Aranda Eder / Hawaiian Bodywork Practitioner, Lomi Lomi Oluea (Switzerland)

Graduate Beginners Course Aug 2020

The Beginners’ Course helped me to dive deeper into the original Hawaiian knowledge right from the start. With the recordings, I can move forward with my Hawaiian studies. Now I know my voice in a new way, and I learned new movements with my body. I didn't know before that it is nice to see me dancing HULA, and I liked the comments in FB :)

Mark Loveridge / Hawaiian Bodywork Practitioner,  (Tasmania, AU)

Graduate Beginners Course Aug 2020

My problem was I didn't know any Oli or Hula off by heart and being remote from Hawaii didn't help. I felt just somewhat disconnected from the Source!
What was different about this membership were the face-to-face weekly meetings, good value for money, professional, friendly, and easily contactable!

I will say that the Oli and Hula helped me stay strong, centered, and more at ease with Aloha than if I hadn't done this, even with a tsunami of events tainting my life at the moment, my wife noticed the difference too, and said so several times. I also feel more connected to Hawaii and its essence of it, which will hopefully improve any Lomi Lomi I do.

My advice: Be prepared to do the Hana! And to make new friends.

Christy Friske-Daniels, AZ. 

Graduate Beginners Course Jan 2021

I had a yearning for a deeper experience of hula and the culture. I had gotten a taste of it from a previous kumu who moved to Las Vegas and my current teacher focuses on Polynesian dance, which I LOVE, but there was something else calling.  

Learning from Kumu Paʻa Kyrian and Kumu Pa’a Nui Lawrence is a huge jump!! Their integrity and commitment to teaching us to think like a Hawaiian, so we can fully grasp the cultural import behind the mele we are dancing, is immense. 

And it’s shared with total aloha, no matter what my ethnic background.  

As a former teacher & librarian at a public high school, I am also aware of how nurtured I continue to feel in class. I am supremely challenged, but with the grace and patience, and encouragement of Kumu Kyrian.  

I was sharing with my book group about my experience here. I feel like I vibrate in a different way-praying more & attending to essence. In learning about the mele, not only do I have a deeper appreciation of the poetry and belief that everything is alive/has a spirit and an essence- the rocks, the cliffs, the flowers, and how connected Hawaiians are to the land.... but I LOVE those moments in my life when I'm really feeling it and knowing it as a truth, not just observing it in others. 

This is way more than a dance class….  

Rowena Katigbak / Artist (Canada)

Graduate Beginners Course Jan 2021

The problem I was having before I discovered the Beginners Course was finding information shared from an authentic indigenous spiritual perspective. It was frustrating because the information I could find on the internet was very westernized, superficial, false, and misleading.

What I loved about the Beginners Course is that everything is integrated. We learn the stories and meaning behind everything that we do and we connect with the wisdom from a place of Aloha. My hesitations before I decided to enroll were that I wanted to make sure that the teachings were authentic from an indigenous perspective. I was looking for a true source. Also, I had to consider the financial aspects.

With the first oli I learned, I felt the benefits. I felt a deep connection and joy when singing this oli. I experience these moments of connection during my studies in oli and hula. It's more than a connection with myself but also an understanding of a greater perspective and connection with the community and everything around us. Since beginning this course and integrating the teachings within my daily practice and other studies, I have been experiencing deeper moments where Spirit was sending me a message.

I am able to apply the teachings in practical ways to live my life and to be more pono. I have more work to do but I know that I am on the right path. Mahalo to Kumu Nui Lawrence and Kumu Pa'a Kyrian for their teachings and mahalo to the elders and ancestors for sharing their wisdom with us. It is an opportunity to learn from a rich deeply spiritual indigenous Hawaiian culture, and to learn how to align with your truth as well as align with the greater Truth. It's a way to preserve and honor these beautiful traditions, bring harmony, and strengthen the community. Mahalo for all the work you do!

Elizabeth T., CA.

Graduate Beginners Course Jan 2021

I wanted a better understanding of Hawaiian culture and legends. I didn't feel that my hula had much of a foundation. It was just dancing, which I love, but without any meaning behind it. I had lost interest in the hula.

You require the student to understand the background of each hula and chant. The presentations are well done and the photos help me understand the location and inspiration behind each story. I had several hesitations before I decided to do the course because I wasn't sure I could commit the time required and I wasn't sure if my poor memory would allow me to memorize the lessons.

I feel I understand the stories behind the oli and hula now, that learning by rote without any knowledge of the subject wasn't satisfying. My own interest has revived and I'm happy to be learning the culture and dancing.

