LOEA HULA | HAKU MELE | HO’OPA

Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, affectionately known as Lehua, has over 50 years of dancing and teaching hula. With a lifetime of teaching Hawaiian culture, Lehua travels world-wide for his hula instruction, haku mele (song writing), and as a sought-after judge for hula competitions, including but certainly not limited to, the Merrie Monarch Festival.  

Lehua’s lineage is rich with knowledge gained from various sources in hula: ho'ola (Hawaiian traditional healing): lā‘au lapa‘au (medicinal plant treatment): and haku mele (poetry). He was honored with specialized training from his grandmother, Eva Kana’e, who instilled the love and kuleana to pass along the traditions. While at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, he studied under Edith Kanaka’ole learning ‘olelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian language), culture and poetry. Aunty ʻIolani Luahine, famous for her gracefulness and innate abilities, shared her love of kahiko (ancient hula). Under Aunty Emma DeFries, Lehua learned the arts of hula, composition and healing.  Ultimately, Lehua was named as her protégé, gifted the name Kawaikapuokalani, and graduated through the ‘uniki ceremony.  

Lehua is a prolific Haku Mele (song writer) having composed well over 100 mele (songs).  He has been recognized with multiple awards on several occasions by Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaiian Grammy) for his mele (music compositions and music); and in 2019, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2022, Lehua was additionally inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.