The origin story of Hula Melia is very much a personal story of awakening and transformation.
The plumeria flower, or ka pua melia, has and continues to serve as my primary source of inspiration — a symbol not only of beauty and devotion but also of resilience and new beginnings. There was a period in my life when everything was changing and I had to adapt to the change or be forced to settle for a life that I ultimately did not want. This rapidly occurring change forced me to shed parts of my life that I had outgrown, to be vulnerable and to accept help from the people who loved me the most and who only wanted to see me thrive. It quickly became clear that I needed to trust and have faith in myself, in my own strength and abilities; to value my natural gifts and talents. I had to nurture ka pua melia within me and allow it to come into full bloom.
From the moment I started looking inward in an effort to discover what truly made me happy, where I wanted my life to go and what I wanted it to look and feel like, my focus always came back to hula. For me, hula is, of course, fun and educational but it is also an escape from the daily demands of life — an escape to a place of tranquility and peace. For many others like me, hula is a very sacred and spiritually uplifting practice. As said by Aunty Mae Ulalia Loebenstein, “When you dance there are two of you, your spiritual self and your physical self. The spirit has to dance.”
Hula is not just a means by which one can connect with themself on every level but hula is also an invitation for one to connect with a larger hula community and learn about it’s beautiful and poetic history and culture — an art form that continues to grow and evolve for all to enjoy.
My intention is to create a space where you can let go, have fun and release personal stress or worries, even if it is only for an hour of your day. May your hula journey remind you of your own beauty and resilience. It is with sincere gratitude that I welcome you to Hula Melia.