Faculty

Born in Washington, D.C. Noelani began her Hawaiian studies with Hālau O ‘Aulani since its inception and through numerous added cultural summer activities in Hawai’i. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland and is now Assistant Gym Director at The Little Gym of Alexandria at Huntley Meadows in Virginia. She is also a certified personal trainer and certified Les Mills BODYSTEP (step aerobics) instructor at a fitness center in Laurel, MD. She resides in Alexandria, VA.

Born in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Ikaika began his Hawaiian studies with Hālau O’ Aulani in 1996 when the school first opened its doors. A graduate of George Mason University, he now teaches Health and Physical Education at the George Washington Middle School. He resides in Alexandria, VA.

Born in Bethesda, MD, and began her Hawaiian studies with Hālau O ‘Aulani since its inception, Melenani is a student at Westfield High School where she has been a varsity cheerleader for 3 years and is the front page editor of her school’s award-winning newspaper. She resides with her ‘ohana in Oak Hill, VA, and has accepted selection to Virginia Tech for the fall of 2010, where she plans to major in Environmental Science.

Wilma has training in Dunham Technique, Afro-Haitian, Afro-Cuban, African and indigenous and folk Pilipino dances. She was born in Manila and raised in both Manila and the San Francisco Bay Area (where her family still resides). She graduated from San Francisco State University and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. A District resident, she produced for many years at National Public Radio and trained young people pursuing journalism. She is also a theater artist and a student of the culinary arts.

Born and raised in Ku’au, Maui. Leihua is of Hawaiian, Filipino, Puerto Rican, and Chinese decent. A 1991 Kamehameha Schools graduate, who studied hula with Kumu Hula Holoua Stender, currently attends Penn State University (online), pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations. Leihua works as the Training Coordinator for a Corporate University. She and Koapaka Stewart have been married for over 15 years, and reside in Odenton, MD, with their three children.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Huakea began her Hawaiian studies in Kailua, Oahu, at the age of seven under the instruction of Aunty Bella Richards. After her family moved to Northern Virginia in 1973, she continued her studies under Harold “Mahina” Bailey. Huakea went on to Virginia Tech and eventually got married and started a family. Soon her love for the Hawaiian culture returned so she joined Hālau O ‘Aulani in 2008, where her three sons are also enrolled as students. Huakea is a certified personal trainer and Les Mills BODYSTEP and BODYPUMP instructor with Worldgate Sport & Health Club. She resides with her family in Herndon, VA.

Glen was born in Honolulu, O’ahu, and raised on Kaua’i since age 7. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, Southwestern University School of Law with a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law School, Glen has had a love of music since childhood. After his second move to the Washington, D.C. area, he found a renewed interest in Hawaiian music. While playing music for Hālau O ‘Aulani, Glen met fellow Hawai’i transplants, formed “The Aloha Boys” and has been entertaining audiences with traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music ever since. Glen, his wife Donna, and two daughters reside in Oak Hill, VA.

Jim was born and raised in south Florida with an appreciation for Japanese culture, which he got from his parents who emigrated from Japan. After college, Jim moved to the Washington, D.C. area to pursue a career in defense policy and military analysis. Despite a life-long fascination with Hawai’i, he did not become seriously interested in its culture until his first visit in 1990 while on his honeymoon. Inspired by the music of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, he decided to take up the ukulele and found Hālau O ‘Aulani, where he began his studies under Glen Hirabayashi. He now assists Glen in teaching ukulele at Hālau O ‘Aulani, where his oldest daughter is also enrolled as a student.

Of Samoan and Irish descent, David is special instructor specializing in the Samoan culture. He was born and raised in Honolulu, O’ahu, where he attended Farrington High School and later Brigham Young University-Hawai’i Campus in Lā’ie. In 1985, he began work at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Lā’ie as a performer and member of the PCC Promotional Team performing all over the mainland and abroad. David is currently the Cultural Manager in the Theatre Department of the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Born and raised in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and is affiliated with the Ngapuhi Tribe of North Auckland, she moved to Hawai’i in 1968 to attend CCH (now known as BYU-Hawai’i) and majored in Home and Family Education. Char worked in the Maori Village, Night Show and the Educational Dept. at the Polynesian Cultural Center. She currently works at BYU-Hawai’i as the Special Instructor for the Exercise Sports Science Department with emphasis in Polynesian dancing.

