Kumu Māpuana has pledged to learn and understand all that comes her way of Hawaii and other Pacific Island cultures, and to apply the values and traditions of the old ways to perpetuate the customs and bring the integrity of these cultures into the future. She is a formal Hawaiian dance instructor with hula lineage dating back to the 1800s and the Royal Hawaiian monarchy.  Kumu Mapuana studied with hula masters while living in Hawaiʻi and teaching traditional hula beginning in 1975, to the present time.  She brings a wealth of cultural guidance and dance knowledge to classes in Homosassa, Inverness and Lecanto Florida, and online classes for students in the Carolinas, New England, and Hawaiʻi.

Open to beginners and those with a little hula (traditional Hawaiian dance) experience.  Focus on improving technique, further understanding hand movements & language relating to the beauty of hula. Students learn how hula garments, adornments, and implements are made, while gaining precious life skills. This class is nicely physically challenging with focus on proper dance technique and understanding of protocol while also integrating Hawaiian values into the learning process. This class strengthens their bonds as hula sisters and brothers as well as developing them into leaders and role models in the hālau (hula school) and in their communities.

Hula offers more than technique; it is a holistic art form that connects people to history, language, music, nature, and one another. For dance schools seeking to broaden their horizons, foster inclusivity, and prepare students for a globalized world, Hawaiian dance is a vibrant, accessible, and deeply rewarding addition. Through the gentle swaying of hips and the hand motions telling of ancient tales, students gain not only new skills but also a profound respect for the rich tapestry of human expression.