Hawaiian Dance (Hula)
with Noelani Mahana O'kala McIntosh

 The majority of Noelani's students call her "Auntie," and for a good reason. To know this master of hula is to experience true Hawaiian hospitality.

Students always greet this sweet soul with warm hugs and kisses. To an outsider, the event might be misconstrued as a family reunion. But don't be fooled because following the laid-back formalities, class begins. With her soft spoken voice, Noelani tutors her students by demonstrating motions and steps while explaining the folklore behind each fluid movement.

What's not heard during this hour and a half session is a scratched recording of Don Ho, but rather the live melodic singing of Noelani as she recites authentic Hawaiian chant. As the class hulas, Noelani accompanies her own vocals by either expertly strumming a ukulele or patting island rhythms on a soft toned drum. Students not only learn the motions of hula but are taught to sing out Hawaiian poetry as they dance. The result? An hour and a half of art in motion.

about Noelani

 Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai'i, Noelani McIntosh was trained by renown teachers in the art of ancient and modern hula dancing. Today, she continues to dance in the traditional Hawaiian hula style.

Noelani began dancing at the age of six and her professional career took off when she first performed at age seven. At age 17 she began teaching, then presented her first student recital one year later.

In addition to teaching, Noelani entertains and sings the melodies of the Hawaiian dances. Noelani has danced, performed, and promoted hula for many years throughout the world, but mainly in Southeast Asia, including Korea and Tokyo. Following a retirement, Noelani was encouraged by family and friends to resume teaching which she has now done for a number of years.

Here are some reflections on hula from the truly unique and powerful voice of Auntie Noelani McIntosh:

"Hula is one of the purest forms of dancing because it simply tells a story; the dances may be telling the story of a great King or chief during the ancient times of Hawai'i or they could be telling of a great love, flower, sea, or other description of nature. Today, with great interest in the hula all over the world, there are schools (halau) in Tokyo, Philippines, Denmark, Germany- I am so glad to be teaching again."

"I look forward to seeing my students every week because it gives me great pleasure to watch them learning and trying to express their interpretation of the hula. It makes me feel so close to my home, Hawai'i nei.".