Faculty
Faculty Members
Keith Kalanikau Awai
Kumu Hula
Kumu Hula Kalanikau Awai, master Hula Dance Instructor, was born in Honolulu and raised in Haleiwa (North Shore of O’ahu), Hawai’i. Keith attended Kamehameha Schools and the Church College of Hawai’i, now Brigham Young University – Hawai’i campus. While at Kamehameha, Keith first studied hula under the late Aunty Nona Beamer and afterward with the late Aunty Sally Moanikeala Wood Nalua’i, the first kumu hula of the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) since its opening in October 1963. Kumu Keith retired from PCC in 2016 after 43 years of service.
Following an uniki (graduation) ceremony in 1981 by Kumu Sally “Aunty Sally” Moanike‘ala Wood Nālua‘i, Kumu Keith founded Hālau Kawaipu‘ilani (“the water that feeds the spirit”) in his Haleiwa hometown, a product of Kumu Keith’s dream. Since then, Kumu Keith has also judged many hula competitions in Hawai‘i and California, and conducted workshops throughout the mainland and in Japan.
James “Kimo” Luluhiwalani Awai III
Kuma Hula
Kumu Hula James “Kimo” Luluhiwalani Awai III, master Hula Dance Instructor and Cultural Advisor, was born in Honolulu, Hawai’i and spent his early youth in Kona, Hawai’i island and Haleiwa, O’ahu. Kimo attended Lahainaluna High School and the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. After high school, he lived in Honolulu before moving to the Big Island of Hawai’i where he remains a resident.
While in Hilo, he studied the Hawaiian language and the art of hula under the late Aunty Nona Beamer and with major influence from Aunty Pualani “Pua” Kanaka’ole Kanahele, a highly respected cultural practitioner, kumu hula, historian and teacher of Hawaiian traditions. As kumu hula of Hula Hālau Na Po’e Ao Hiwa (“bearers of the sacred light”), Kumu Kimo also serves as Kupuna at Keaukaha Elementary School which includes Ka ‘Umeke Kā’eo, a Hawaiian Language Charter School. He leads a full life also as a cosmetologist and licensed Buddhist minister in Hilo.
Kumu Kimo continues to share his Hawaiian cultural knowledge with the Big Island community as a spiritual leader and through lectures and workshops under programs such as Nā Pua No’eau at the University of Hawai’i – Hilo campus.
Pōmaika’i Krueger
Kuma Hula
Born and raised in Wailuku, Maui, Kumu Pōmaikaʻi Krueger has ʻūniki or earned the status of kumu hula under Maui Kumu Uluwehi Guerrero. He has studied hula for many years with Kumu Uluwehi however, his life has also lead him to dance and study with Maui Kumu Iola Balubar, and Oʻahu Kumu Sonny Ching as well as Kumu Keith Awai. Hula is a family affair for Pōmaikaʻi, who is a great-grandson of the late Kumu Lena Guerrero.
Pōmaikaʻi graduated in 2004 from Baldwin High School in Wailuku, Maui, and completed a Bachelor’s
in Hawaiian Studies at Brigham Young University – Hawai’i in 2010 after serving a two year Latter-day Saint mission in Tokyo, Japan. He has recently received the privilege of the title of Kumu Hula after completing the ʻūniki rite of passage in 2014.
He was a high school teacher teaching Hawaiian language and hula at Lahainaluna High School on Maui. He teaches in the old style – nānā ka maka, hoʻolohe ka pepeiao, paʻa ka waha, hana ka lima: eyes observe, ears obey, mouth shut, hands work. Kumu Pōmaikaʻi also strives to teach the values of his kūpuna: ka ʻoiaʻiʻo – honesty, ke kuoʻo -seriousness, ke kōkua – service, ke aloha – love.
Teaching and Administrative Staff
Clarissa Noelani Sonoda
Alaka’i
Noelani was born in Washington, DC and began her Hawaiian studies with Hālau O ‘Aulani since its inception and through numerous added cultural summer activities in Hawai‘i. A graduate of the University of Maryland and George Mason University, she currently teaches Health and Physical Education at George Washington Middle School in Alexandria, VA.
Evan Ikaika Sonoda
Alaka’i
Born in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Ikaika began his Hawaiian studies with Hālau O ʻAulani in 1996 when the school first opened its doors. A graduate of George Mason University, he now teaches Health and Physical Education at the George Washington Middle School. He resides in Alexandria, VA.
