HoA aLoHa: KUIS Hula Dance Circle

At the start of the semester, as with any new school year, a whole host of school clubs and circles began accepting new members. One of those was Hoa Aloha - a self-proclaimed hula circle. I was not sure of the validity of their skill, not that I have any of my own to speak of nor expert knowledge of this cultural activity that they take part in, but I thought it would be fun to do in my free time. The day they were holding a meeting for new comers I stopped by and while I was there Tina (Christina), one of the other study abroad students who actually is from Hawaii, was on her way to practice with the school's volleyball team. I stopped, hoping to get her honest opinion, and asked if she could tell me just by looking at them practice if they were legit. Now I have no foundation or standard by which to compare these girls except from what I know out of movies (which are not the most reliable source to learn about a people). She stood in the doorway a moment, pondering and then turned to me to say "Yes, I think they are pretty good although I don't know if they do the Tahitian style of hula". Of course, they proved to be capable of many more styles so I was hooked . . . and the rest is history.

So, for the past few weeks I have been learning the dance that us beginners [初心者｜しょしんしゃ] will be performing sometime the last week of my stay here in Japan. Exciting right?!? I can barely contain myself, and why, you ask? Because this will be the opportunity of a life time to fulfill one of the greatest things ever - a goal on my LIFE bucket list. I had hoped to do this on some trip to Hawaii but maybe when I go I can impress them with this little number. Of course it is still in the works but every time I hear the song we are going to use - He Mele No Lilo (yes, the opening song from Lilo & Stitch) - I just get so happy because I feel like I am participating in such an amazingly awesome group.

Might I just say that these girls really work very hard at what they do. They practice several times a week doing dances they learned on their own (no instructors here!) and having fun doing something beautiful with good friends. And they are really good friends. When definitely what "aloha" means to them they use the word [親友｜しんゆう] which means 'bosom buddy, close friend'. To me, they are they true definition of family (aloha's alternate meaning according to Lilo and Nani :D) with the way they treat each other. Our senpai [先輩｜せんぱい] are some of the most caring and fun people I have ever had the pleasure to look up to. I respect them so much because they do not look down on us beginners, they are not condescending at all. They pay close attention to detail when it comes to their craft and do their best to make sure that everyone in the group is on the same page. And their outfits are pretty freaking cool too. (The following pictures have been borrowed from Risa Nakajima, a former (?) hula dance member and senpai).

What's more, they are so kind and are relatively accepting of me in all my foreignness. I have not felt such warmth and happiness while being involved in a group since high school (sports and all that jazz). Despite the high price tag on the costumes, which I deem my official souvenir from the group, I cannot wait to don my tube top and official skirt and wow the crowd this crazy cool bunch of girls!

This here post is a prelude to the bombardment of photos and a video compilation that will be happening sometime over the next day or so. My senpai just had a performance today, one of two big performances actually, of which I had the fortune to see the first. Unfortunately, because the study abroad program has a field trip to Kamakura penciled into our schedules I cannot make the second show but I wish them all the best of luck (notice I did not use the taboo phrase performers find detestable in America) and am shouting from the top of my lungs BREAK A LEG LADIES!!! 頑張ってね! Stay tuned for more blogging mayhem. じゃまた! #spreadaloharoundyou (This picture is mine!)