Aloha!

Kaleinani o ke Kukui
The beautiful lei of the Kukui.

"Hula is the language of the heart and therefore the heartbeat
of the Hawaiian people"
King David (Kawika) La'amea Kalakaua

Hula instructor, Deva Leinani Aiko Yamashiro is originally from Honolulu, HI. She and her two sons Kaloku and Keawe left Hawai`i in 1995 and moved to Nashville TN where she began sharing her love of hula and Hawai'i. After three years they moved to Vancouver WA where they currently reside.

Deva's Kumu Hula (hula master) is Victoria Holt Takamine, who is highly respected in Hawai'i, a political activist on preserving Hawai'i and Hawaiian culture, president of 'Ilioulaokalani, a coalition of Kuma Hula. Vicky's Kuma Hula is the late Aunty Maiki Aiu Lake. Deva and her sons Kaloku and Keawe are currently studying with Vicky to gain more knowledge in all things Hawaiian. Aunty Vicky also gave her halau the name Kaleinani o ke Kukui.

Deva teaches traditional hula to wahine, kane and keiki. Visit the classes page to find out times and dates of lessons and enrollment information.

Deva's eldest son Kaloku , a very gifted songwriter and his talented brother Keawe, who is also gifted on the ukulele and bass sing and play dinner music at Hawaiian restaurants in Portland and Vancouver. Click here for more information about the Brothers Kaloku and Keawe.

She has recently been blessed by the arrival of alaka`i `olelo Hawai`i, Carla Anuenue`ula Villamor whose Kumu is Aunty Pua Kanakaole Kanahele from Halau o Kekuhi on the Big Island of Hawai`i.  `Olelo Hawai`i is a part of Kaleinani o ke Kukui's class structure.