#146 | Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu | Teaching hula in California, being Hawaiian, and Merrie Monarch talks

Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu is a passionate kumu hula from the island of O’ahu. He is a Hawaiian instrument designer and iconic chanter that teaches the essence of Hawaiian history and customs through choreography of hula and mele. He founded the Academy of Hawaiian Arts in 2003, and his fresh approach to hula has made the group’s name famous in the Hawaiian arts and dance community. This innovator of hula is the visionary behind the theatrical production, Kingdom Denied, and a new form of audience-judged hula competition, Ka Hula Hou, among other original works. His works have been featured in the Walt Disney Movie Lilo and Stitch, the PBS documentary American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai’i, and on several original CDs. In this episode we talk about how he first got into hula, leaving to California and teaching hula there, the Merrie Monarch hula competition, being Hawaiian not in Hawai'i, the story of his famous Lilo and songs, and so much more. Enjoy! Find Kumu Mark here: https://academyofhawaiianarts.org/portfolio/mark-kealii-hoomalu/ Buy our merch on: Official website: https://keepitaloha.com/ Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamakadias Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keepitalohapod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepitalohapod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keepitalohapod Listen to us on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-it-aloha/id1592266675 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3S4albn4TaWiwqcLVSnHNb?si=88d056857a5b41f2