The Academy's Keiki Hula classes are not classes to teach modified hula for kids, instead they are a medium to share and pass down hula and Hawaiiana to the next generation. It is a medium richly filled with chant and dance illustrating the history, nature, and people of Hawai’i; it is a medium that transcends the limitation of spoken words.

In efforts to perpetuate these teachings, AHA extends its education to our future, our Keiki. The keiki classes are primarily taught by Kainani Hartnett and Sundee Amantiad, but there are a number of dedicated parents and lead dancers of AHA who also assist in the classes and whose help does not go unnoticed.

At the end of 2004, the keiki class was in jeopardy of being terminated when the previous teacher left AHA. In January 2005, Kainani stepped up to become the new Keiki teacher. Kainani was born in Hilo and was raised there, as well as in O'ahu.

Throughout childhood, she always had an affinity and love for Hula. Her first lessons of hula started at the summer programs of University of Hawai’i at Manoa, learning traditional styles with Auntie Hoakalei Kamau'u and Auntie Ho'oulu Cambra. Since then she has raised three of her own children and has been teaching pre-school children for over twenty years.

Kainani practices Hula because it provides a feeling of being centered and a connection to home, but she teaches because it is an opportunity to share the wonderment of her Hawaiian childhood. "I felt very lucky to have grown up there, " Kainani says. "As much as (dancing) hula, I enjoy sharing culture."

Saturday morning Keiki Hula class. Kainani on left, Sundee center with ipu.

A recent addition to the Keiki Teaching Team is Sundee Amantiad. Sundee has been dancing for over thirty-two years, with the past twelve years under Kumu Mark Ho’omalu. She started dancing as a young keiki and was intrigued by the storytelling of Hula. For Sundee, practicing hula is like "breathing." It is her breath, and she can’t imagine life without it.

Sundee teaches because she knows the future of hula lies in the hands of our keiki, but she also teaches in part of giving back to Kumu Mark and in part of passing down what she has learned from him: the etiquette of a hula dancer, how to carry one’s self to be regal yet remain humble.

Kainani and Sundee integrate the curriculum with games, Hawaiian language, pictures, and stories with a strong emphasis on building a solid foundation on the basic movements. The integration of these different aspects also teach to the keiki the meaning of the dance. Younger keiki start learning dances, such as "hula noho," with arm movements only, and then progress to adding the feet.

The keikis range from age three to twelve, and at any age their dedication and vivaciousness is apparent in all of them. Sundee adds, "There’s nothing more rewarding than to see a young child learn and grow up to be a beautiful dancer…That is the best thing to see."