Thomas Tunsch

Hula kahiko dancers from Hālau o Kekuhi on stage at the Merrie Monarch Festival.

Many Kalani students share a passion for Polynesian Dance and find their voices and interests flourish in a creative environment that complements their core studies. Parker Nakamura, a new teacher to the school, teaches the elective. 

Maya Orlando (11) and Alina Stephenson (11) say Polynesian Dance is their favorite elective.

“I like the people that surround it and being able to express my culture with our school,” Stephenson states.

They also both appreciate the other students in their class. 

“I like the people in the class; it’s very fun and easy,” Orlando says.

Stephenson says that she sometimes gets bored in her core classes, but not in poly dance.

“Elective classes, I feel like there’s more creative freedom rather than core classes,” Stephenson states.

Both students say they’ve gained valuable skills in the class. Orlando says that working as a team to get a performance done challenges her in meaningful ways.

Both students highly recommend the elective to all students. However, they emphasize that you must be in a class with students who share your goals.

“You need to get to know a bunch of people that share the same interests as you,” Orlando stated.

Orlando and Stephenson say poly dance brings students enjoyment and comfort.