Halau Hula `O Hokulani is a dance studio in Ewa Gentry, HI, dedicated to the traditional practice of hula. The studio offers instruction in Hawaiian dance, focusing on cultural education, spiritual growth, and performance. Students learn movement, costume creation, instrument making, and the ethical and religious principles underlying hula. The studio is led by Roselle Keli`ihonipua Bailey, a master teacher and founder of the Ka`Imi Na`auao O Hawai`i Nei Institute, which oversees multiple hula groups across Hawaii and internationally. Classes are rooted in ancestral traditions, emphasizing discipline, repetition, and connection to Hawaiian heritage. The studio serves students of all backgrounds who seek to grow through hula, and it supports cultural preservation through ceremonies, performances, and community engagement.
The Halau Hula `O Hokulani operates under the Ka`Imi Na`auao O Hawai`i Nei Institute, a non-profit organization founded in 1977 by Roselle Bailey. The institute supports cultural sites on Kaua`i and facilitates hula education across the islands. The hālau tradition, as practiced here, reflects ancient Hawaiian values, with a structured hierarchy including a kumu hula, kumu kokua, alaka`i, and other roles. Students, or haumana, train through dedicated practice, listening, and prayer, aiming for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual development. The kumu guides students in both dance and life, fostering personal integrity and service. The institute also organizes cultural exchanges and has supported documentary films on hula. Roselle Bailey, a lifelong practitioner, has taught across Hawaii and internationally, including in Germany, New Zealand, and Samoa.
The studio is located on Kapolei Pkwy in Ewa Gentry, HI. It sits on a major roadway in the area, serving the surrounding community with cultural programming and educational offerings. The location is part of a larger network of hula groups and cultural initiatives managed by the Ka`Imi Na`auao O Hawai`i Nei Institute, which maintains branches across the U.S. and abroad. The studio continues the legacy of preserving and teaching traditional hula in a living, evolving form.