Kumu Hula Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu

Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu is a kumu hula (master hula teacher), proudly born on the island of O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, before it became the 50th State in the Union. Widely known for his unique approach to Hawaiian chanting and innovative hula choreography, he is passionately committed to sustaining and furthering the Hawaiian cultural art of hula in the diaspora. Founder of the Academy of Hawaiian Arts, located on the border of East Oakland and San Leandro, he continues to redefine hula with bold, theatrical interpretations that honor the tradition while pushing itʻs creative limitations. His original works include Kingdom Denied, a hula musical that tells the story of the last days of the Hawaiian Monarchy; Waikīkī, a charming musical focused amidst the once mecca of Hawaiian entertainment; and the mastermind behind Ka Hula Hou, an audience-engaged competitive platform. His voice and compositions are featured in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, PBS’s American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai’i, and acclaimed albums Po‘okela Chants, Call It What You Like, and TraditionaLimits. 

As a kanaka mālalaioa (indigenous Hawaiian artisan), he creates, carves, and weaves everything from hula implements to canoes, agricultural practices to cooking, and continues to teach, create and perform, sharing the essence of Hawaiian culture and values by living immersed in a Hawaiian lifestyle.