Ka Lā Kapu Polynesian Dance School

CALLING ALL KĀNE!! We have a workshop specifically for the men in our community on October 8th and we can't be any more excited!

Learn 2 ancient style hula (kahiko) and hula basics from kumu Rod Kualapai and Jason Tuitele! All levels welcome

Click on the link below to reserve your spot

http://www.abqpolynesia.com/workshops

We had such a wonderful time sharing hula and lei making with the strong, smart, and bold keiki at Girls Inc. of Santa Fe! 🌈 Mahalo for having us visit as part of your Summer Camp program!

Due to Aunty Lehua feeling under the weather, the lecture for today has been cancelled.

Join us tomorrow, 7/30, at our studio at 2500 San Mateo Pl. NE ABQ, 87110 for another lecture by kumu, Lehua Lopez from 1-2:30pm, for $15!
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This presentation explores the dynamic changes in the culture of a Pacific Ocean people determined to survive the economic, political, social, religious, and disease onslaughts from the rest of the world. As the 19th Century began, the Great King Kamehameha skillfully deployed the weapons of the West to unite all the Hawaiian Islands under his control. But by the end of the century, the devastation of the old culture he desperately tried to defend was done by new diseases and new deities. A new Hawaiian culture (and hula) forced its way through the pages of the Bible and the Constitution. Attached is the flyer for this class.

Mahalo a nui loa for your continued interest in my classes, (Kumu) Lehua Lopez

We're so excited for our dancers and 'ohana to represent our school with some brand new Ka Lā Kapu merch featuring our new logo! Be sure to pre-order by midnight on July 31st for free local pickup. We've got hoodies, adult tees, tanks, and even keiki tees! Link in bio, or visit: www.abqpolynesia.com/merch

We are beyond excited to be hosting Kuana Torres Kahele May of next year!! 🤩 mark it on your 2023 Calendars now because you won’t want to miss this amazing opportunity to learn hula, lei making and much more! 💗🤙🏼

SAVE THE DATE • ALBUQUERQUE 5/4-5/7/23

Over the weekend our haumāna, Stephanie and lead instructor, Kellie were able to attend workshops in Colorado by Kuana Torres Kahele! Mahalo to uncle Marc and for organizing this amazing event and experience 💗

Open Enrollment for “Adult intro to Hula” starts in 2 days! Make sure to preregistration in our bio to secure your spot. We can’t wait to meet all of our new ‘ohana!

We had so much fun at the Isotopes game last night! Mahalo nui loa to the for inviting us out to perform for AAPI night and thank you to our haumāna who represented our school at the info table!

Mahalo to our friends at Albuquerque Isotopes for celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage with us tonight! We had such a great time sharing hula and ʻōteʻa with everyone!!
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Aloha kākou! The game for tomorrow night has been canceled. But we look forward to seeing you at the rescheduled game!

We’re so excited to share our ribbon lei and dance at tomorrow’s game—see you there!

We can’t wait to see everyone at the New Mexico United game this Saturday! We’ll be performing pregame 6:00-6:30pm by the entrance to the stadium.

It's that time of year again! We are accepting new students for our 'intro to hula' class! Enrollment is the first 2 Thursdays in June only so be sure to join us for 1 or both days to become a student.

Our pre-registration form is on the link in our bio, or on our website at www.abqpolynesia.com/dance-lessons. An email will be sent with what to expect and what to bring for class. We can't wait to welcome you to our hula 'ohana! 🌺✨💗

(((Kids are welcome to try classes year round)))

Mahalo, Tony, for inviting us once again to perform for the annual AAPI month Naturalization ceremony! We look forward to it every year! 💕 congratulations to all the newest citizens that we had the pleasure to meet today!

New year, new beginnings and new logo 💛🧡❤️

Ka Lā Kapu Polynesian Dance School updated their info in the about section.

Ka Lā Kapu Polynesian Dance School updated their info in the about section.

May 1st is Lei Day! AKA "May Day Lei Day!" We are once again taking orders for class of 2022 graduates, and our Pride lei, which 20% of proceeds go to Equality NM.

Quantities are limited, so order yours today!

http://www.abqpolynesia.com/lei

Our 'ōlapa will be performing at the Miss Indian World Pageant on Thursday, April 28th! We are so excited for the opportunity to present for the Gathering of Nations this year! 💕

We hope you can stop by to support not only us, but these beautiful contestants.

