Blake Kamalani Kia
Main Stage
Saturday May 5, 3:00 pm
Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia and Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie will perform hula on the Main Stage.
Listen to and purchase Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia’s music
Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie: Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie, translated means “the peaceful, heavenly, flowing water,” while Kahulaliwai means “the water’s reflection.” These combined hālau are the vision and personification of their kumu hula, both past and present. Established in 1997 on the island of O`ahu, Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie a me Kahulaliwai now have halau on Kaua`i, Sacramento and Antioch, California, Japan and Montana.
The hālau vision is to enhance and to sustain strong cultural and spiritual values by better educating the hula practitioner to care, support and respect the dance; so that each practitioner, as they aspire to their full potential, can spiritually and humbly make a contributing impact (through example) to the community and all walks of life. The hālau mission is that all properties of knowledge, wisdom and cultural aspects belonging to the dance as passed down and rooted from generation to generation, shall be maintained by the halau principals for the benefit of all who are part of the dance.
All haumana within the hālau believe in giving back to the community. The hālau has performed at events such as the American Cancer Society Walk for a Cure and Race for a Cure, Special Olympics and Shriner’s Hospital. The halau has also given performances for the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento State University, Census 2000, HGTV (Home and Garden Television), Pie Town Productions, Montgomery Watson Harza, KVIE Television, Good Day Sacramento, Hawai’i Visitors Bureau, Stoneman Village Senior Center, Pittsburg Heritage Festival, Corn Festival, May Day Festival, Consumnes River College, Kikoman Shoyu, ‘Ia ‘Oe E Kala Hula Competition, Mai Kahiki Mai Hula Competition, North Columbia Folklife Festival and many more. At Christmas time, they carol at the Shriner’s Hospital. Every year, a special charity such as the Special Olympics is chosen to receive the proceeds from hālau luau raffles.
Under the direction of Kumu Kamalani and Kumu Kalāhikiola, the hālau vision of unity and hula preservation has spanned the vast Pacific waters. As the future comes to pass, Kumu Kamalani and Kumu Kalāhikiola will welcome new traditions and the evolution of the hula art form.
He began his own hula school in 1987, and redefined his teachings and foundation in 1997.
Mr. Kia has worked in the entertainment industry for over 25 years and owns and operates KIA Enterprises, a Hawaiian entertainment and cultural consultant company. He is also the founder and president of the Ka Laua’e Foundation (a non-profit organization with a sound mission to promote preservation, conservation, and perpetuation of hula). He once worked as a road manager and booking agent for Henry Kapono Enterprises and C&K for three years. He also worked at KCCN Hawaiian radio for 3 years. He is a cultural consultant and entertainment advisor for the Outrigger Hotels, the Bishop Museum, the Queen Lili’uokalani Childrens Center (Kaua’i Base), companies such as World FM Network, Keep It Hawaii, the Aloha Festivals BOD, the Kaua’i Historical Society BOD, are a few to mention in Mr. Kia’s wide range of experiences, associations and growths.
Mr. Kia is an avid song writer, producer, director of Hawaiian and contemporary genres.
During the 1980s Kia performed for President George Bush, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. In 1990s he performed his beloved art of hula for President Clinton and also the Emperor of Japan. He has worked with such talented Hawaii musicians as Cecilio & Kapono, Robi Kahakalau, Ka‘au Crater Boys, Makaha Sons, IZ, Hapa, Michael McDonald, Crystal Gail, Third World, Tower of Power and more. Kia worked with Kika Inc. as a top billing performer locally for Hawaii conventions and events for 15 years.
Some of Mr. Kia’s other professional affiliations include various specialist and directing positions for the annual Hula Bowl, Keep It Hawaii, Aloha Festivals, Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center and Very Special Arts Hawaii. He is a cultural director for the Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center where he organizes special youth programs on the island of Kauai. He is also the founder of E Pili Kakou I Ho‘okahi Lahui, an annual hula retreat held on the island of Kauai in its tenth successful year. Truly one of Hawaii’s ambassadors, Kia has worked for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau representing Hawaii in various overseas conventions for 25 years.
He has won awards for his accomplishments in several recognized hula competitions including the Mokihana Festival, the Merrie Monarch Festival and the King Kamehameha Hula Competition. Mr. Kia has supported the Aloha Festivals for over 20 years and recently received the honorable Kahili award for perpetuating the native songs and dances of Hawaii in the Aloha Friday show at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Waikiki. He also served as the halftime pageantry director for the KODAK Hula Bowl from 1990-1995, receiving an award each of the five years for his carefully orchestrated Polynesian segment compilations. Kia has recently received a Keep It Hawaii award for producing a CD compellation for the Waikiki Beach Walk.
Mr. Kia has been active as a Hawaiian cultural consultant for the last 15 years with credentials that allow him to perform Hawaiian customs and protocols, workshops to engage in spiritual wellness and health, Hawaiian ceremonies and composing music and chants. Mr. Kia also produces and directs pure Hawaiian shows and specialized workshops in Hawaiian subject matters to help clients achieve the ultimate goal of Hawaiian experiences and cultural arts.