I would tell anyone who is thinking about joining how reassuring and welcoming Kumu Kyrian and Kumu Lawrence are. 

Kirstyn Lindsay, QLD, Australia

Graduate Beginners Course Jan 2021

I was very interested in learning Hula and expanding on my Ike from the Papa & Hoʻoponopono class sessions I attended in 2017. I wasn’t sure how I would learn Hula living overseas plus I had to rehabilitate and learn to walk again after surgery in 2018 so dancing didn’t seem an option. I was wishing I could study further with you, the frustration was that I felt like I had missed out on a dream of mine.

You have been very generous with your classes and resources and are offering a very deep knowledge base that far exceeds my understanding of learning Hula let alone Oli’s. Plus I love how we are being included in your Ohana and a broader global community.

I was worried about my fitness and mobility and if I could honour the commitment to you and your ancestors and myself. Because of the course, I felt stronger in myself and less reactive to situations in my personal life. At first, learning the systems of family and listening in to some of the talk stories on Hoʻoponopono was triggering for me but on the plus side, has unblocked a lot in my spirit and body, especially with learning Hula. I also received more interesting dreams and I am learning to think differently by learning a new language.

It benefited me in that I have something to look forward to and work towards, a strong spirit and body, and new friends
 

For anyone who has a love for Hawaiian culture, this would be an excellent pathway for learning. Mahalo a nui loa for your support and for sharing your wisdom. You’ve provided an opportunity for us to travel to and learn about Molokai Island from our homes across the sea. A very blessed experience.

 Christine Dietrich / Entdeckungsreisen Ins Leben (Switzerland)

My life's quality is improving ever since I know you guys. I'm a much happier person than I have been 10 years ago and that is basically because of you, Kumu Paʻa Nui Lawrence Kalainia Kamani Aki, and your teachings. And of course with the help of Kumu Paʻa Kyrian van Vliet.

As I was reading the description of the class I thought to myself: "yep, check, that's exactly what it does." I can wholeheartedly confirm that all of the points listed came or are coming true in my life through the teachings.

Barbara Dempsey / Hula Instructor, Aloha Allure (California)

Kumu and Kyrian - great knowledge and good instructors with patience. Class members have good mana, the cost of the class is feasible, classroom posts/ videos are extremely helpful

Ari Perez / Hawaiian Bodywork Practitioner, Ke Aloha Massage and Bodywork Yungaburra (Australia)

I feel part of an Ohana & the teaching helps me within my life and work as I feel connected to spirit and feel guided.

Marc Pichard / Retired Translator (Canada)

I like immersing myself in Hawaiian traditions, familiarizing myself with protocol, networking with like-minded friends, keeping in touch with Molokai. I think the way things are currently organized and presented is excellent, I wouldn't change a thing.

Alicia Hall / Hawaiian Bodywork Practitioner, Rivers of Light Bodywork (WA, USA)

I like the flexibility of the schedule, the depth, knowledge, and wisdom of Kumu. I like it’s an ongoing process meeting us where we are at.

Ivette D. G., Belgium

Graduate Beginners Course May 2022

I was in doubt whether I would participate in the course because of the chants we were going to learn and the late hour at which the lessons took place in Belgium.

The course gave me the courage to use my voice for the first time. It has given me joy in dancing and I feel I am living on a higher vibration. 

Kumu Kyrian is a very sweet teacher who does that very well.

Petra Spikkel, Belgium

Graduate Beginners Course May 2022

Everything was different about our Beginners' Course Hawaiian Chants and Hula. I loved the Hula more than the Oli (Hawaiian Chants), but both were ok. Altogether it was pretty intense.

Before I signed up, I doubted whether I should join, since the course fee is quite high, and I didn't know how much time I had to invest.

One thing I noticed as a result of the course, is that on our trip during the Easter holidays I could easily go up and down a mountain (we were in Andalusia, a mountainous area) so my quadriceps had become stronger by dancing with the knees bent.

I loved doing the Oli during my morning walks with the dog, and was amazed at how fast I learned them. Also, at the beginning of the second Hula, “Ua Nani Molokai”, I couldn't follow it because I thought it was way too fast, but later it was not the case anymore. It is nice to see how fast I picked up on things.

I recommend it to anyone who loves dancing and good music, but what I noticed, it took so much of my time that other hobbies had to be put on hold such as yoga.

I think that Kumu Kyrian is a great teacher, she has a lot of patience and knows it through and through. I would like to learn more but at a slower tempo.