Māhealani Uchiyama
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, DANCER, MUSICIAN, AUTHOR AND TEACHER
CURRENT POSITION
Founder and Director, Māhea Uchiyama Center for International Dance.
Kumu Hula (Teacher and Director) Hālau Ka Ua Tuahine.
Co-Artistic Director, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.
Vice President, MBIRA the Non-Profit.
Hula Instructor, ODC Dance Commons.
PUBLICATIONS
2016 Haumāna Hula Handbook for Students of Hawaiian Dance, Penguin Random House. 119 pp.
2007 Ori Tahiti Handbook, Dancetera Publications. 53 pp.
1997 Mele Hula Workbook, Dancetera Publications. 49 pp.
RECORDINGS AND FILM
2019 Pasifika – CD.
2013 The Sky That Covers Us All – CD of mbira music of Zimbabwe.
2010 Ndoro – CD of mbira music of Zimbabwe.
2008 Aloha Tahiti – CD compilation.
2007 A Walk by the Sea – CD, winner of Hawai’i Music Award for Best World Music of 2007.
2006 Warm-Up – CD of Hula and Tahitian dance instructional.
2005 Ahuroa KaUaTuahine – CD of Tahitian music.
2005 Mele Hula – CD of traditional Hawaiian music.
2004 Tatau – CD of traditional Tahitian music.
2002 Black Pearl -Film documentary, winner Best of Festival of 2002 Berkeley Film Festival.
2000 Moemoea – CD of traditional Hawaiian and Tahitian music.
1997 Tuahine Rain – CD of traditional Hawaiian and Tahitian music.
1996 Ori, The Dance of Tahiti – DVD, Tahitian dance instructional.
PERFORMANCE TOURS AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF H LAU KA UA TUAHINE
- Kū Mai Ka Hula Competition, Kahului, Maui, 2016, 2017 and 2019.
- Ka ‘Aha Hula ‘O Halauaola performance, Hilo, Hawaiʻi 2019, Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi. 2014,
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, 2009 and Kahului Maui 2005. - Tahitian dance performances in Tahiti, French Polynesia. 2002, 2005, 2007.
- Ka’Aha Hula ‘O Halauaola performance, Maui, Hawai’i. 2005.
- Performance for Culture Moves Conference on Dance in Oceania, Te Papa Tongareva
The National Museum of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand. 2005. - King Kamehameha Hula and Chant Competition, 2003.
ADDITIONAL MAJOR APPEARANCES
- Soloist at Isadora Duncan Awards Ceremony, 2018.
- Hoʻolaha – Hula Spans the Globe, 2015.
- Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance 20th Anniversary Concert, 2013, and
25th Anniversary Concert 2018. - Hawaiian Music Concert, Mexico City, 2013.
- Black Choreographers Festival, 2006, 2007, 2011.
- San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, 1985, 1987, 1994, 2004, 2005 and 2017.
- People Like Me (Children’s Multi-Cultural Educational Performance Tour), Northern
California, 2003. - Diamonds, Shells and Amber, 1987.
- Merrie Monarch Hula Festival as a chanter and drummer, Hilo, Hawai’i, 1986.
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Artist Honoree “Māhealani Uchiyama Day” in Berkeley California, January 22, 2019.
- Arts Enabler Award presented by Arts for a Better Bay Area. 2018.
- Ke Kanaka Poʻokela (Person of Distinction) Award, Berkeley Hawaiian Music Festival.
2015. - Hawai’i Music Award for Best Album Art Work, Ndoro. Photographer Chugrad
McAndrews and Designer Czelena Stovall. 2010. - Hawai’i Music Award for Best World Music Album, A Walk By The Sea. 2008.
- Aloha Spirit Award, Kapalakiko Music, Art, & Craft Productions. 2007.
- Best of Festival Award, Producer, Black Pearl, Berkeley Film Festival. 2002.
- Numerous awards for excellence in Hawaiian and Tahitian dance and music: Kū Mai
Ka Hula Competition of Kahului, Maui, Tahiti Fete of San Jose, King Kamehameha
Hula and Chant Competition of Honolulu, Iā ‘Oe e Ka Lā Hula Festival, Onipa’a Hula
Festival, Tahiti Fete of San Francisco, Kaleponi Hula Competition of San Francisco.
1982-2015.
EDUCATION
1987 M.A., Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
1979 B.A., Dance Ethnology, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
SKILLS
Proficiency in playing Hawaiian ʻukulele and mbira.