After decades of dance, hula troupers converge

With “Ko ka ‘I‘ini,” which translates into “Desires Fulfilled,” Blaine Kamalani Kia celebrates the culmination of 30 years of teaching hula here in Honolulu, on the mainland and around the world.

“I’m content with everything that I have in my life,” said Kia, kumu hula of Halau Ka Waikahe Lani Malie and Halau Kahulaliwai. “All the desires have been fulfilled, and I need to celebrate them because the haumana (students) are part of that fulfillment. This is it, the affirmation of everything we’ve done.”

Four hundred dancers representing 14 halau (hula schools) from five different countries will come together for the first time for the celebration performance marking this milestone, Saturday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Featured guests include singers Jerry Santos, Teresa Bright and kumu hula Keala Ching.

Kia celebrates three kumu hula who have been his major influences: the late Darrell Lupenui, the late John Kaimikaua and master kumu hula Kawaikapuokalani Hewett. The show will feature kahiko (traditional) and auana (contemporary) numbers and unique choreography reflecting the styles of all three kumu, he said, “in dedication of what these men gave me that I have been able to pass on.”

The kumu hula honors and acknowledges those who will be carrying the torch going forward, as well, including a handful of students who have graduated to kumu hula and who will continue teaching at Kia’s halau on Oahu and Kauai, in Northern California and Montana, and in Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Tahiti.

Kia, 53, started teaching hula in October 1987, shortly after the death of his first kumu, Lupenui, who brought him to compete at the Merrie Monarch Festival as part of the top-placing men of Waimapuna. Lupenui’s innovative and powerful choreography, he said, “made me fall in love with hula like never before.”

In his early adulthood, Kia, born and raised in Honolulu, was an actor, entertainer, singer and musician, while teaching hula part time, with appearances in “Behold Hawaii” and “Aloha Summer.”

After marrying his wife, Kaleonani, in 1997, his life took on a new purpose, and that’s when the halau began to grow, along with his roles as a cultural consultant, which led to the founding of Kia Enterprises as well as the Lauakea Foundation, a nonprofit that brings hula practitioners together for annual retreats.

He served as a cultural consultant for the first four seasons of the revamped “Hawaii Five-0,”and most recently conducted the blessing for the filming of the next “Jurassic Park” sequel last month on Oahu. In addition, he’s the father of three — daughters Lei‘opualani and Mahiehielehua, and son Kikaukahananui — who all dance hula. The Kias will perform as a family during the celebration.

Having spent the past decade traveling nonstop, Kia said he is looking forward to staying home a little more and focusing on his first passion: music.

“I’ve come to the point there are no regrets in my path,” he said. “When I look back at all the ups and downs … all those things that come with teaching hula, even with the struggles, there are no regrets because each and every lesson along the way, if not for those moments, I probably would not be who I am today.”