Kumu, Kellie Kalehua Villicano and ho'opa'a/Alaka'i, Isa Kaleonahenaheloa Bernal of Ka Lā Kapu Polynesian Dance School

Ho'omaikaʻi to our new ʻōlapa! They have spent the last year and a half preparing and studying for their 'ūniki (graduation ceremony) that took place this last Sunday. Here are 6 out of our 11 graduates. The others are in our previous post. Join us in congratulating them on all their hard work in achieving their knowledge of the Hawaiian culture and mastery of hula.
Kimberly Napuanani McKinney, Hiroko Pilialoha Minami, Meiguey Hewahineno'eauka'ika'i Ponce, Neilina Kepo'omaikalani Kaleikini Seay, Vera Kawahinehulamakakoa Romano, Heather Lokelani Tanner

Ho'omaikaʻi to our new ʻōlapa! They have spent the last year and a half prepare and studying for their 'ūniki (graduation ceremony) that took place this last Sunday. Here are 5 out of our 11 graduates. The others will be in our following post. Join us in congratulating them on all their hard work in achieving their knowledge of the Hawaiian culture and mastery of hula.
Krystal Namakaokalani Bixel, Kaupiliokalani Burkett, Desiree U'ilani Cortez, JacquiLynn Kapi'olani Gonzalez, Jaynie Hokulelelani McConnell

We had a great lei po’o workshop for our students and a couple friends yesterday! 🌺🌸💜 everyone did so good and it was fun making them together. Mahalo to and .mea.ai for making this workshop happen. 💕

Here's your chance to treat your sweetheart (or yourself 😉) to an extra special gift this Valentine's Day. Tickets are only $10 with the proceeds used to support our 'ōlapa students as they prepare for our first ever 'uniki ceremony. Stay tuned for highlights of all that is included in the basket!

Here’s the link to buy your digital ticket…
https://checkout.square.site/buy/NGMSIZBGD2NFHTNKW5I2RNYB?src=sms

Gorgeous! 💕

Amazing! There is so much beauty and art in nature 😍

This photo shows the utilization of the natural elements that create this perfect, beautiful kapa. Kapa Hawaii, LLC uses different techniques to achieve such coloring - browns & yellow are mineral oxides, black is squid ink, and the blue is a native berry called ʻuki ʻuki. For this particular print, artist Dalani Tanahy uses a piece of a banana leaf stem.

Mahalo e Kapa Hawaii, LLCKapa Hawaii, LLC for sharing your creation!

Hula-ween party 2021 🎃

Join us for an exciting 2 hour presentation this year at the State Fair! We will be there this Thursday from 4-6pm at the Indian Village. We will be asking the audience to to join us to learn 2 songs so don’t miss out! Visit statefair.exponm.com for a full line up of all the amazing talent this year. 🧡 We can’t wait to share our aloha with you!

Aloha! Albuquerque the Magazine is taking votes on Best of the City for 2021!

This year has definitely been an exciting one, and we can’t wait to keep pushing through all this excitement with you, our ohana. 🌺🤍

Please vote for us and our family !!

Mahalo nui loa, and aloha! 💕✨

Hawaiian Love & Romance: Lecture By Lehua Lopez

Almost every Hawaiian song is a love song! So much of our music describes the love, not only between people, but also the love, the aloha, Hawaiians have for the land, the ocean, the forests, fish, birds and flowers. So many songs evoke the memories of an early romance or the remembrances of a long-time love. Come hear the music, the words, the feelings so deeply expressed in the melodies and hula of the Islands. And, finally, let Lehua Lopez also delight you with the naughty side of Hawaiian Love & Romance!

When: Saturday, July 31st
Time: 2:30-4pm
Where: Ka Lā Kapu 2500 San Mateo Pl. NE Albuquerque, NM 87110

Mahalo to for inviting us to attend this amazing workshop! Mauruuru and for sharing your knowledge for the Tahitian culture. We were so happy to attend a workshop after a long year of uncertainty. It felt great to share space with others who have the same love and passion that we have for the Polynesian culture.

Rest in Paradise Haunani-Kay Trask. 🌈 🌺 🙏🏼

Haunani-Kay Trask
October 3, 1949 - July 3, 2021

A lifelong scholar and activist, Haunani-Kay Trask was an early and fearless leader of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, fighting for self-determination of the Hawaii people. A founding member Ka Lahui Hawai'i, the state’s largest sovereignty organization, Trask spoke and wrote boldly about Native Hawaiian rights, institutional racism, gender discrimination and the United Nations Declaration on the rights of the Indigenous Peoples. She often drew ire for her criticism of the United States; responding to disapproval that her harsh approach was “un-Hawaiian,” Trask one famously responded: “I am not soft. I am not sweet.”

