Founder Māhealani Uchiyama is an award-winning dancer, musician, composer, choreographer, recording artist, and teacher. She is also Kumu Hula (hula teacher) of Halau Ka Ua Tuahine of Berkeley, California and is the creator and director of the annual Kapili Polynesian dance and music workshops. She is the author of the publications The Haumana Hula Handbook: A Manual for the Student of Hawaiian Dance and The Mbira, An African Musical Tradition, and is Co-Artistic Director Emeritus of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. She has also produced a series of recordings of Hawaiian, Tahitian, and mbira music. On January 22, 2019, the City of Berkeley, California, recognized her by declaring Māhealani Uchiyama Day.

Visit Uchiyama’s website here.