Hālau Kawaihoa

Nena Kawailani malama i na pua 'o kahikookalani 'o naniali'iokapuaohaiali'i 'o moanike'alaokalaua'e Lontayao

Nena has been involved in Hawaiian and Polynesian dance since she was 5 years old, while growing up in San Francisco, California, with the Nelani Rogers Polynesian Dance Troupe, under Hula Teacher Nelani Rogers, then with Tiare Otea of San Francisco under the late Kumu Hula Tiare Clifford and later with Kumu Hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu. After moving to Kane'ohe, Hawai'i, she continued dancing with the late Kumu Hula Leilani Sharpe Mendez's Hauoli Hula Hālau.. After her passing, she continued with Iwalani's School of Dance under Kumu Hula Iwalani Tseu; Tahitian Kumu Teitu Kame'enui; then with Keolalaulani Hālau 'Olapa O Laka under Kumu Hula Aloha Dalire.  Nena is the Alaka'i for Hālau Kawaihoa and currently assists in instructing the Kaikamāhine and Wāhine classes.

Nena and her husband, Greg have been married since 1979 and have three children and two grandchildren.  They have lived in Kane'ohe, Hawai'i since 1983.

History:
1963 - Hula Teacher Nelani Rogers
1975 - Tiare Otea of San Francisco, Kumu Hula Tiare Clifford
1983 - Kumu Hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu
1987 - Kalena's Polynesian Ohana, Isitolo and Iwalani Oloa, Teitu Kame'enui
1987 - Hauoli Hula Hālau, Kumu Hula Leilani Sharpe Mendez
1991 - Iwalani's School of Dance, Kumu Hula Iwalani Tseu
1995 - Keolalaulani Hālau 'Olapa O Laka, Kumu Hula Aloha Dalire

Achievements:
1996 - Participant at Annual Merrie Monarch Festival with Keolalaulani Hālau ʻOlapa O Laka
1997 - Participant at Annual Merrie Monarch Festival with Keolalaulani Hālau ʻOlapa O Laka
2002 - 2nd Place - Gracious Ladies Soloist - Na Hula No Na Kupuna Hula Festival, Honolulu,
           Hawai'i
2002 - Soloist - Ia 'Oe E Ka La Hula Festival, Pleasanton, California
2004 - 3rd Place - Gracious Ladies Soloist - Ia 'Oe E Ka La Hula Festival, Pleasanton, California
2008 - Participant at the 45th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival

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