The weekend of July 11 to 13, Kumu Hula Association will hold their first hula conference at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward. The nonprofit organization is known in the Bay Area for their yearly Hawaiian May Day festival, and the Iā ʻOe E Ka Lā Hula Competition and festival at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.
These events focus on dancers showcasing their skill, and participants enjoying the performances along with arts and crafts and traditional foods of Hawaii. The conference takes a different approach. Starting Friday night and continuing through the weekend, locals at all skill levels will get to learn and practice hula, culminating in a hōʻike (performance) on Sunday evening.
Participants will study with hula and cultural practitioners who have flown in from Hawaii, including Uncle Ainsley Halemanu, Aunty Leimomi Ho, Twyla Sharpe-Mendez, Tracie Lopes and Keawe Lopes. In addition to learning mele (song) and traditional (kahiko) and modern (ʻauana) hula, participants will make their own lei on Sunday to wear for their performance.
And of course, with all the activity, Hawaiian lunches will be served on Saturday and Sunday!
Learn more and register at kumuhulaassociation.com.
Hula Conference
Friday, July 11 – Sunday, July 13
Moreau Catholic High School
27170 Mission Blvd., Hayward
Tickets: $500
