Hui Hula 'O Punahele

Join us for one of our upcoming workshops!

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Hui Hula 'O Punahele is sponsoring several upcoming workshops. We would love for you to join us!

Basic Hula Workshop
Saturday, January 16
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
1 Day Ages 13+
Maryland Heights Centre
Dori Neumeier has been teaching Polynesian dance (dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa & New Zealand) for the last 19 years. In this workshop, Dori will share with us an overview of the history of the hula. A complete hula will be taught. Everyone can learn to hula, you will work at your own level. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle to class. If you have a pa’u skirt please bring it with you.
$55/resident $60/non-resident

Tahitian Workshop
Saturday, March 27
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
1 Day Ages 13+
Maryland Heights Centre
In this intense workshop, Dori will share with us an overview of the history of Tahitian dance. A Tahitian routine will be taught. Tahitian is a fast pace dance, but everyone can work at their own pace. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle to class. If you have a pareo (also known as a sarong) please bring it with you.
$55/resident $60/non-resident

Hula and Tahitian Combo Workshop
Saturday, May 22
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
1 Day Ages 13+
Maryland Height Centre
In this amazing workshop you will learn two dances. One Hawaiian hula and one Tahitian dance. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle to class. If you have a pa’u skirt and/or pareo please bring them with you.
$80/resident $85/non-resident

2010 St.Louis Hula & Tahitian Dance and Drumming Workshop
February 20 & 21, 2010
Sponsored by Hui Hula 'O Punahele and St. Charles Community College
Featuring Nonosina Polynesia, Inc., Kumu Hula Keali'i Ceballos of Hula Halau Keali'i 'O Nalani and Lead Tahitian Drummer, Derek Keil of Teriki's Polynesia. This workshop is for those experienced Polynesian dancers with knowledge of terms and technique. This intensive workshop is the only one of its kind in the United States. This is Nonosina Polynesia's only workshop currently in the US. These sought-after dance masters are coveted throughout the world.
If you are up for the challenge of a two day in depth study with the world's finest masters, join us on February 20 & 21, 2010, for the experience of a lifetime. For more infomation regarding this workshop contact Dori at ttimandori@sbcglobal.net. You may register through St. Charles Community College at (636) 922-8233. Register after December 1, 2009.

August 22 is our annual ho'ike!

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Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on Saturday, August 22, 2009 for our annual ho'ike (recital). Our presentation is called Ke Alaula: A Polynesian Experience. The show begins at 7:00 p.m. in the theater of the Shook Fine Arts Building at Saint Charles Community College. Click here for a map. We look forward to sharing this special evening with you!

New Classes Forming Now!

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Dori will be teaching hula and Tahitian dancing at a new location starting Tuesday, August 4. Class is from 6:00 - 7:00 or 7:00 - 8:00 at Studio Rue in Webster Groves. To register or for more information, call Dori at 636-244-1352.

Studio Rue is located at 7905 Big Bend Boulevard, Suite 101, Webster Groves, MO, 63119. Google map

Join us once again for...

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2nd Annual Trail to Polynesia

When: Friday night, May 1, 5:30-10:00 p.m.

Where: Katy Bike Rental, Defiance, Missouri (click here for map)

Why: To support Hui Hula 'O Punahele on their quest to study with Nonosina Polynesia, Inc.

Cost: $15.00 per person ($5.00 for 5 and younger)

Experience a luau-style evening with family fun, music, dance and onolicious Polynesian-style food. Bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets and sit under the stars during our live Polynesian dance show. Your evening includes:

- Hawaiian Plate Dinner served from 5:30-7:45 p.m.
- Polynesian Floor Show featuring Hui Hula 'O Punahele Hula Halau 8:00 p.m.

- Silent Auction

- Free bike rental (based on availability)

- Free beginner hula lesson

- Activity area for kids

- Fresh Hawaiian orchid leis (pre-orders only, $15 each)

Advanced reservations are required! To order tickets, call 314-223-3423.

For further information call Dori at 636-244-1352.

In the news...

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Column by Susan Weich from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/30/2009

Link

Additional online content, including a video filmed in class on 1/31/2009

Link

4th Annual Workshop coming up on February 21 and 22

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Coming in February 2009...

St. Louis Hula & Tahitian

Dance & Drumming Workshop

Saturday, February 21

Sunday, February 22

at St. Charles Community College

Featuring...

