Kumu Po’o

Aruna Kekeha Po-Ching

A message from the teacher (kumu) Aruna Kekeha Po-Ching

After a five-year hiatus, it is a pleasure to re-start and rebuild Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie affectionally known as The Hula Journey.

With the assistance of the Creative Communities Scheme, Kumu hula Blaine Kamalani Kia of the Ka Laua’e Foundation, arrived in Aotearoa to officially sanction the first Hawaiian hula school in Aotearoa’s history.

I have been appointed Po’o (head) of the Aotearoa branch and am the practicing Kumu (teacher) of our hālau.

I am especially proud to know that I have a hula family across the globe and have had the pleasure of dancing with more than 300 of my hula family at our show in Honolulu, Ko Ka I’ini, celebrating Kumu Blaine’s 30th Anniversary of teaching around the world in 2017.

We welcome you to join our hula family and experience this wonderful hula journey
with us.

-November, 2022

Aruna is an Aotearoa-born Samoan Chinese. She has been a creative for more than 30 years working in theatre, performative art, film and television.

With a Diploma in Screenwriting (AUT, 2020) and Documentary Directing and Research (South Seas Film and Television, 2017) Aruna has been selected for and participated in many national workshops as a director, writer and actor.

She has a licensed script with Show Me Shorts Film Festival. Her short film documentary Salamasina’s Daughters had been selected in Doc Edge Film Festival, Wairoa, Pollywood and FIFO 2018. 

She is currently independently developing two TV series, two feature films and a feature length documentary and continues working as an actor represented in both Aotearoa and Australia.

A proud mother of a sassy young teen, she is happily engaged in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

Kumu Hula

Blaine K. Kia received the “rights” to be a recognized and respected kumu hula in 1997.  He has formed and operates his hula schools - The Ladies of Halau Ka Waikahe Lani Malie and The Men of Halau Kahulaliwai. He has since produced seventeen (17) halau hula organizations with a current enrollment of over 2,000 practitioners under his care and guidance.  Aotearoa being his 16th halau.

His lineage of learnings started as a student with the hālau, Men of Waimapuna, under the direction of the late Kumu Hula Darrell Lapenui. Blaine has taught over 30 years with the mentorship of renown Kumu Hula Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewitt.

Blaine is also an award winning multi-talented entertainer, recording artist, musician and songwriter.  Blaine is also a Hawaiian Cultural Advisor who has worked for Outrigger Hotels, The Princess Ka’iulani Film, Waikiki Beach Walk Plaza, Aloha Festivals Organization and Hawaii FIVE-O.

Blaine lives in Honolulu, HI (Kailua, O’ahu) with his beautiful wife and is a devoted father to three beautiful children.

Blaine Kamalani Kia