Kumu Hula Kilohana Silve received her foundation in hula and choreography from Kumu Hula Ellen Pukaikapuaokalani Castillo. She had the privilege of studying with Hula Master George Holokai, and was amongst the ‘ūniki graduates of Kimo Alana Keaulana’s Lei Hulu Papa ‘Uniki ‘Ehā. She continues to study oli with Sam ‘Ohukani’ōhiʻa Gon of Hālau Mele. Her interest in Hoʻoponopono and healing was formed by early contact with Aunty Mornnah Nālamakū Simeona and her study of Vedanta and Meditation began at age 16 with Kanta Devi (also known as Concha Hughes). As a storyteller, Kilohana Silve has participated in the Annual Talk Story Festival in Honolulu and released a CD of Hawaiian tales, chants and music.
Kilohana remains committed to promoting Hawaiian culture authentically. She has done so abroad by curating exhibitions as an art historian and through a cross-cultural approach to hula. She founded the first Hawaiian dance school in France, Hālau Hula O Mānoa, named after the valley in which she was born. Now, back home in Hawaiʻi after 30 years in Paris, she continues to teach haumāna (students) in Honolulu, France, Juneau (Alaska), Italy, and Beijing (China). Through her classes at Mānoa Heritage Center, Paradise Park, Kokua Kalihi Valley clinic and the Salvation Army’s drug recovery program, as well as her involvement in the Ola Hou I Ka Hula study conducted by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi and The Queen’s Medical Center, she has become a pioneer in the promising new field of Hula for Health.
We are very honored that Kilohana is a graduate of The Path of Meditation that Leads to Living ALOHA and that she has chosen to accept our invitation to fill the role of Native Hawaiian Cultural Advisor for the course and Hoʻi ka Hā.
