About the Academy of Hawaiian Arts
The Academy of Hawaiian Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and performing arts school in Oakland, California. A hula halau (dance school) led by the vision of its Kumu Hula (teacher of hula), AHA offers hula classes for dancers of all ages. AHA also offers classes in Hawaiian music ('ukulele and singing) and workshops in Hawaiian crafts.
History of AHA
Since its inception in 2003, the Academy of Hawaiian Arts (AHA) has been carrying forward the vision of its founder, Kumu Hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu.
With the support of AHA's kumu hula, instructors and many volunteers, AHA is able to carry out its mission to cultivate and evolve the cultural arts of Hawai'i, including dance, music, composition and language.
Kulia i Ka Nu'u (Strive for the Highest)
Though the Academy of Hawaiian Arts is a young organization, it has roots going back to 1988, when Bea and Herb Hew Len turned over the directorship of their Oakland, California halau, Nā Mele Hula 'Ohana, to Hawaiian “transplant” to the San Francisco Bay Area, Kumu Hula (teacher of hula) Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu.
Driven by Ho'omalu's distinct style of Kupaianahula (firm style), Nā Mele Hula 'Ohana set high standards in hula competitions along the West Coast and in Hawai'i, as well as competing in the prestigious Merrie Monarch competition in Hilo from 1998-2000. Ho'omalu retired from Nā Mele Hula 'Ohana in early 2002.
Ke Kukui Nana i Luna (The Light Looked Up To)
In 2003, Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu founded the Academy of Hawaiian Arts, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Oakland, California. It was Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu's dream to create a new resource for time-honored and contemporary Hawaiian arts: a school for the arts of music, language, poetry, and dance, as well as also a venue for the enhancement of knowledge. The vision of the Academy is articulated in the opening words of our Mission Statement: We are stewards of Hawaiian heritage.
The Academy of Hawaiian Arts continues to grow and to forge new traditions of hula, chant and song. Since its inception, we have (1) established classes for children at levels from beginning to advanced; (2) created classes for adults in both performance and recreational hula at levels from beginning to advanced; as well as (3) started a music ensemble class where ‘ukulele and singing instruction combine with the study of contemporary and traditional Hawaiian songs.
Throughout this time, we have continued to maintain our goal of keeping the past alive while creating the present — the legacy of the future.
- Read more about AHA's achievements in 2004-2005 in AHA's e-Newsletter
- Read more about AHA's performances in 2006 in AHA's e-Newsletter