Aloha Kākou!

I am Kumu Hula Darcey Noelani Moniz of Hālau Hula ‘O Puka‘ikapuaokalani. Our hālau was established back in the late 60’s by Aunty Ellen Castillo – first in Waimanalo (my home town) then in Kailua, on the island of Oʻahu. My Aunty passed away in 2012 and I have continued the hālau since then.

Being raised as a keiki (child) in hula has trained me to keep traditions alive and witness how hula has evolved in the past decades. I was first committed as an ōlapa (dancer), then the heavy responsibility as alakaʻi (leader under the kumu), and then finally I assumed the role of kumu (teacher), continuing my hula life journey (Hula is Life).

Aunty Ellen decided in her latter days to give a palapala (certificate) to 10 of her established dancers and acknowledge them as Kumu Hula. I recieved a palapala from Aunty Ellen and later decided to pursue an `ūniki (graduation) as Kumu through a vigorous process that included 6 years of studies and protocol under Kumu Kalani Akana. This process was finalized as I went through `ūniki `ailolo as Kumu Hula in 2014. Today I continue the legacy with classes that include dancers from Mililani and Kailua, as well as Japan! I have students from ages 3 to 78, including a few ōlapa from the 70s who danced with Aunty Ellen Castillo, continuing their dancing with our halau decades later.