​Ha'amana | to empower

Huraiti Mana is a Seattle-based Polynesian Dance Troupe specializing in 'Ori Tahiti, Hula, and Lei. Led by Founder and Ra'atira, Kalei'okalani Matsui, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming community infused with much laughter, shared stories, and passionate work. Through ancestral wisdom and movement of the Indigenous Pacific, we foster cultural pride and empower each of our huraiti, our beloved dancers, in mind, body, and spirit. Our mission is to reconnect everyone to their culture and original identity so that we may all recognize the homes within our hearts.

At Huraiti Mana, we host weekly Tahitian Dance and Hula instructional classes with choreography connecting ancient meaning to modern dance; offer lei-making workshops weaving tradition; and conduct presentations on identity, education, and more. The young ones enjoy vibrant story-telling in Mo'olelo Moments and the older dive into conversation of decolonization and intersectionality in Mana'o Moments. We invite all whom would like to find a place of belonging. 

Welcome home. 

Te Mau Ta'ata Arata'i i te Pupu | troupe leaders

Ra'atira Pupu, Group Leader - Kalei'okalani Matsui

Arata'i, leader - Brandi

Te 'Ahu Arata'i, Lead Designer - Marisol

Workshop Series Coordinator Assistant - Krystine

Sound Technician, Merchandise Director - Kitman

Pūpahu, lead dancer - Katie

Metua Arata'i, Lead Parent - Aunty Jessie

Workshop Series Coordinator Assistant - Eci

Our additional team members:

Intermediate Performance team - Bianca

Intermediate Performance Team - Inah

Intermediate Performance Team - Christine

Fēti'i Paturu, Support Family - Franada 'Ohana

Ha'api'i | to teach, to learn

'O Kalei'okalani Onzuka Matsui he wahine Hawai'i, Kepanī, Pākē a me 'Apelika. 'O Wai'anae kona 'āina hānau a ke noho 'o ia ma Seattle me kāna kāne 'O Kitman. He Ra'atira no Pupu 'Ori a Hula 'O Huraiti Mana 'O Kalei. Kalei'okalani Onzuka Matsui is a Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, and Black woman and was born and raised in Wai'anae, O'ahu, living now in Seattle with her husband, Kitman. Kalei is the ra'atira of Polynesian Dance Troupe, Huraiti Mana. She began dancing at six years old with Lokelani Polynesian Revue in Nānākuli. 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 Wai'anae. Since moving to Washington in 2009, Kalei led classes with many organizations across Seattle. She created original 'ori Tahiti and hula at Seattle University for the Hui 'O Nani Hawai'i club for 7 years. Kalei opened Hula Mai 'Oe, an after-school program as a Master Teaching Artist through 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 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 publicly to students of all ages, learning from each and instilling in each significant values of cultural exchange and identity. As well as Ra'atira (leader), Kalei considers herself ha'api'i, a word of reo Tahiti (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. ​

Organizations we love

• 4 Culture
• 4 Days of Aloha
• 21 Progress
• API Chaya
• API Heritage Month Celebration
• Arts Corps
• Chief Seattle Club
• Duwamish River Festival
• Duwamish Tribe
• Families of Color Seattle
• International Community Health Services​

• ​​International Examiner​
• ​Jubilation Foundation​
• Live Aloha Festival
• Northwest Folklife
• Rainier Beach BAAMFest
• Seattle Asian American Film Festival
• Seattle Children's Festival
• Seattle Poi Company 
• Sharon H. Chang
• ​The Meridian School
• UTOPIA
• ​Wing Luke Museum

"Long was my journey on the path to seek a place in this world. I now clearly see and understand the home within my heart.”

"He Hawai'i Au" by Ron Rosha & Peter Moon"

​Established 2016 Seattle, WA 
© HURAITI MANA huraitimana@gmail.com

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Photography by Sharon H. Chang