Riki & Tiana Liufau of Nonosina Polynesia, Inc.

and

Kumu Hula Keali'i Ceballos of Hula Halau Keali'i O Nalani

For additional information contact Dori Neumeier at ttimandori(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Registration is now open through the St. Charles Community College Continuing Education Department at 636-922-8233. The workshop is open to all skill levels but a solid knowledge of hula steps and terminology is necessary.

HHOP at the Loop In Motion

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Hui Hula 'O Punahele is pleased to be performing at the 2008 Loop In Motion Festival, a wonderful visual and performing arts festival in the U. City Loop. We hope you will join us on October 4, 2008 (time to be announced). Click the link for a full schedule and information about the Festival.

New Pictures

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Mahalo to everyone that contributed to making the 2008 ho'ike another terrific success! Please visit our two new Flickr photo galleries to view images from some of our recent events.

Ho'ike - Mai Hopohopo E Hau'oli
August 23, 2008

Festival of the Nations
August 24, 2008

Annual Recital is set for August 23, 2008

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Our annual recital is coming soon and we'll be posting more information as it is available. Mark your calendars now for August 23, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. The recital is held each year in the Shook Fine Arts Building Theater at St. Charles Community College in Cottleville, MO.

Also, we now have a Facebook page. If you are a Facebook member, become a fan of Hui Hula 'O Punahele today!

Mother's Day Leis

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Celebrate Mother’s Day Hawaiian-Style
With a
Fresh Hawaiian Lei

Double Carnation Lei $25
Your choice of white, pink, or red

Single Orchid Lei $30
Your choice of purple or white

Combination Carnation/Orchid $25
Single white carnation with purple orchid

Single Carnation Lei $18
Green calyx is not removed from carnation

All leis are hand strung by members of Hui Hula ‘O Punahele and each lei comes with a card explaining the meaning of a lei with a beautiful bow.

Hui Hula ‘O Punahele members string each lei with their aloha and pass it on to you. Give the gift of aloha to your mother this year with a fresh Hawaiian lei.

All proceeds go to furthering the education of our halau members. Fundraising provides our halau the opportunity to travel to California and Hawaii for educational programs to further our knowledge of Polynesian cultures. The funds raised also bring world class master teachers to St. Peters to teach our students right here in the Midwest.

With your support, our halau will be able to pass on the art and history of Polynesian dance and cultures to the next generation.

Don’t delay - place your order today!
Last day to order is May 3rd, 2008.

Call 636-244-1352 or 636-387-2030

Join us on the Trail to Polynesia!

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Take the Family on the Trail to Polynesia!

When: Friday night, May 2, 5:00-9:00 p.m.

Where: Katy Bike Rental, Defiance, Missouri (click here for map)

Why: To support Hui Hula 'O Punahele on their quest to study with Nonosina Polynesia, Inc.

Cost: $10.00 per person ($5.00 for 5 and younger)

Experience a luau-style evening with family fun, music, dance and onolicious Polynesian-style food. Bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets and sit under the stars during our live Polynesian dance show. Your evening includes:

- Free Bike rental from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
- Hawaiian Plate Dinner served from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
- Polynesian Floor Show featuring Hui Hula 'O Punahele Hula Halau 8:00 p.m.

- Silent Auction

Advanced reservations are required!

For tickets and reservations call 314-223-3423. For further information call Dori at 636-244-1352. We accept cash,Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

2008 Workshop Was Great Success

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Mahalo to all those that made our 2008 annual workshop a success. We hope you found it to be valuable and rewarding.

A special mahalo to Kumu Hula Keali'i Ceballos of Hula Halau Keali'i O Nalani for sharing his hula aloha, my hanai ohana, Riki & Tiana Liufau and Ms. Estella "Grams" Reid of Nonosina Polynesia, for continuing to believe in my vision and returning to Missouri year after year and Derek Keil of Teriki's Polynesia, giving up endless hours sharing his passion of Tahitian drumming.

You all added something to our workshop, making our weekend the most successful ever! We will see you in 2009!
*************************************************************************************************
Come join us at these upcoming public performances:

March 15th 1:00 PM Fabulous Baby & Kid Expo at the St. Charles Convention Center

March 30th 2-4 pm E Pili Mai...Coming Together As One at the St. Peters Community & Arts Center

Mahalo,

Dori

E komo mai!