Jeannie Vieve Polinahe Andres-Waltrip
Alaka’i
Poli began her Hawaiian studies in 1992 and joined Hālau O ‘Aulani in 2009. She is a makeup artist, specializing in bridal makeup and film & television. She also works as a Hawaiian ambassador with Magic of Hawaii, working at lūʻaus throughout the Washington DC region and aboard cruise ships across Hawaii and the South Pacific. Poli has one son currently serving in the Marine Corps.
Jonalyne Hepualaha’ole Walker
Alaka‘i
Hepua began her Hawaiian studies in 1993 and joined Hālau O ‘Aulani in the spring of 2009. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). In addition to Polynesian dance and sharing the culture, Jonalyne enjoys her job in human resources, volunteering to support those who have and are battling with cancer, and spending time with great company. She currently resides in Baltimore, MD.
Miyako Pulama Tomisato Yerick
Alaka'i
Miyako Pulama Tomisato Yerick began dancing hula in 1999 with Halau O ‘Aulani. She became an alaka’i in 2006 and continued until she left for college. While attending Columbia University, she was the president of the Malama Hawaii Club. Pulama also represented American Samoa as their Cherry Blossom Princess in 2011. After graduate school, she returned to the DC area and rejoined Halau in 2014, where she returned as an alaka’i. During Covid, Pulama took time away from dancing to pursue competitive taekwondo in addition to joining the federal government. She has made over a dozen national taekwondo teams, went to the World Poomsae Championships in 2013, 2022, and 2024 and has a World Silver Medal from 2022.
Shirley Queja
Secretary of the Board & Acting Principal
Born and raised in Wahiawā, O‘ahu, Shirley left Hawai‘i in 1978 to join the staff of Hawai‘i’s junior senator, Spark Matsunaga, in his Washington, DC office until the Senator’s passing in 1990. She remained on Capitol Hill as Executive Assistant to Rep. Robert Matsui and later to his wife and successor, Rep. Doris Matsui, of Sacramento, CA. until Shirley retired in 2005 after 27 years of service. Shirley became a part of Hālau O ‘Aulani from day one with the hope of finding a place where her children and others could learn the Hawaiian traditions, customs, and values, while helping the families stay connected to our native homelands. Since then she has served in different positions to support the hālau’s mission.
Michelle Ashton
Acting Vice Principal
Michelle was raised on O‘ahu before moving to the mainland at age 10. With a Paralegal Certification and nearly 18 years at the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, she now serves as Assistant Director in Victim Witness. Proud of her Hawaiian heritage, she fosters cultural education through her daughters, Alicia and Aria, who are both students with Halau O ‘Aulani.
Jo Ann Ke’onalele Perticone
Administrative Assistant
Jo Ann Ke’onalele Perticone is the Assistant Director of Executive Education at a world-renowned research institution, where she supports adult learners and working professionals. With over 20 years of experience in finance and administrative support, she brings a strong foundation in operations, organization, and program management to delivering high-quality executive education experiences.
Her hula journey began at Halau O ‘Aulani, where she developed a deep passion for hula and Hawaiian culture. Outside of her professional life, Jo enjoys roller skating, crafting, and crocheting. She lives in northern Maryland with her husband and two rescue dogs.
Yuly Pampamallco
Administrative Assistant
Yuly Pampamallco is an administrative assistant at Halau O ‘Aulani. She served as an aviation electrician in the US Marine Corps for five years and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Information Science at the University of Maryland. Yuly joined Halau O ‘Aulani to learn more about Hawaiian culture alongside her son, who is currently a student at the Halau. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and has visited various countries and states, including Japan, China, Peru, Bolivia, the UK, Switzerland, Italy, Iceland, and Canada.
Special Instructors
David Tiave
Special Instructor
Of Samoan and Irish descent, David is special instructor specializing in the Samoan culture. He was born and raised in Honolulu, O’ahu, where he attended Farrington High School and later Brigham Young University-Hawai’i Campus in Lā’ie. In 1985, he began work at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Lā’ie as a performer and member of the PCC Promotional Team performing all over the mainland and abroad. David is currently the Cultural Manager in the Theatre Department of the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Catherine Teriipaia
Special Instructor
Catherine was born on the beautiful main island of Papeete, Tahiti, but was raised in Hau’ula, O’ahu, Hawai’i. She works at the Polynesian Cultural Center where she has been since her youth and has danced all over the world sharing and promoting the songs and dances of Polynesia in general. She continues to perpetuate her Tahitian culture with various Hālau in Hawai’i. Catherine also participates in different Tahitian festivals or Heivas both in Hawai’i and on the mainland.
