Now in its 21st year, Hālau Hula Nāpuaokaleiʻilima announces the 2025 class schedule in Beginner Hula, Hawaiian ʻUkulele, and Hawaiian (ʻŌlelo) language taught by Kumu Hula (master teacher) Kēhau Chrisman. Here is your opportunity to extend your knowledge of hula and other Hawaiian cultural modalities by learning from an authentic Hawaiian Hula Master Teacher and be immersed in genuine Hawaiian culture.
Kumu Kēhau Chrisman started studying hula in 1983 until she began seriously training in 1993 to become a kumu hula under the direction of Kumu Bill Correa on Hawaii Island. This was achieved in 2000 to reach the highest rank of Hula Master (comparable to a PhD in Hula) following rigorous protocols taught by well-known and respected Hawaiian hula masters. In 2003, Chrisman moved to Arizona from Hawaii and opened her Cottonwood-based hula school, Hālau Hula Nāpuaokaleiʻilima, in 2004. Since then, students from throughout the Verde Valley, Prescott and Flagstaff travel to study Hawaiian hula, ʻukulele, language and culture with Kumu Kēhau Chrisman. Her hula teaching methods include an integration of Hawaiian dance, music, language and culture, just as her elders in this discipline taught her. Hula has great depth and participants find that it is more than just dance movement. Furthermore, a recently completed 5-year Hula Enabling Lifestyle Adaptation (HELA) Study documented the physical merits of Hawaiian traditional dance proving Hula as a source of wellness.
New 2025 classes include:
Beginner Women’s Hula Class – Open to those 15 and older. Learn basic hula and feet movements, plus language, culture, and values. Thursdays from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, beginning May 1 through June 10. The fee is $48 for the six-week session, payable at the first class.
Beginners `Ukulele Class – Learn chords, strumming techniques, and songs from the islands. Thursdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, 4 classes on May 1, 8, 22, 29. The fee is $36 for the 4-week course payable in full at the first class. Bring your own `ukulele.
Hawaiian Language Class – Open to those 16 and older. Learn Hawaiian pronunciation, simple sentence structures, and Hawaiian vocabulary. Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30pm beginning June 5, 12, 19, 26, July 3, 10, 17, August 7 (duration may be extended based on class interest). The fee is $8 per class, payable in 2 payments of $32. Bring a writing tablet and pen/pencil.
Classes are held at the Mountain View United Methodist Church located at 901 S 12th Street in Cottonwood in the Verde Room or Sycamore Room. Please note no refunds for missed classes.
For more information, visit arizonahula.com, or email Chrisman at hulaisaloha@gmail.com.