Whitney Piilani Baldwin Schneider-Furuya wasn’t planning on writing a book, but when her grandmother Mapuana Schneider asked her to help, she obliged.
Her grandmother was inspired to paint a series of 100 watercolors while watching Halau I Ka Wekiu perform at the 49th annual Merrie Monarch Festival last April. The halau was named the festival’s overall winner.
A sampling of those watercolors is the pivotal force behind the 63-page book, which celebrates hula through descriptive phrases, quotations and illustrations.
BUY THE BOOK
» "Hula Is Healing" ($19.95) is sold at Native Books/Na Mea Hawai’i, Ward Warehouse, and Princess Kaiulani Fashions, 1222 Kaumualii St. The book will be available at Halau i ka Wekiu’s annual hula concert "Live, Laugh, Love" at 5 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Hawaii Theatre, 1130 Bethel St. Visit www.hawaiitheatre.com.
» Mapuana Schneider’s paintings are available at Cedar Street Galleries, 817 Cedar St.
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The elder Schneider came up with the title, "Hula Is Healing."
"From her title, I basically decided to make the subject of the book on the importance of hula and how it affects different people," said Schneider-Furuya.
With the help of Halau i ka Wekiu kumu hula Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, she added verses from the mele they performed as well as quotations from respected hula experts, including Mary Kawena Pukui.
"A lot of people who dance hula and who read it are very touched by it because they too come from a similar place," she said. "The quotes in here are important to them, as well, and they too are inspired by the same things. But even for people who don’t know much about hula, what I hope they grasp from this is the simple essence that hula is a reflection of Hawaiian culture, that it’s not just a form of dance, but that every song or chant is part of history for us."
Though she grew up surrounded by hula, Schneider-Furuya, 25, did not start formal training until she was in seventh grade at Mid-Pacific Institute, where she met Casupang, an instructor in the school’s arts department.
This year she has the additional honor of representing his halau as its Miss Aloha Hula candidate at Merrie Monarch.
Her grandmother Mapuana Schneider a member of the Hawai‘i Watercolor Society, performed hula in Waikiki alongside the Kahauanu Lake Trio, Alfred Apaka and other musicians.
Her paintings offer vivid, fluid and colorful images of dancers that come to life on the page.
Schneider-Furuya said she has always been close to her grandmother, who first taught her to dance hula.
The title of the book, "Hula Is Healing," speaks to Schneider-Furuya personally. She said hula helps transport her to another place after a hectic day.
"When I dance I’m telling a story, so I put myself into that story and it becomes that moment for me," she said. "That’s my moment, and I don’t think about everything else going on in my life."
When not dancing, Schneider-Furuya helps out at the family business, Buzz’s Original Steakhouse in Kailua.
Proceeds from the book, a limited edition of 1,500 copies, will help fund the halau’s trip to Hilo for the festival this year.