2007-11-28T02:15:00.000-06:00

Mark your calendars!!!

Hui Hula 'O Punahele is hosting their annual workshop February 23 & 24, 2008, in St. Peters, Missouri.This year's workshop will feature Kumu Hula Keali'i Ceballos of Hula Halau O Keali'i O Nalani, Riki Liufau of Nonosina Polynesia, Inc. & Derek Keil of Teriki's Polynesia.

1/15/08 Update - Award winning choreographer TIANA LIUFAU has just been added to the list of instructors teaching this year's workshop!!!

For more information or to be placed on our mailing list, contact Dori Neumeier at (636) 244-1352 or e-mail her at ttimandori (at) sbcglobal (dot) net.

Watch for more information on this website as it becomes available.

Contact

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Instructor

Dori Neumeier
636-244-1352
ttimandori(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Classes

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*Renaud Spirit Center, O'Fallon, MO (636)474-2732

Ohana Hula Classes - Mommy & Me, ages 3 and up
Beginning 10:00 am, Monday, January 7, 2008
Hula Mama Classes - ages 18 and older
Beginning 1:00 pm, Wednesday, January 9, 2008

*St. Peters Community & Arts Center (636) 397-6903

Kapuna Hula Classes - designed for senior adults
Wednesdays at 10:00 am, new sessions begin each month
Ohana Hula Classes - Mommy & Me, ages 3 and up
Mondays at 4:30 pm, new sessions begin each month

*St. Louis Community College-Meramac Campus, Kirkwood, MO (636) 984-7500

Hula & Tahitian Dance Classes - ages 12 and up
Beginning 6:30 pm, Tuesday, April 15, 2008

*St. Charles Community College (636) 922-8233

Hula for Children - ages 5 and up
Beginning 7:00 pm Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Hula for Children - ages 5 and up
Beginning 10:05 am Saturday, March 29, 2008
Hula For Your Health
Beginning 9:00 am Saturday, March 29, 2008
Hula For Your Health
Beginning 8:10 pm Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Ohana Hula Classes - Mommy & Me, ages 3 and up
Beginning Friday, 10:45 am March 28, 2008

* To register for any of these classes contact the venue directly.

Performances & Events

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Friday, May 1, 2009
The Trail To Polynesia
Click here for more details

2008 Workshop

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Join us for.....

A Weekend of Tahitian Dance and Hula Kahiko
featuring
Riki Liufau of Nonasina Polynesia, Inc.
and
Kumu Hula Keali'i Ceballos of Hula Halau O Keali'i O Nalani
and
Derek Keil of Teriki's Polynesia

February 23 & 24, 2008

St. Charles Community College Fine Arts Building
Cottleville, MO (near St. Louis)

pre-paid registration is required

For more information, please call Dori Neumeier at 636-244-1352 or e-mail her at ttimandori (at) sbcglobal.net. You can also call the Continuing Education department at the College directly at 636-922-8310.

Hula For Praise

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Dori gladly added the Hula For Praise class after hearing interest from several of her students. Class begins and ends with prayer and students are encouraged to share prayer requests, Scripture, and insights from the songs they are dancing. Many of the praise hulas are choreographed as a collaborative effort between instructor and students. The dancers represent many different area churches and come from diverse denominational backgrounds, including Southern Baptist, United Methodist, and Roman Catholic.

For those interested in joining Hula For Praise: The Hula For Praise class session if offered Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. at the instructor's home and is free of charge to anyone interested in worshiping God and ministering to others through hula. The only requirements are an open and willing heart and successful completion of the basic hula class at St. Charles Community College. (The instructor can help the student determine if they are ready to join Hula For Praise.)

For those interested in having us minister at your event or service: We are available for Sunday morning services, women's ministry events, parachurch organization meetings, etc. Our costumes and movements are completely appropriate for all audiences and all church situations, including worship services.

Current Praise Hulas:
I Can Only Imagine (MercyMe)
I Simply Live For You (Hillsong Australia)
Before the Throne of God Above (Selah)
In 'Dis Life
Kanaka Waiwai
Amazing Grace
All The World
Fall Down

About Dori and the Halau

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About Dori...