Currently Mr. Kia is the cultural advisor for the Outrigger Reef, Kauai Historical Society, the Bishop Museum’s department of programs and events and the Hula Advisory Board, Waikiki Beach Walk, the Aloha Festivals, the Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center (Kauai Base), and a diverse clientele adding to his array of credentials that produce unprecedented results.
http://www.kaleihula.com/klh/blaine-kamalani-kia
Presenter’s bio:
Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia, along with his band Kekaniwai and members of his halaus the ladies of Halau Ka Waikahe Lani Malie and the men of Halau Kahulaliwai are this week’s guests on Pakele Live! with Tony Solis.
Recognized throughout Hawai’i for his cultural expertise, Blaine has passionately dedicated his life to perpetuating Hawaiian traditions. He is an accomplished Kumu Hula (hula teacher), a cultural director and consultant, and a talented musician and actor. He has hula halau (schools) all over the world, including O’ahu, Kauai, California (Sacramento, Antioch and Stockton), Montana, Japan, Canada, and Tahiti.
Kia has worked in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, and owns and operates KIA Enterprises, a Hawaiian entertainment company. He is also the founder and president of the Ka Laua’e Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the preservation, conservation, and perpetuation of the hula. He once worked as a road manager and booking agent for Henry Kapono Enterprises and C&K.
He has released at least six CDs since 1997, exercising his musical talents in collaborative cultural projects in traditional Hawaiian as well as island contemporary music.
His acting career spans several decades, and he has appeared in such films and television series as “Aloha Summer,” “Jake and the Fatman,” “Island Son,” and “Magnum P.I.,” as well as over 30 local and 15 national commercials. His most recent work was as the musical consultant and an actor in the 2008 film PRINCESS KAIULANI.
Kia also works with the Aloha Festivals, Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center and Very Special Arts Hawaii. He is also the founder of E Pili Kakou I Ho‘okahi Lahui, a highly popular, non-competitive annual hula and cultural retreat held on Kauai, Japan, Canada, Tahiti, and Sacramento, CA, where participants have the opportunity to learn hula from a variety of acclaimed kumu hula, including Sonny Ching, Keala Ching, Maka Herrod, Ed Collier, Chinky Mahoe and more. Students may also take classes in feather work from Aunty Paulette Kahalepuna, implement making from Mike Kop, Hawaiian language, and more.
Truly one of Hawaii’s ambassadors, Kia has worked for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau representing Hawaii in various overseas conventions around the globe and has won awards for his accomplishments in several areas, including the Merrie Monarch (and other) hula festivals, the honorable Kahili award for perpetuating the native songs and dances of Hawaii, a Pele award in partnership with Lynda Ching photography, and the Keep It Hawaii award.
Join Tony Solis for Pakele Live! on Thursday, April 15 from 6-8 p.m. HST in the Pakele Lounge at the Ala Moana Hotel (410 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu). There is no cover or minimum, although your purchase of two drinks or soft drinks helps ensure the continuation of the Pakele Live! concert series. (Note: Pakele Lounge has once again stopped serving food.) All ages are welcome, and free parking is available next door at Ala Moana Shopping Center.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=402409559896
Blaine Kia, the Man born in 1963, is a multi-tasking, multi-talented individual. Part of this new generation of young Hawaiians pushing and creating new boundaries while helping to perpetuate all that is Hawaii and Hawaiiana.
Blaine Kia, the Teacher has his foundation on the teachings of the late Darrell ’Ihi’ihilauakea Lupenui, the late John Kaimiikaua and the widely renown Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett.
Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia is the founder of Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie and Hālau Kahulaliwai. His foundation comes from the teachings of the late Darrell ’Ihi’ihilauakea Lupenui, the late John Kaimiikaua and the widely renown Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett.
Today, he is the one who leads and inspires young dancers through Hawaii, California, Montana, Japan and Tahiti. Kumu Hula Blaine Kia was a hula pupil with the Men of Waimapuna from 1980 to the passing of his Kumu, Darrell Ihi’ihilauakea Lupenui in 1987. Kumu Blaine competed and performed throughout his growth and humble beginnings with Darrell. Now, with all the experience under his belt, he become a kumu hula recognized for his work and contributions made from his generation.
Shortly following the death of Darrell Lupenui, Kia continued his tutoring under the late Kumu Hula, John Kaimikaua from 1988 to his passing in 2006 and retained a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to sustain the growth much needed after losing Darrell Lupenui. Through this tutoring from John Kaimikaua, Blaine also sought out the teachings of Kumu Hula, Frank Kawaikapuokolani Hewett from 1989 to the present. These two Kumu Hula molded and shaped Kumu Kia into the force he has become in the hula world today.
Kumu Blaine Kia talks about the hula controversy and Saturday’s festival. 8/7/2010.
MO`OKU`AUHAU: Lineage of Hula
Darrell `Ihi`ihilauakea Lupenui, The Men of Waimapuna: 1980 to 1987
John Kaimikaua: 1988 to 2006
Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett: 1989 to present
FOUNDER & TEACHER: The Women of Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie
& The Men of Hālau Kahulaliwai (Hula Institutions)
• Kaua`i Island (Hawaii)
• Oahu Island (Hawaii)
• Sacramento, CA
• Antioch, CA
• Stockton, CA (Hiva Nui affiliation)
• Kalispell, MT
• Chiba/Tokyo/Nagoya, Japan
• Papeno’o, Tahiti (Haururu Organization-affiliation)
The Hawaii Book and Music Festival 
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