Pasifika Series 2025: Hula, with Kumu ʻAuliʻi Aweau-Teves

The Fall season continues with hula! in·corpus is excited to welcome Kumu Hula ʻAuliʻi Aweau-Teves to Pasifika Series, and to include Hawaiian dance for the first time since Jan 2024.

• Open level, ages 7+
• FREE, registration required

ABOUT

An authentic hula workshop offers a meaningful and healing journey into Hawaiian culture, blending physical movement with deep historical understanding.

The workshop will begin with introductions and intention-setting, creating a respectful and open space for thoughtful sharing and connectivity. The group will dive into the history and meaning of the mele (song/s), which are central to hula as a form of traditional storytelling that allows for a spiritual connection to ancestors and the land.

Following a warm-up of foundational hula steps that engage the body and promote grounding, participants will learn choreography, translating the mele’s story into traditional hula motions and movements. Finally, the workshop will conclude with a period for manaʻo, or the sharing of thoughts and insights, allowing for collective reflection and deepening the holistic healing experience for mind, body, and spirit.

Dress for movement, pāʻū (hula skirt) welcome.

ARTIST

KUMU ʻAULIʻI AWEAU-TEVES is of Native Hawaiian ancestry, born and raised in the ahupuaʻa of Kailua on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. As a young child, she danced for Kumu Hula Myrtle Beamer for 5 years, and then returned to hula in her mid 20’s as a means of personal healing and transformation for her and her four children. She has deep gratitude for the 10 years she spent training with Kumu Hula Noelani Tachera and the many years they spent participating in the Molokaʻi Ka Hula Piko ceremonies.

ʻAuliʻi entered the addiction field as a counselor in the late 90’s and was given the blessing to start teaching hula as a therapeutic activity in 2002 while working at the Ke Alaula program located in the Womenʻs Community Correctional Center. It was there that her passion grew to help others heal through hula. That same year, ʻAuli’i began her formal training in the indigenous healing arts with her Spiritual Advisor, Ceighbree Watson. During this time, ʻAuliʻi became a 3rd Degree Reiki Master, 4th Degree Dar’Shem Master, Ordained Minister, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, and obtained her psychology degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu.

In 2007, ʻAuliʻi took a leap of faith and opened her private practice: Laʻakea Healing LLC. Laʻakea Healing is a grassroots organization that educates and heals individuals, families, and communities via cultural traditions and therapeutic practices. In 2013, as an offshoot of Laʻakea Healing, ʻAuliʻi established Nā Wahine O Laʻakea, a culturally-based women and children’s support group that promotes social justice issues while healing through hula.

In 2013, ʻAuliʻi continued her hula training with Kumu Hula Kahikina de Silva and began her formal ʻūniki training with Kumu Hula Māpuana de Silva of Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima. In 2018, with Kumu Māpuanaʻs encouragement and support, ʻAuliʻi was granted permission by Kumu Hula Kalani Akana of Ka Pā Hula O Kāheakūlani to enter his ʻūniki program. With his blessing, ʻAuliʻi had the privilege to join Hālau Ōhiʻa, under the direction of Kekuhi Kealiʻikanakaʻole, for a few years to study land stewardship and Hawaiʻi lifeways. It was with Kumu Kalani that ʻAuliʻi completed her rites of passage and formally graduated as an ʻŌlapa (dancer), Hoʻopaʻa (chanter), and finally Kumu Hula (hula teacher) ʻŪniki ʻAilolo in 2023.

ʻAuliʻi is passionate about the healing process and lifelong learning. She continues to weave cultural traditions of the past, in the present, to strengthen future generations. She has expanded her healing practice globally and continues to preserve and perpetuate the traditions of her teachers as the Kumu Hula of Ka Pā Hula O Laʻakea. She is excited to share her love of hope, healing and hula with the world!

@aulii_aweau_teves
@kapahulaolaakea_

Supported by LMCC Creative Engagement and CitizensNYC.