About Us
Kumu Hula Lauren Kanoelani Chang Williams
A lifelong seeker of knowledge, Kumu Kanoe studied with her first Kumu Hula, Leimomi I Maldonado, of Ka Hale I o Kāhala for over 20 years before completing an ʻūniki (graduation requirements) which allowed her to open her own hālau in 2010. She currently teaches hula out of her family home in Nuʻuanu and also teaches choir, general music and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) at Punahou School in Mānoa.
Ka ʻOhana Williams
Our hula school is a family affair - with these two gents as the hālau’s top supporters! Kumu Kanoe’s architect husband, Luke Williams, is behind the scenes making everything run smoothly while kumu’s son, Eames Kalaniākea Williams, is on camera as the keiki kōkua (helper) for online classes every week!
Hālau would not be possible without the support and home of our Chang - Williams - Perreira ʻOhana and friends and family, near and far!
“E hana mua a paʻa ke kahua mamua o ke aʻo ana aku ia haʻi”
Build yourself a firm foundation before teaching others
— Pukui, ʻŌlelo Noeʻau #276
These are the influential teachers and leaders who have blessed Kumu Kanoe with their knowledge of Hula, Hawaiian Language, and Mele:
Leimomi I Maldonado
We owe the biggest mahalo to our dear, Aunty Lei, who studied under hula legends, Maiki Aiu Lake and Lani Kekauilani Kalama from Kailua. She took Kumu Kanoe under her wing as her haumāna and eventually alakaʻi - teaching her how to dance, teach, and put on the glitz and glam for a fabulous show. Aunty Lei was the first to teach us that “Not all knowledge comes from one school” and was instrumental in introducing Kumu Kanoe to almost every one of the kumu hula and hula greats listed below.
Hattie Phillips
Although Aunty Hattie and her brother, Dave Eldredge, are no longer with us, the legacy of these two Kumu is alive and well at Punahou School. Kumu Kanoe had the honor of working under Aunty Hattie as a student director of the Punahou May Day and Holokū pageants from 1997-2001. Aunty Hattie taught the students the intricacies of choreography, costuming, formations, and adornments but those tasks were intertwined with lessons in patience, humility, and compassion. We miss her smiling face and sweet voice but witness her heart in her daughters, grandchildren, and legacy of colleagues at Punahou School.
Nola A Nahulu
Aunty Nola, as she as known by generations of local students, is a fixture in the Hawaiian Music Scene - especially well known for her preservation of Hawaiian Choral Music. Kumu Kanoe sang under her direction with the Hawaiʻi Youth Opera Chorus and eventually went on to pursue her “day-job” career as a music teacher at the suggestion of her mentor, Aunty Nola.
John Keola Lake
Recognizing that Kumu Kanoe had some budding potential as a chanter, Aunty Lei brought her to study with the late Kumu John Keola Lake. He taught Kumu to blend techniques of opera singing (learned from Aunty Nola) with Hawaiian ʻoli (chant). Uncle John, as he allowed us to call him, passed away in 2008 and we still miss his hearty laughter and gentle spirit.
Kimo Alama Keaulana
Uncle Kimo hosted annual hula workshop fundraisers for the Hawaiian Civic Club and he always welcomed us with open arms. Kumu Kanoe was honored to eventually have the opportunity to study with Uncle Kimo at the Mōʻiliʻili Community Center to complete ʻūniki classes in hula ʻolapa and hula pahu. Uncle Kimo also shared a wealth of knowledge about Hawaiian Mele through his Papa Mele classes at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa which took us on adventures to each of the major Hawaiian islands to learn the history, songs, and dances of each place. In 2019, Uncle Kimo decided to leave his longtime position at the Community College to take a fulltime Kumu Hula position at Punahou School - and Kumu Kanoe feels so blessed to be able to work with him on campus in Mānoa!
R Keawe Lopes
Kumu Keawe is a hula brother to Aunty Leimomi I Maldonado as they both completed ʻūniki with Uncle Kimo Alama Keaulana. He and his wife are kumu hula of Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai o Haʻehaʻe and he is also a professor of Hawaiian Language at Kawaihuelani at UH Mānoa where Kumu Kanoe studied ʻōlelo and mele Hawaiʻi under his tutelage. Kumu Kanoe was lucky to travel with him to the outerislands for Uncle Kimo Alama’s Papa Mele, to Tahiti with the Hui Aloha ʻĀina Tuahine, and even to Japan!
Kimo Mansfield
During the later years that Kumu Kanoe taught classes for her kumu, Leimomi Maldonado, Uncle Kimo Mansfield was brought in to lead the Kāne and Keiki Kāne classes. His choreography was always overflowing with vitality and spunk - just like him! He taught classic hula like “Holoholo Kaʻa”, “Fireman’s Hula” and “Kaʻiwa” and held workshops on conch shell blowing featuring his dear friend, Richard “Babes” Bell. Uncle Kimo Mansfield’s style is incomparable and he is a true Hawaiian Showman.
Kawika Trask
During her college years and shortly after her graduation from UH Mānoa, Kumu Kanoe fulfilled her lifelong dream to be a hula dancer in Waikīkī. She started at the International Marketplace and eventually ended up dancing for Uncle Kawika Trask at the ʻIlikai Hotel. Uncle Kawika had always been known to Kumu Kanoe as the man behind the music for her hālau - with his signature ʻukulele strum - however, in this new role he arranged and played the music, choreographed the hula, sewed the costumes, and handled every detail down to the making of the ti-leaf skirts. So many wonderful memories of his historically correct narrations, harmonious musical stylings, and plenty of wise-cracks that were just barely inaudible for the audience. Uncle Kawika also invited Kumu Kanoe to dance in parades and travel with the Hawaiian Airllines promo team to release HA stock on the NASDAQ and to celebrate the inaugural flight to Incheon in Korea. Always an adventure!
Harmony Brighter
Introduced affectionately to Kumu Kanoe as “Tita Harm”, Aunty Harmony Brighter is another hula sister of Kumu Leimomi Maldonado for their ʻūniki with Uncle Kimo Alama. She initially came to masterfully create hair and makeup for the hālauʻs Hula ʻOni E competition participants, however, Aunty Lei welcomed her critical eye and commanding presence. In later years, Aunty Harmony would attend every practice and even teach Kumu and the other competition line dancers her choreography to “Ka Lehua i Milia.” Her signature style is glamorous, graceful, and dramatic and we love her dearly!