Ka Aha Hula o Halauaola 2005
..........It was actually a little bit of hula heaven. We ate it, drank and slept it for an entire week. It saturated every possible pore of our bodies. If we weren't doing hula, we were thinking about hula.
Meeting so many fellow haumana hula gave me a great feeling of solidarity. It is great comfort to know that the time and effort spent to this entity that is hula, is shared by people worldwide of all classes, genders and races. It is not just a dance but a way of life. The whole of hula enhances not only what you do in your everyday life, but what you say as well. It also changes how you see things in the world and how you react to those things. In my life I am always looking for the connection with the primordial earth in everything . Hula does this for me. That link between ourselves and Na Aumakua (the Ancestors) is present in almost every aspect of the hula. It is a source of inspiration for me and an equally great motivator.
Before arriving at Ka Aha Hula o Halauaola, I was excited about all of the wonderful things I would bring back with me from Maui to share with my friends. Still ecstatic, I now realize that processing and sharing the vast amount of information and experience we were given will take time. Mali'o
Maui was fun. It was a true cultural learning experience - as our dancing improved so did our knowledge of Hawaiian history and culture. We took classes from people whose CDs I've been listening to for years, We grew as individuals and as a halau, and we grew in the hula community of Maui. Nahiku
To actually be in the places that inspired the dances and chants we were learning at home boggled my mind. Everything I had seen and learned in class became solidified in that trip, and watching the other halau in competition allowed me to see the different styles and nuances of the hula, to appreciate more deeply the education in hula I was receiving at home, to aspire to be a better and more enlightened dancer. From that trip on, I've been moved to share whatever I can, as much as I can, and to learn and absorb as much as possible from those who know more.
Noe'ula
The New Zealand Tour of 2005 was my first trip out of the U.S. with KaUaTuahine and my first time on a Polynesian island outside of the Hawaiian islands, so it was very special to me. I grew as a dancer there, especially when I received one - on - one training and extra practice with fellow Ori sista, Kehau, to move in sync as one dancer. The Culture Moves Dance Conference at Te Papa Tongarewa (the National Museum of New Zealand) in Wellington was AWESOME! We got to meet other diverse dance groups, check out exhibits in the museum, see others perform, and of course,
check out the windy city of Wellington. This was also my first (and I bet not my last) time staying in a Youth Hostel. I have good memories of practicing in the dining area. Next time I go, I want to visit the South Island which is said to be "stupid beautiful". Meleho'ala
Along with discovering and enjoying the natural beauty of Tahiti, we forged everlasting friendships with our Tahitian hosts. The families of Tematahotoa, Mata'oa, Ta'ae and Hiriana graciously welcomed us with open arms into their homes and lives during our stay. Within a week and a half, we built a camaraderie that crossed cultural and geographical boundaries. When our stay on the island was over, it was a tearful farewell that was heartfelt by all. The experiences and memories that KaUaTuahine and Ori here Maohi built together will remain in our collective memory, helping us to continue to build a solid exchange of culture, love and friendship. Our amazing experience this summer in Tahiti may be over, but KaUaTuahine and Orihere Maohi are dedicated to maintaining our cultural friendship and exchange. Wai'olikolea
During the 2005 San Jose Tahiti Fete, we met three wonderful Tahitians and bonded very closely together. They have adopted us as Mommy Lorrie and Daddy Don. I have been eagerly awaiting this years trip to Tahiti. 
intensity of Papa Dan's playing and singing. Practice or performance, every song, he would have the heaviest tears rolling down his face. I asked him about that one night during one of our long talks together. He told me that his love for his music and the meaningfulness of the words of the song drove him to share this love with all of the people within earshot of his performance. When he plays and sings, it comes from his heart, soul and very core of his being, and this is what he wants to share with everyone. He has so inspired me that I too want to perform at this level. So each and every time I play my instruments, I'm sharing a bit of myself with the people around me. Fenuapeho