Jerusha Nanea Puanani Wallace Magalei
Special Instructor
Of Hawaiian, Maori (Ngai Tuhoe, Te Arawa, and Ngati Awa), Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Chinese, and Caucasian decent, Jerusha comes to us to share the Maori culture. Jerusha is originally from La’ie, Hawai’i and now lives in Hau’ula, Hawai’i.
Jerusha graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Pacific Island Studies from Brigham Young University-Hawai’i Campus and is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Jerusha is a state licensed Special Education teacher for elementary and intermediate school students and also a co-teacher at UH-Manoa where she teaches masters and doctoral level students. Further, she earned her Maori Performing Arts Certificate from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Jerusha has shared her cultural talents as a performer at the Polynesian Cultural Center for 10 years, traveled as a member of Te Wananga Maori ki Hawaiki, and assisted hālau and hui prepare for Maori performances. She speaks Hawaiian and Maori, and has been dancing Polynesian dancing for over 30 years.
Dorothy K. Awai
Special Instructor
Aunty Kanani was born on the island of Maui. Number 11 of 12 children, she graduated from the Kamehameha School for Girls where she met and married her high school sweetheart. She has 3 children. Her two sons, Kimo and Keith, are Kumu Hula of their own Hālau in Hawai’i. Her daughter is a busy mother and grandmother.
For more than 25 years, Aunty Kanani has been a Kupuna (elder, source of wisdom) at Haleiwa Elementary School where she shares the Hawaiian Culture with children. She also is a cultural Kupuna at Waimea Valley Park on the island of O’ahu. In addition, Aunty acts as an advisor to various Kupuna and Hawaiian organizations. Aunty Kanani is also a member of a musical trio, Ohana 3, and plays the piano, guitar, ukulele and the upright bass.
Board of Directors
Wendell Yee
Chairman
Background: From Kaimuki, O’ahu. Graduate, Kalani High School; University of Hawai’i; Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. Retired legal journalist, managing editor for BNA, Inc.
E. Kenneth Hong Fong
1st Vice Chair
Research Staff Member – Information Technology and Systems Division, Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, VA.
Background: From Chicago, Illinois. B.A. (Psychology), Northeastern Illinois University; M.S. (Management Services), DePaul University.
Before retiring from Federal service, held various management and technology positions at the U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Veterans Administration, and U.S. Department of Defense.
Rebecca Lehr
2nd Vice Chair
Teacher – Visual Arts in Spanish, Francis Scott Key Elementary School, Arlington, VA
Background: Born in Washington D.C. and grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Masters in Spanish, University of Salamanca, Spain.
Tam Fiely
Treasurer
Shirley Queja
Secretary of the Board & Acting Principal
Background: From Wahiawa, O’ahu. Personal/Appointments Secretary to U.S. Senator Spark Matsunaga (D-HI), 1978-1990; Executive Assistant to U.S. Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-CA, 5th), 1990-2005, and U.S. Rep. Doris O. Matsui (D-CA, 5th), 2005. Retired after 27 years service.
Michelle Ashton
Acting Vice Principal
William Ernestburg
Director
Background: From Laie, Oahu. Graduate of Kahuku High School; 30 years service in the U.S. Coast Guard (retired 2016), where he served in NJ, FL, NC, and DC; Member of the Hawaii State Society and the ‘Ukulele Hui’; Volunteer at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington D.C.
Cory Otsuji
Director
Chad Otsuji
Director
Melanie Brown
Director
Background: Melanie Brown is an International Patent Coordinator at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, VA. She grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, and holds a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University. Currently, she resides in Arlington, VA, and her daughter is in the keiki class.
Edwin T.C. Ing
Chairman Emeritus
Washington, D.C. attorney
Background: From Pu’unui, O’ahu. Tax Law Specialist, Internal Revenue Service, 1975-1977. Legislative Counsel to U.S. Senator Spark Matsunaga (D-HI), 1977-1983.
Glen Hirabayashi
Chairman Emeritus
Attorney Advisor, U.S. Tax Court, Washington, D.C.
Background: From Waimea, Kauai. West Point Academy graduate, 1969; Masters in Law, Georgetown Law School. Attorney, Internal Revenue Service national office, 1985-1986.