the tradition of passing on the historical wisdom of the "Kānaka Maoli - Native Hawaiian people." Shared by her daughter and Miss Aloha Hula 1998, Kumu Hula Keola Dalire, of the original halau, Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Ōlapa O Laka, "Kumu Nui Aloha Dalire's mother, Mary Keolalaulani McCabe Wong and Uncle George Nā'ope, one of the founding fathers of the prestigious Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, trained her in hula 'auana, the modern form. Aloha Dalire received her education in the ancient form of hula, kahiko from her "Hānai - adopted family member, " Aunty Emma Defries, and was inspired in her study of traditional chants by Elsie Ross-Lane, executive director of the Aloha Week festival." As Miss Aloha Hula under her maiden name, Aloha Wong, in 1971, her three daughters also followed her footsteps with the respective titles of Miss Aloha Hula 1991: Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe (Our Lead Kumu Hula); Miss Aloha Hula 1992: Kumu Hula Kaui Dalire; and Miss Aloha Hula 1999: Kumu Hula Keola Dalire. As our founder of the original halau where we are deeply and generationally rooted, Kumu Nui Aloha's legacy continues to thrive through our beloved, Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea. We will pledge to carry the banner of a "Legacy of Service" through the one and only, "Aloha Legacy."

ALAKA'I EDRIANNE DIANNA KAHIAU 'EKEKELA FLORES-AREND

"ALAKA'I - LEADER/DIRECTOR," Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea Pākīpika

Proudly hailing from Kane'ohe, Hawai'i, and under the tutelage and direct mentorship of Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe, our Alaka'i and Operations Director, Edrianne Dianna "Kahiau" 'Ekekela Flores-Arend or "Kahiau" as we all call her, is a "haumāna - hula student" herself and hula dancer with Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea. Kahiau was a part of the "hālau - hula school" 2023 & 2024 Merrie Monarch Team, where she competed in Hilo, Hawai'i. Kahiau has been dancing and pursuing her passion for hula since she was 17 years old. Although she left home to join the US Air Force, which started the "Legacy of Service," as Kumu Nui Aloha Dalire did for her island home, Kahiau continued to bring Hula and her proud Polynesian cultures throughout every duty station. As a proud Hawaiian, Chamorro, and Filipino, Kahiau's diverse background and expertise is expanding the next generation of the "Aloha Legacy." As the Founder of Pua'Ura Polynesia LLC established in 2017, Kahiau was determined to live out her "kuleana - responsibility" to perpetuate, preserve, and share her cultures with the rest of the military community. That vision and drive birthed the Pua'Ura Polynesia Cultural Academy, proudly bringing two dance legends together in one place, ensuring the continued perpetuation, preservation, and sharing of the native Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Polynesian cultures.

TALIILANI KAMANA'OLANA LETULI-GOEAS

FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MODEL, MISS POLYNESIA 2010, LE 'ORI AFI HAWAI'I & AFI O LE PASEFIKA

The granddaughter of Paramount Chief Olo "Freddie" Letuli who is popularly known as the "Father of the Fire Knife Dance," Taliilani "Tali" Letuli-Goeas is a modern Polynesian Artist, Model, and Ori Tahiti (Tahitian Dance) Choreographer. As Miss Polynesia 2010, Tali continues to be an ambassador of beauty where she occasionally models for top local clothing brands throughout Hawai'i. With a lifetime of dance as her experience, Tali is now leading the next generation of Polynesian dancers as shown through her various YouTube video productions on YouTube showcasing songs from Polynesian artists such as her mentor, Mevina Liufau. Tali briefly lived in Japan and shared her talents as a professional dancer at Paradise Cove lūʻau on O'ahu. A humble woman, Tali displayed her unique styles and talents at prestigious competitions throughout Hawaii, Tahiti, and the United States. She now owns her own Ori Tahiti studio named "Le 'Ori Afi" in her home on Kane'ohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i, driven and selflessly motivated to mentor, inspire, and share the Ori Tahiti, Siva Samoa, and Polynesian traditions with her students. As the founder and leader of our very own "Pupu Ori - Tahitian dance group," and Polynesian Dance School, Tali bestowed the name "Afi O Le Pasefika," to Pua'Ura Polynesia Cultural Academy as Tali directly trains and mentors Kahiau in guiding the Yokota & Pacific bases to increase awareness of the amazing Polynesian history and storytelling as it is in daily life and events. Together, Tali and Kahiau are paving the way for showcasing the Tahitian, Siva Samoa, and Polynesian cultures throughout Japan and the vast Pacific Islands by way of expressing its art and dances.