Catherine was born on the beautiful main island of Papeete, Tahiti, but was raised in Hau’ula, O’ahu, Hawai’i. She currently works at the Polynesian Cultural Center and has danced all over the world sharing and promoting the songs and dances of Polynesia in general. She continues to perpetuate her Tahitian culture with various hālau in Hawai’i. Catherine also participates in different Tahitian festivals or Heivas both in Hawai’i and on the mainland.

Aunty Kanani was born on the island of Maui. Number 11 of 12 children, she graduated from the Kamehameha School for Girls where she met and married her high school sweetheart. She has 3 children. Her two sons, Kimo and Keith, are Kumu Hula of their own hālau in Hawai’i. Her daughter is a busy mother and grandmother.

For more than 25 years, Aunty Kanani has been a Kupuna (elder, source of wisdom) at Haleiwa Elementary School where she shares the Hawaiian Culture with children. She also is a cultural Kupuna at Waimea Valley Park on the island of O’ahu. In addition, Aunty acts as an advisor to various Kupuna and Hawaiian organizations. Aunty Kanani is also a member of a musical trio, Ohana 3, and plays the piano, guitar, ukulele and the upright bass.

At 11 years old, Maryland-born Ihilani was one of the original students of Hālau O ‘Aulani, where she studied the culture for two years. Her love of the culture was even more heightened with her first trip to Hawai’i during the hālau’s 2009 Hawaiian Study Immersion Program to Hilo. Ihilani currently resides in Laurel, MD, and hopes to make Hawai’i her permanent home in the future.

Began her Hawaiian studies in 1992 and joined Hālau O ‘Aulani in the spring of 2009. She is a freelance graphic designer and makeup artist. She dances professionally with Hawaiian Entertainment Company and has worked on Celebrity Cruises during their Hawaiian Enrichment Series. Poli is married with one son and currently resides in Odenton, MD.

Washington, D.C. attorney
Background: From Pu’unui, Oahu.
Tax Law Specialist, Internal Revenue Service, 1975-1977.
Legislative Counsel to U.S. Senator Spark Matsunaga (D-HI), 1977-1983.

Assistant to Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters, Washington, D.C.
Background: From Kahalu’u, Oahu . Graduate of Damien Memorial HS in Honolulu and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Engineering from Georgia Tech. Serves as a major general in the U.S. Air Force.

President (ret.), TRAVELCORP, Alexandria, VA
Background: From Aiea, Oahu. Graduate, Kamehameha School for Girls, Honolulu, Oahu; Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, Albion College, MI. Retired from the group incentive travel business after over 30 years.

Background: From Wahiawa, Oahu. Personal/Appointments Secretary to U.S. Senator Spark Matsunaga (D-HI), 1978-1990; Executive Assistant to U.S. Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-CA, 5th), 1990-2005, and U.S. Rep. Doris O. Matsui (D-CA, 5th), 2005. Retired after 27 years service.

Attorney Advisor, U.S. Tax Court, Washington, D.C.
Background: From Waimea, Kauai. West Point Academy graduate, 1969; Masters in Law, Georgetown Law School. Attorney, Internal Revenue Service national office, 1985-1986.

Senior Systems Engineering Specialist, U.S. Dept. of Defense, Washington, D.C. Background: From Chicago, IL. B.A. (Psychology), Northeastern University; M.S. (Management Services), DePaul University. Various management positions at the U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Veterans Administration, and U.S. Department of Defense since 1972.

Background: From Kailua, Oahu. Graduate, Kamehameha School for Girls; Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Redlands. Retired realtor. Board member, Hawaiian Civic Club, Washington, D.C. and Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association-East Coast.