Dori Neumeier started dancing hula at age 5 in Orange County, California. In 1974, Dori began hula classes with her childhood friend, Kym Yonemura, after her mother was approached in a local supermarket about hula lessons for her daughter. Two weeks later, Kym & Dori were na haumana (students) of Nonosina Polynesian Dance Studio in Buena Park, California. Polynesian dance soon became a family affair. Dori's mother, brother, and sister also became na haumana of Nonosina. In the mid-1980s, Dori and her family were introduced to Auntie Jackie Ka'anoi, who was then responsible for the Na Kamali'i Hula Halau. Dori danced with Auntie Jackie until moving to St. Louis in 1989. Dori's desire is to spread the Hawaiian spirit with anyone interested in learning about the Hawaiian culture. She is married to Tim and they have a daughter named Olivia.

About Hui Hula 'O Punahele...

Hui Hula 'O Punahele is first and foremost a school whose purpose is to perpetuate an authentic understanding of Polynesian culture and arts. There are Polynesians and non-Polynesians alike in the group and all members of the halau consider themselves Polynesian-at-heart, making it a goal to conduct themselves with respect for each other and Polynesian culture. The hula halau (hula school) is based in St. Peters, MO, but students travel from all over the St. Louis Metro area to dance and learn. Students have the opportunity to learn about many of the Polynesian cultures, including the dances of the Hawaiian, Tahitian, Maori, and Samoan people. Our dancers and Tahitian drummers have the opportunity to do intensive training throughout the year with our core trainers.

Hui Hula 'O Punahele is also ohana, or family. Many students consider some of their closest friends to be other dancers in the halau, and students and their families are always willing to help each other in any way they can. Hula is a multigenerational family activity for many of those involved in the halau including several mother/daugher pairs, a grandmother and her granddaughter, and even a married couple and their two teenage daughters. Even the family members that do not dance get involved in making costumes, setting up performance venues, and promoting the halau and Polynesian culture in the community.

Lastly, Hui Hula 'O Punahele is a performance group. The students enjoy any opportunity to share their love of all things Polynesian with the public. The halau has been honored to perform at several local concerts by prominent Hawaiian musicians, such as Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Willie K., Cyril Pahinui, and Patrick Landeza. Hui Hula 'O Punahele has also been featured on the local television show Show Me St. Louis on KSDK Newschannel 5, and has performed in the community at nursing homes, churches, schools, fundraising events, the Olde Tyme Picnic (St. Peters, MO), the Festival of the Little Hills (St. Charles, MO), and the Music by the Lake concert series (Lake St. Louis, MO).

Links

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Island-Themed Blogs

Hapa Hale
Focuses on Hawaiian design and designers, but also provides great information on cultural events and activities.

Black Pearl Designs
The blog from the people at Black Pearl Designs provides insight into their design process and features information on upcoming Polynesian events. Includes all things Polynesian, but especially Tahitian.

idancehula.com
A great resource for hula events both in the islands and on the mainland.

Hula Implements & Supplies

Na Kani O Hula - Hula Supplies & Hawaiian Crafts
New site with good prices and kits to make your own implements.

The Gourd Connection (pictured)
Our preferred ipu provider. Good prices, especially on imperfects.

Aloha Hula Supply
Reliable vendor for implements and Tahitian costumes.

Hula Supply Center
This is the place to order your Maori supplies.

Da Bag Lady
quilted hula bags

Aloha Apparel & Gifts

Black Pearl Designs
Beautiful Tahitian and Hawaiian gifts and apparel. Also, excellent Tahitian costumes and hula implements.

Sig Zane
Beautiful, but pricey, alohawear.

Fabric

Fabric Mart (pictured)

Fare Tahiti Fabrics

Hula Retreats, Conferences, Workshops, & Associations

The Hula Association of the Midwest

E Pili Kakou I Ho'okahi Lahui, Sacramento, CA

Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Halauaola, World Conference on Hula, Maui

Hula Competitions

The Merrie Monarch Festival, Hilo, HI

Praise Hula

Hula Praise - Saddleback Church, CA

Crafts & Graphics

Niele Hawaiian Girl Graphics
Hawaiian clip art

Evite.com
Planning a luau or other Hawaiian event? Create an online invitation here. Check out these designs: Hibiscus, Luau, Aloha, Tiki Bar, Beach Party, Tiki Pool, Tropical, Tiki, and Hula.

Photos

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View all of our photos via Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stlouishula/

Ho'ike 2007

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