AHA Instructors (Kako'o)
Kainani Hartnett
Keiki Hula & Music Ensemble Instructor
Kainani was born and raised in Hilo, later moving to Honolulu, Hawai'i. After college on
the mainland she settled in Boulder, Colorado where she danced with a local hālau and was
their primary musician. She also taught keiki hula, preschool, music for elementary school ages,
gave ukulele and guitar lessons, and performed with a trio.
In August 2003 Kainani relocated to the Bay Area with her family and immediately joined AHA. She started teaching the AHA music ensemble in April 2004 and had the opportunity to dance at the Aloha Festival, May Day Festival, Ke Ao Hou, and Ho'okahi.
"I've gained a much deeper understanding of hula from Kumu Mark and Auntie Renee since joining
AHA. I'm honored to give back to our keiki....they are our dancers of the future!"
Sundee Amantiad
Keiki Hula Instructor
Dancing since the age of three, Sundee has always known that hula is what she loves to do.
Coming from a musical family, entertaining was her past time. Her first hula teacher, Helen
Yamamoto, introduced hula to her at a young age and her first years of entertaining were a family
experience.
It wasn’t until she joined N? Mele Hula Ohana in 1992 under the direction of Kumu Hula Mark Ho’omalu, that she was introduced to a different world of hula. Since then, hula has become more than just a past time, it has become breath and life. “Hula is a way of thinking and living.”
Through Kumu Mark, it was not only the performance of hula but also the halau experience that matured her in every aspect of life. Sundee’s goal is to share her experiences with the keiki of the Academy and to grow them each into dancers that will represent the Academy in the best way possible. She will focus on teaching them hula etiquette and to always strive for the highest.
Sundee believes it is time to give back to her Kumu by passing down to our keiki what she has
learned. “There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a keiki learn hula and grow
into a beautiful dancer. There is nothing that I can do to ever repay what I’ve learned from
my Kumu, forever will I be grateful.” She adds: “Never just be satisfied, always want
more.” Her promise is to do her best in passing down the mana’o she has received.
Karen Bringas
Kāko'o
Karen is originally from Mililani, Hawai'i and moved to San Francisco in 1993. She began
dancing hula at the age of nine. In 1997, she joined N? Mele Hula 'Ohana under the direction
of Kumu Hula Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu. Before the closing of the h?lau in February of 2002,
she was asked by Kumu Mark to help assist him with the opening of the Academy of Hawaiian Arts.
Says Karen, "I will forever be thankful to Kumu Mark for teaching me much more than I've asked for. He has given me a greater respect, understanding and appreciation for hula and Hawaiiana."
Anthony Barcinas
Kāko'o
Anthony was born and raised in Monterey, CA. He began dancing in 1996 at the age of thirteen.
He joined AHA in April of 2002 when AHA first opened in Monterey. Since then he has been
fortunate enough to dance and participate in professional performances, workshops, competitions,
video shoots and commercials in Washington, Montana, Hawai'i, California and even as far as Mexico.
"I'm grateful for the whole experience, there's nothing I would change. It's been a great honor to be able to become as close to hula as I've ever been. In these past few years through Kumu Mark, I've learned more than I could have ever thought possible.
"Mahalo a nui loa e Kumu Mark mai lalo o ko'u pu'uwai, no ka palena'ole i ka 'ike a me ka ho'oma'a ao i a'o mai ia'u!"