Our History
Na Wai Iwi Ola was founded 1n September 2000
in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
• Youth Educational Camp:
April 2002 – 1st Annual at Pāwai,
April 2003 2nd Annual at Ho'ōpūloa, Miloli'i,
February 2004 – 3rd Annual at Waipi'o,
October 2005 – 4th Annual at Makali'i,
September 2006 - 5th Annual at Hālau Maluhia.
6th Youth Educational Camp
• Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola Ho'ike
Aloha Theatre:
May 2004 – 1st Annual,
May2005 - 2nd Annual,
May 2006 –3rd Annual.
May 5, 2007 – 4th Annual “Pana Ka Pu'uwai Ho'okahi “
May 17, 2008 - 5th Annual “Wili ‘ia me ka Maile”
The Queens Marketplace
May 2, 2009 6th annual– “Pili Mau I ka Poli
• July 2004 – Hawaiian Youth Leadership program in West Hawai'i
• March 2005 – Educational trip to 'Aotearoa, NewZealand
• May 2005 – Educational trip to ‘Oshima, Japan
• July 2006 – 3rd Annual Educational trip to Switzerland
• December 2006 – Holiday in Hawai'i at Aloha Theatre with Kumu Jayjay Akiona
• January 2007 – Papa Lehua 'Uniki Ceremony
• February 23 -24, 2007 – E Pili kakou I ho'okahi Lahui in Kaua'i
• July 3 – 17, 2007 Educational trip to Switzerland
• July 2007 – Pu'uhonua o Honaunau Cultural Festival
• August 4, 2007 - Clean-up Pa Hula at Kilau'ea Volcanoes National Park
• Saturday, August 25 2007: Fieldtrip to Volcano National Park with ceremony at Kilauea and Pauahi
November 17, 2007: E Mau ana ka Hula – The Hula lives on! Hula Festival at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Hotel
December 7: Holidays in Hawaii Concert at the Aloha Theater from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
December 7 – 23: Kumu Keala travels to Tahiti, E Pili Kakou I Ho'okahi Lahui Hula conference.
February 23 – 25, 2008 Huaka'i to Kaua’i
May 21 – May 30, Enoshima & Mount Fuji - workshops trip
June 10 – 24, 2008: Youth educational trip to Switzerland
July 30 – August 4, 2008: E Pili Kakou i Ho’okahi Lahui – Narita, Japan
August 30: Journey to Kilau’ea/Pauahi Volcanos National Park
November 22, 2008: 2nd Annual E Mau Ana Ka Hula at Outrigger Keauhou Beach
November 28 – 30, 2008: Huaka’i to O’ahu with Kumu Keala
February 7, 2009 – Hula at Kilau’ea, Volcanos National Park
February 22, 2009 Loea Kawaikapuokalani Hewett’s 55th Birthday in Kaneohe.
May 1, 2009 Queens Marketplace Rolinda’s CD Release party– “Pili Mau I ka Poli – Memorable Relationships”
August 15-17, 2009: Yosemite California Hula Workshop with Native Americans
August 18 – September 8, 2009: Europe – Switzerland and Amsterdam. Hula and Healing workshop.
September 16 – 21, 2009: E Pili Kakou i Ho’okahi Lahui at Yokohama, Japan.
September 26-27, 2009: workshop honoring the Hula Goddess Laka
October 2009: Ka‘ana Molokai
January 2010—He Lei Hiwa No ‘Iolani Luahine Festival
May 2010—Hō‘ike 2010
November 2010: Laka Ceremony at E Mau Ana ka Hula
January 2011—He Lei Hiwa No ‘Iolani Luahine Festival
February 2011—Huaka‘i to Pu‘uanahulu
May 2011—Hō‘ike 2010
May 2011: Huaka‘i to Mauna Kea after Hō‘ike
July 2011: Hula Ho‘olauna and huaka‘i to Kalena Kai
November 2011—Hu‘akai to Waipi‘o Valley
November 2011: 5th Annual E Mau Ana Ka Hula
January 2012: He Lei Hiwa No ‘Iolani Luahine Festival
Feb 2012—E Pili Kakou– Kaua‘i
March 2012—Uniki at Kea‘iwa Heiau
May 5, 2012: 10th Annual Hō‘ike —Ēve O Ka Hula
Kumu Keala Ching is a Hawaiian cultural educator, composer, song writer, and spiritual advisor to many Hawaiian organizations. Kumu Keala lives and breathes aloha into his Hawaiian heritage with his strong presence and great heart.
Keala Ching was a dancer of the Men of Waimapuna under the direction of the late Darrel Ihi'ihilauakea Lupenui. In 1999 he became a practitioner of Ho'oponopono with Kupuna Malia Craver, a cultural specialist at the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's center. He recently graduated from Chaminade University, Masters of Education Leadership Administration.
Under the tutelage of Lehua Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Keala has spent many years learning and building his knowledge. He received the 'uniki rites of kumu hula. He is fluent in the Hawaiian language, which he uses as the foundation for teaching all of his students.
He currently lives in Kailua-Kona, where he is Kumu Hula for Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola. As a composer of chants and mele, he travels the world to share hula. Kumu Keala is Co-founder and Executive Director of Na Wai Iwi Ola (NWIO) Foundation. He is also Kumu Hula and cultural advisor to Ka Pa Hula Nā Wai Iwi Ola - Japan, Halau Na Wai Pana o Keala - Kumu Yukari Uchio; Halau Na Wai ʻUla o Keala - Kumu Mayumi Takaki both in Japan; and Halau Na Wai`Ohi`a - Kumu Noelle Delaquis in Zurich, Switzerland.