Monday, January 29, 2007

Waikiki Community Center Hula: Nalani Keali

Place

Waikiki Community Center Auditorium, Enter Paokalani lot, it’s on your left hand side, past the front desk

Scheduled Time

9:00-10:30 a.m. Mondays for beginners

12:00-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays *new class for advanced students

Actual Start/End Time

9:12-10:28

Instructor

Nalani Keali (male)

Cost

Call 808-923-1802 to inquire about fees. Advanced class $7 members, $14 non-members. (8/20/07)


Beginner class: $3 members, $7 non-members

See attached membership form specifically provided for foreign visitors for ease of personal translation prior to registering

Membership fee: $30 for annual & $20 for 6 months membership

# of Students

72 +

Procedure

Sign in and pay woman at the front of the auditorium

Language Spoken

Pidgin English

Hawaiian language (alphabet and numbers) taught in chorus while doing basic steps to `ipu

Japanese words spoken 3x to clarify for Japanese students

(kagami=mirror image, shita=paddle down)

Student Attire

Most women wore hula skirts

Student Type

90% Asian visitors, 7% mainland visitors, 3% seemed local

Most students seemed to have had some prior knowledge of basic steps

1 male student, the rest female

Break Time

Twice: 9:30-9:42 after basic steps with `ipu and `ukulele

10:05-10:12 after learning 2 verses of song

Type of Hula

`Auana

Steps

Hela, `uwehe, lele `uwehe, `ami, ka`o, kalakaua, kawelu (Nalani refers to it as “singles”), kaholo ki`i

Fingers

N/A

Hands

Taught 1st then steps added

Facial Expression

Reminded students 3x to smile and demonstrated repeatedly

Error Correction

2x

Nalani demonstrated the proper posture and head direction for a horse motion he taught earlier in a fun and playful manner

Instruments Used to Lead Class

`ipu with chanting

`ukulele and singing

Pace

Went over 2 verses of the song

Recommended for

Intermediate students who have some knowledge of hula, particularly of basic steps.

Materials Offered

Copy of song words in Hawaiian with English translation @ 10 cents per copy

Interesting Side Notes

Hela step was done at a 45 degree angle

The song taught included the kaholo and kalakaua step and some fancy footwork i.e. “cheating”, which is characteristic of more advanced classes. Paddling hand motions were also a little challenging for the total beginner.

Nalani’s chanting and singing voice is rich and resonant. He also smiles and jokes periodically, making the students laugh

Date Observed

1/29/07

1 comment:

aloha said...

Nalani Keali has a wonderful voice. I liked the way he taught the class. I noticed that he started teaching the verses in this order: 4, 3, 2, 1. Very informative instructor with a very well liked personality. The class was particularly large in size. Nalani joked around frequently.