The University of Hawaii-Mānoa, where Trask was a tenured professor for more than 30 years, credits her with co-founding the contemporary field of Hawaiian studies, as she was the founding director of the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies on the Mānoa campus.

Additionally, she wrote two books of poetry (“Light in the Crevice Never Seen” and “Night is a Sharkskin Drum”) and a collection of politically provocative essays, “From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaii.” She also co-wrote and co-produced the award-winning documentary “Act of War: The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation,” which premiered in 1994. She is widely considered one of the most influential women in Hawaiian history.

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recognized 10 Mana Wahine in their 2020 “Hawaiʻi Women of the Century” article.

“Pele Stories and Sacred Places," a lecture by Hawaiian anthropologist, Kumu Lehua Lopez

at Ka La Kapu (abqpolynesia.com), 2500 San Mateo Pl. NE, Albuquerque NM 87110
Saturday, June 26th (last Saturday of this month),
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm,
Fee is $10/sliding scale (whatever you can afford).

In this first class, Lehua will take you on a guided journey across the islands to experience the mysticism and wonder of Pele, the Volcano Goddess, and Her sister Hi`iaka, the Lightning Goddess. “Pele Stories and Sacred Places" includes a presentation about Pele, Her sister-and-brother deities, Her kino lau (body forms), and native ecosystem spiritual connections in wahi pana (special places) across Hawai`i Nei.

We’re already so close to the beginning of July! Crazy how time flies 🦋🤍

Make sure to order our special edition Pride lei while they’re still here! Hele ha’aheo (strut!) with a beautifully handcrafted
🌈 RAINBOW 🌈
ribbon lei!

You can even get them custom to match YOUR pride flag! 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️
👉🏽Click👈🏽 the link to place your order: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePZIHHP_47rtxrAsYu3clFcPi5TY0Liezy-84N1N45d6NSrQ/viewform

Stay tuned in to our stories as well, for some 💥flash culture lessons💥, upcoming events, and more!

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Don’t forget that Open Enrollment season is close, and we’d be so excited to share our 🌺aloha🌺 with you! Stop by the link in our bio for the info you need 🤙🏽

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It’s that time of year—we are excited to announce our July 2021 open enrollment, where we welcome new haumāna (students) to Ka Lā Kapu!

We offer open enrollment only once or twice a year, and space is limited, so please fill out the form provided to reserve your space today! No dance experience is necessary, only an open heart and an interest in learning.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fforms%2Fd%2Fe%2F1FAIpQLSdAUluMgfgbo4_-QRvPeI3eei8RBVnOdR07plZYhJjgpAU1RQ%2Fviewform%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR26fk83rZH6H7lId2bKKitmPelpoeT5vTulf6_zde_0ZmSUR7Tr7bYmyXo&h=AT1KnrEUQmS0JSLHLZljUTMts5zhp6MWnFb_kv87SCE-PxdcshWQjlO1-7yBQGoEpcCThemaGddeP5PYkEbBm0_5UQnmkwz2N5DDtmXPPTdMZfNBo5hO9p7PUmV8sBVeTdJn

At Ka Lā Kapu, we value staying true to the cultures of Polynesia as much as possible. We embrace every one of all ages that are interested in learning more about the Polynesian cultures. As a practicing haumāna, you will have the opportunity to learn the technique of multiple Polynesian dances along with connecting spiritually to the ‘aina (land), our kūpuna (ancestors), and stories of the maoli (native people). Not only will you become a second ‘ohana (family), you will also have an opportunity to join in the beautiful efforts to perpetuate the Polynesian culture to our beloved communities.

Aloha!

If you're interested in pre-ordering your pride lei, please use the link below!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePZIHHP_47rtxrAsYu3clFcPi5TY0Liezy-84N1N45d6NSrQ/viewform

Proceeds will go to Equality NM and to our schools upcoming ‘uniki (graduation). 🤙🏼

Happy Earth Day! 🌍

with
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Mama Earth isn’t something external to our elemental reality. She is we, and we can protect the 🌍 by committing to not only living eco-conscious lives, but also doing no harm in death. Green burial, biodegradable caskets & shrouds, Recompose , Aquamation, and more, are just a few ways to leave the lightest possible touch. In the wise words of ‘leave a legacy, not a footprint’

We are all booked up for our Lei making workshop❣️❣️❣️We are so grateful for all the support and can’t wait to make lei with all of you. 💕

If you missed out on reserving your spot, DM us and we will schedule another class soon!