Hula has been a significant part of Kayla Marie Kahealani Rivera’s life since she was a keiki. Kahea is the daughter of Kumu Moana and has been a part of her mother’s hālau from the very beginning. While both of her parents were born and raised on O’ahu (she was born in California), her parents had a priority of wanting their children to have a meaningful connection to their Hawaiian heritage, and thus they joined a hālau. Kahea loved ‘ōlelo, the dancing, the culture, and the precious community that she was surrounded in. Her hālau became a second home, while making many lifelong connections with her hula ‘ohana. She still cherishes this deeply with these words:
“Watching my mother go through her own ‘ūniki process and build this wonderful hālau has been so special. What she has always instilled in myself and her haumāna is to truly connect with each other, our audience, and share our aloha and the beauty of the Hawaiian culture. In recent years, I have two toddler boys that have kept me busy outside of the hālau, but they love to watch their mom and tūtū dance hula. I am so happy they will be raised in a hālau and around this incredible culture – just as I was – for it is a blessing that I have this opportunity to perpetuate the culture through my own sons, alongside my mom, my Kumu.“
Kahea has danced in countless performances, placed in both solo and group competitions, and loves the joy dancing brings as it keeps her connected to her culture and sharing aloha with others.