Luana Nāpuaokamokihanaoha Rivera Palacio became a kumu hula, or hula teacher, through her kumu hula, Sylvia Puananihaʻaheo Edgar, of Hula Hālau O Puananihaʻaheo in Ventura, CA. Kumu Sylvia carries the hula legacies of Tutu Haina Kalehualahaʻole Blaisdell and Loea Kawaikapuokalani Hewett; first becoming a kumu hula under Tutu Haina in 1976 and then again in 2008 through the traditional graduation process known as ʻūniki by Loea Kawaikapuokalani. On December 11, 2004, Luana and her hula sisters Rona Koe, Queena Coursen, and Nani Edgar completed their  own ʻūniki with Kumu Sylvia.

Kumu Rona and Kumu Nani join Kumu Luana in perpetuating their shared hula lineage through their respective hālau – Hālau Hula O Pualaninaʻaualiʻioha in Camarillo, CA and Hula Hālau O Puananihaʻaheo in Ventura, CA. Kumu Sylvia is currently the President of the Southern California Kumu Hula Association, Kūlia i ka Pūnawai.

 

Homepage Photo Credit: GJ Spiller Photography
Current Page Artwork: “Legacy” by Lianne Frame