AUNTY TALI GOEAS

ORI TAHITI MASTER, CHOREOGRAPHER, JUDGE, COSTUME DESIGNER, MISS SAMOA 1976, LE 'ORI AFI

As the daughter of Paramount Chief Olo "Freddie" Letuli, the "Father of the Fire Knife Dance," Aunty Tali, is a celebrated master Ori Tahiti choreographer, dancer, judge, and costume designer. As Miss Samoa 1976, she continues to be a mentor and cultural leader in the Polynesian Community extending in dance, arts, and fashion. She continues to teach Gracious Vahine in Japan and her home in Kane'ohe, Hawai'i. Moreover, she leads the annual O'ahu Sea Life Park's "Legacy" Siva Afi Fire Knife Competition in memory and honor of her father's life passion. This competition highlights the latest Fire Knife performers and increases awareness of this intense and powerful art of the Samoan culture. In her younger years, Aunty Tali danced for prestigious "Pupu Ori - Tahitian dance groups," in Japan, Hawai'i, and the United States. She continues to teach in Japan as well as the Gracious Vahine of Le 'Ori Afi, while also focusing on guiding her daughter, Taliilani "Tali" Letuli-Goeas, our Le 'Ori Afi Founder and Afi O Le Pasefika Creative Director. As she passes the torch on to the next generation, Aunty Tali's artistic talents inspire us to use our God-given talents to share with the world. Her beauty and talent are much more magnified because of her faith in Ke Akua, our Heavenly Father. Aunty Tali's strong values, humility, and genuine love for people, are what make her a woman of excellence. Pua'Ura Polynesia Cultural Academy is beyond blessed to have her as a guiding light as we establish the vessel to perpetuate and preserve our authentic traditions and culture.

EDRIANNE DIANNA KAHIAU 'EKEKELA FLORES-AREND

“HURA TAU - EXPERIENCED DANCER" ASSISTANT & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, AFI O LE PASEFIKA OWNER/PRESIDENT, PUA'URA POLYNESIA LLC

With her foundational dance background in Ori Tahiti (Tahitian Dance), Kahiau has been dancing Tahitian at 15 years old. As she traveled with her mother and ohana to Saipan, Guam, and Las Vegas, Nevada, Kahiau was exposed to Tahitian dancing and further pursued into adulthood and as an Active Duty Air Force Senior Enlisted Leader. At Beale Air Force Base, California, she trained with Makamae Melia O' Polynesia in Elk Grove, where she competed at the annual Heiva Ma'ohi O' Patitifa and placed 2nd in the Advanced Vahine category. While deployed to the Middle East, she led the Force Support Squadron and hosted the first lūʻau featuring Ori Tahiti. While stationed on Kadena Air Base Okinawa, Japan, she trained under Auntie Rose Perreira, Tahiti Nui International President. Kahiau also taught at the Kadena USO, then competed at the annual Okinawa Tahiti "Fete- festival" under Mana'Ura with Ririka Kakinohana, placing 2nd at preliminaries and 4th overall. From 2021 to May 2024, Kahiau was stationed at home and assigned at the Headquarter's Pacific Air Forces at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Kahiau grew her experience as a student and performer as she worked as a professional Polynesian Dancer with Uncle Isi and Auntie Evelyn Oloa at the 37 year-old lūʻau company - Kalena's Polynesian Ohana in Wahiawa, Hawai'i. Now stationed at Yokota Air Base, Kahiau is led and mentored by Le 'Ori Afi and Afi O le Pasefika's Founder, "Tali" Letuli-Goeas in teaching students the beautiful dances of Tahiti and Polynesia.