Ngā Kākano: Ola Hou,
Revitalising Hula Kiʻi

Kumu hula Charles Auliʻi Mitchell was born in 1961 on the island of Oʻahu. He was raised in the traditions of hula ʻōlapa under the tutelage of his mother Kumu Hula Harriet Aana Cash and his grandfather Charles Kahiwahiwa Cash. Both were close companions and students of Joseph Kealiikuikamoku Ilalaʻole o Kamehameha, Samuel Pua Haaheo, and Mary Kawena Pukui. A lifelong practitioner of the hula, he continues the legacy of his loea hula (hula experts) the ʻōlapa (ancient hula) and his 42 years of research, carving, and teaching the practice of Hula Kiʻi, the dance of the sacred image, Hawaiian Puppetry. Auliʻi Mitchell is a recipient of the 2021-2022 1st Nations Henry Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship for his continued work in the creation, preservation, perpetuation, and dissemination of the hula kiʻi.

Kumu Maile grew up in Kailua, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu. In 2000, she and her hānai mother, the late hula master, composer, storyteller, author, entertainer, community leader, and teacher, Auntie Nona Kapuailohiamanonokalani Beamer, founded the non-profit, Hula Preservation Society and began conducting oral histories with hula elders across the islands. Maile also works to perpetuate the traditions of Auntie Nona and the Beamer style of hula through Hālau Hula ʻo Kaho‘oilina Aloha. This tradition includes Hula Kiʻi, or Hawaiian Puppetry, which was one of Auntie’s favored forms of ancient hula. Auntie Nona’s kiʻi protégé is Mauliola Cook, and together Maile and Mauli have taught and shared kiʻi on the islands of Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaiʻi. On the U.S. continent, they have worked with hula schools in Berkeley, Sonoma, and San Diego, California. 

Kumu Mauli Ola Cook holds an MFA in dance and theater from UH Mānoa. She is a long-time hula student and belongs to Hālau Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima under the direction of Kumu Hula Victoria Holt Takamine and Jeffery Takamine. Mauli Ola was privileged to enjoy a long, rich, friendship with Aunty Nona Beamer. She worked with Aunty researching and editing two volumes of Aunty’s hula traditions and creating and performing shows for school children. In 1990, Mauli Ola was awarded a grant to study hula ki’i with Aunty Nona. After a year of study, Aunty Nona and Mauli began performing and teaching hula ki’i together throughout the island chain. Mauli has perpetuated the traditions shared with her in countless schools with hundreds of school children. In 2014, she helped to create and performed in a hula ki’i production of The Legends Of Pele at La MaMa Theater in New York. In recent years Mauli has worked extensively with Kumu Hula Maile Beamer Loo to perpetuate her mother’s hula.

John Kapono`aikaulikeikeao Molitau was born on the island of O`ahu and raised traditionally with the cultural guidance of one of Hawai`i’s leading authorities, the late Kumu John Keola Lake. His wisdom and forever guiding patience instilled years of cultural grounding and produced a solid foundation for Kumu Kapono`ai to continue being a cultural authority in Hawai`i. Today he is an acknowledged leading expert in traditional Hawaiian Protocol of Loina Hawai`i. He is Kumu Hula of Nā Hanona Kūlike ʻO Pi`ilani which is celebrating 20 years of cultural excellence in Maui. His 30 years of study in Hawaiian language, history, hula, and chant both traditionally and through the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa has guided him to many parts around the world promoting the cultural realism of Hawai`i’s host culture. In 2009, Kumu Kapono`ai and his wife, Jennifer Molitau, established Native Intelligence, a Hawaiian cultural resource center and design company that champions Hawaiian practitioners, craftsmen, and artisans. Their business is located in the heart of Old Wailuku Town and has expanded to include cultural workshops, evening functions, Hawaiian gatherings, and activities to promote traditional artisans from Hawai`i.