111 West Birch Avenue
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
USA
On Friday, June 26 Flagstaff’s Heritage Square will seem more like Waikiki when Halau Hula Napuaokalei`ilima (hula school) performs an authentic Hula show at Summer Nights on the Square. The school will also be selling Hawai`i themed items to help you get into the mood and to raise funds for their trip to the 2018 World Hula Conference on the Big Island.
On Saturday, June 27 you can continue the Aloha Spirit by attending the first of three Beginners Hula or Beginners Hawaiian Language classes at the Flagstaff Recreation Center taught by Kumu Hula (master teacher) Kehau Chrisman. These classes are open to those who want to learn something new, have fun, and exercise, all while becoming immersed in the culture of Hawaii.
Chrisman moved to Arizona from Hawaii, where she studied for 17 years to reach the highest rank of Hula Master (comparable to a PhD in Hula) following rigorous protocols taught by well-known and respected Hawaiian hula masters. In 2004 she opened her hula school, Halau Hula Napuaokalei’ilima, in Northern and Central Arizona. Kumu Kehau Chrisman says, “If hula is the ‘catch’ for drawing people in to learning what it is like to truly live ALOHA then I think hula is of immense value to Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike because it’s not really how well you dance hula, but how much you embrace the Hawaiian culture and participate in it that enhances your life, enriches your soul and raises you to a different level.”
Learning to dance hula is extremely rewarding. Here’s what some of our current students have to say: “We’re so unbelievably fortunate to have someone of Kumu’s caliber and commitment to Hawaiian culture living and teaching in the Verde Valley.” “Come, see, and experience before you decide. It’s worth an evening to explore something that could become very meaningful to you.” “It resonates with my being.”
New classes include:
Hula for Beginners – Open to those 15 and older. Learn basic hula movements plus Hawaiian language, culture, and values. Saturdays from 10am to 12pm on June 27, August 22, October 3. $30/class
Hawaiian Language – Open to those 16 and older. Learn Hawaiian pronunciation, simple sentence structures, and vocabulary. Saturdays from 12:30 to 3:30 pm on June 27, August 22, October 3. $30/class
All Flagstaff classes are held at the Flagstaff Recreation Center located at 2403 N Izabel St, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 .
To register for classes or for more information, visit www.arizonahula.com, call Chrisman at (928) 639-4683, or email her at kumuhula@halauhulailima.com
