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Ha'amana | to empower
Huraiti Mana is a Polynesian Dance Troupe based in Seattle, Washington and lead by Ha'api'i Kalei'okalani. Huraiti Mana is dedicated to creating a welcoming community infused with laughter, shared stories, and passionate work. We perpetuate deeply rooted values of cultural pride, family, and love through lessons in hula and Ori Tahiti. Culture is about encouragement and empowerment, and that is what we hope to share with you at Huraiti Mana. "Ei aha roa to 'oe hiro'a. Ia mo'e i e to nuna'a." May you always keep with you, the consciousness and dream of your origin. Ha'aputu | to gather Culture is more than the performance of song and dance. It is about the relationships you build leading up to that moment. It's about how we as people interact. How we teach each other, how we listen to each other, and how we learn from each other. Following in the practices of exchange and reciprocation of our indigenous cultures, we welcome all dancers at any experience level and provide a safe place for students to learn various dance forms. Huraiti Mana also strives to develop relationships with nonprofits and organizations dedicated to showcasing, featuring, and supporting our Pacific Islander, Asian-American, and various communities of color. We strive to provide performance opportunities by developing relationships with individuals and organizations throughout Washington whose values we share. Ha'api'i | to teach, to learn Aloha mai kākou. He Kanaka Maoli a Kepanī a Pākē a Pā'ele 'O Kalei'okalani Onzuka Mastsui. 'O Wai'anae kona home hānau e a ka e noho 'oia i Seattle i kēia manawa me kona ipo a kona aloha 'O Kitman. He ha'api'i no Pupu Ori a Hula 'O Huraiti Mana 'O Kalei. Kalei'okalani Onzuka Matsui is of Kanaka Maoli, Japanese, Chinese, and Black heritage and was born and raised in Wai'anae, O'ahu, living now in Seattle with her sweetheart and love, Kitman. Kalei is the ha'api'i of Huraiti Mana. Kalei began dancing at six years old with Lokelani Polynesian Revue in Nānākuli. After her 'uniki, Kalei continued training with Polynesian Dance Troupe Ma'ohi Nui, performing and competing professionally both internationally and in island-wide Heiva. She also trained with the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus Hawaiian Ensemble with Kumu Kaleo Trinidad and with Aunty Makalapua of Hālau Hula 'O Mililani of Wai'anae. From her move to Washington in 2009 until 2016, Kalei taught originally choreographed Tahitian and hula at Seattle University for the Hui 'O Nani Hawai'i club. In 2016, she began teaching hula as a part of Arts Corps, an organization providing equal opportunity for creative programs in schools with children of predominantly low-income communities of color, engaging them in conversations and practice of community, identity, and racial equality. She also taught with Families of Color Seattle (FŌCS) as a part of the FOCSarts program, providing multi-cultural arts classes for toddlers. Kalei'okalani is also the 2017-2018 recipient of the Jubilation Foundation Fellowship Award, granted to teaching artists with exceptional talent for helping young people feel fully alive through rhythm - as expressed in music and dance. With Huraiti Mana, Kalei opens her independent teachings to students of all ages, learning from each and instilling in each significant values of cultural exchange and identity. She considers herself ha'api'i, a word of reo Tahiti or the Tahitian language meaning both to teach and to learn. As Kalei continues teaching, she learns and gains tenfold, the knowledge of her huraiti, her cultures, and her self. Kalei aspires to continue teaching, studying, and sharing the love of her people. |
 Founder, Instructor Kalei'okalani Matsui
Leaders Kalei'okalani and kona ipo, Kitman
Organizations we love
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Established 2016 Seattle, WA
© HURAITI MANA huraitimana@gmail.com
© HURAITI MANA huraitimana@gmail.com
Photography by Kyle Kotani
