About the Author

Most recently performing in July 2015 at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic, MAHEALANI UCHIYAMA is an award-winning dancer, musician, composer, choreographer, recording artist, and teacher. An advocate for cross-cultural understanding, she is the founder and artistic director of the Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance in Berkeley, California and is Kumu Hula (master teacher) of Halau Ka Ua Tuahine. She has led numerous performance tours to Tahiti, New Zealand, and the islands of Hawai'i, and taught workshops internationally. She has been an instructor of Hawaiian language at Stanford University and also serves on the board of directors of World Arts West, the producers of the annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.

Reviews

“I have always respected Mahealani Uchiyama’s tenacity, dedication, devotion, and talent for encompassing other cultures and dances. In my opinion, she has always been diligent in her research of all cultural dance/art/costuming, which require cultural authenticity and originality. I am proud to call such an outstanding and upstanding individual my associate and friend.”
—from the foreword by Naomi Leinaʻala Kalama, Loʻea Hula

"Here is a book that gives a bit of insight on all aspects of hula. The Haumāna Handbook For The Student Of Hawaiian Dance is a perfect place to start."
—Kawika Alfiche, Kumu Hula, Hālau ʻO Keikialiʻi

"This tightly written handbook captures the universe of the hula, and is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why the hula is 'the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people.'"
—Betty Ann Bruno, director, Hula Mai

"An absolute must-have for anyone studying the dance, cultural arts or history of Hawai’i."
—Lani Cid-Iulio, Kumu Hula, Hālau Makana

"A wealth of knowledge graciously shared to perpetuate traditions, ceremony and the ongoing life of hula—a must for all serious students learning under the guidance of a kumu hula."
—Rick Noʻeau Smith, Kumu Hula, Nā Mamo Noʻeau