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Our Group
Our Dancers
Pikake
Pikake is one of Kaiholunuie’s newest additions after just having joined the group a couple years ago – and loving every minute of it! Pikake has been the lead dancer and choreographer of the ALAY Philippine Cultural Group of Greater Danbury which specializes in traditional Filipino folk dance and Hula. She has been dancing since she was six years old under the training of instructors from the Philippines where Hawaiian/Polynesian influences are greatly prominent in the melting pot that is the Filipino culture. Pikake is also classically trained in ballet, pointe with the Brookfield School of Performing Arts and enjoys all types of dance! She is a proud graduate of the University of Connecticut with her bachelor’s degree in Allied Health and a minor in Psychology. She is currently working towards her Master’s degree in Gerontology as she is the Program Coordinator/Asst. Director of the New Milford Senior Center. It is Pikake’s joy to be able to share her love of dance and culture and spread the spirit of aloha to all! Pikake is also one of our event coordinators.
Pumehana
Pumehana has been a member of Kaiholunuie for two years. She immediately fell in love with the joy of performing with her hula sisters and the combined grace and athleticism of both Tahitian and Hula. Pumehana is a personal and group fitness trainer as well as a fitness nutrition specialist holding numerous certifications in both exercise and nutrition including personal training, Zumba, Barre, Crossfit, Aerobics, YogaFit, RYT-200 Yoga Instructor, run coaching and more. She is also an ultramarathon runner competing at distances up to 100 miles. Pumehana has had an extensive career in start-ups, marketing and operations at the C-Level and currently sits on the board of multiple organizations as both a corporate consultant and volunteer.
Pumehana handles the website and accounting for Kaiholunuie.
Tiare
Being a part of Kaiholunie has been a great adventure for Tiare, In her words, "I have met and work with a wonderful group of people, and learning about hula has been a fantastic experience." Tiare has been a belly dancer for nine years, taking lessons from local and international dancers, and still dances professionally in hookah lounges and restaurants around the state. Belly dance introduced her to her love for dance and since then she has taken classes for enjoyment in multiple dance disciplines. Once she discovered Polynesian Dance forms, she was hooked. Her love of this art form began with Tahiti Ori (dance), mostly because of the physical challenge of it while making it look graceful. During the day Tiare works as a barista, but is still exploring options for a career in the arts. She currently holds a BFA in Illustration from the University of Hartford.
Ikaika
Ikaika began dancing with Kaiholunuie when he was a Keiki and has loved every moment of the experience. He first began dancing hip-hop when he was 6 years old, but his love for the Polynesian culture and dance led him to love the art of Hula, and other various Polynesian dance forms. He is currently a freshman in high school and takes part in a wide variety of extracurricular activities which include soccer, swimming, track & field, and he has recently achieved his Eagle Scout. He continues to do well in school and plans on pursuing engineering following high school. "Kaiholunuie is an amazing ohana filled with love and offers outstanding experiences”.
Mahealani
Mahealani
Mahealani
Mahealani has been dancing with Kaiholunuie since middle school when she joined after an inspiring visit to the Big Island. No stranger to Hawaii, her family lived on Oahu since before she was born, even though she grew up in New England. She loves hula because it is such a meaningful dance that comes from the beautiful culture of Aloha.
Mahealani has been dancing with Kaiholunuie since middle school when she joined after an inspiring visit to the Big Island. No stranger to Hawaii, her family lived on Oahu since before she was born, even though she grew up in New England. She loves hula because it is such a meaningful dance that comes from the beautiful culture of Aloha. Mahealani has been a competitive Ice skater and worked with the Hayden Figure Skating groups in synchronized skating for many years. Mahealani loves to dance hula and learn the many different styles from The different islands.
Leilani
Mahealani
Mahealani
Leilani began dancing with the Kaiholunuie Dance Troupe two years ago and has loved it ever since. Since discovering she had both Asian and Polynesian heritage, Leilani sought out ways to connect with both her Chinese and Polynesian cultures. She found the Kaiholunuie dancing to be a beautiful and graceful art form that allowed her to no
Leilani began dancing with the Kaiholunuie Dance Troupe two years ago and has loved it ever since. Since discovering she had both Asian and Polynesian heritage, Leilani sought out ways to connect with both her Chinese and Polynesian cultures. She found the Kaiholunuie dancing to be a beautiful and graceful art form that allowed her to not only express her femininity but also her athleticism. She enjoys learning the poi balls and both the Hawaiian and Tahitian dancing. She is currently studying mechanical engineering in college, enjoys learning the guitar, ice skating, and recently earned her first-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do karate.
Our Musicians
Aaron
Having been born in Kahului, Maui, the heritage and rich cultural experiences Aaron had growing up in Hawaii have always remained in his heart. Even after relocating to the mainland as a young boy, Hawaii and it’s culture of food, music, dance, and aloha have remained a big part of his daily life by maintaining cultural values and norms. Today, Aaron plays several instruments including guitar, ukulele, and steel guitar. Aaron’s true musical loves are playing mele O Hawaii and contemporary arrangements as well. Aaron has enjoyed working with Kekai Colello and her Halau Kaiholunuie over the last few years, and is one of Kaiholunuie’s primary musicians and vocalists. Aaron currently lives in Killingly, CT with his wife Alison and son Ross.
Sa'u
Sa'u is a Polynesian dancer and drummer who has been performing with Kaiholunuie for several years. He has drummed for Kailulani, Ku'umomi and the ladies of Kaiholunuie at various shows throughout the Northeast. His twenty plus years of experience encompass numerous Tahitian competitions and performances in Tahiti, Hawaii and throughout the continental U.S. His training and performances have come under the direction of Hula Halau O' Makalapua Marama Te Mafatu Nui and Te Pura O Te Rahura'a in California. He continues his dedication to the Polynesian cultural arts with Kaiholunuie and is excited to be part of such an energetic, young and extremely talented group where the 'sky's the limit'! Sa'u double majored in Biology and Marine Science and holds a BS degree in both from the University of Miami. He is currently close to completing his MS in Quality Assurance at CSU Dominguez Hills.
Behind the Scenes
Kekai - Owner/Instructor
Kaiholunuie Polynesian Dance Company (KPDC), expresses the cultural vitality of Polynesia through many dance styles of the South Pacific. Our performance company consists of a thriving multicultural group of ladies, men, young people, and keiki (children), who come together as extended ohana (family). It is here they learn the art of, and deeper meanings of the hula, as well as other forms of Polynesian dance. Those dance forms consist of Tahiti Ori, Maori dance from New Zealand, and Samoan Siva. While KPDC maintains a commitment to authenticity, we strive to be inclusive to all those who seek deeper knowledge of Polynesian culture and share in aloha spirit. KPDC has performed across the state of Connecticut, into Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. KPDC also performs at international fairs and schools in an effort to maintain our educational partnerships. It is our mission to educate and inform all youth through the arts, and workshops as a platform to instill a deeper understanding of Polynesian culture, artwork, regalia, and history. Many of KPDC’s artists are educators, parents and professionals who have a deep desire to preserve and perpetuate the cultural heritage and history of the people of the South Pacific. Kaholunuie Polynesian Dance Company is based out of Wallingford, Connecticut and was founded in 2004 by Kekai Colello, Artistic Director. She has over forty-five years of Polynesian dance experience, and over thirty years of experience in choreography and instruction. She holds a BA in English with an emphasis in multicultural literature, and a Masters Degree in Education. She is a graduate of Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT.
