About

Welina me ke aloha!

Founded in March 2015, Halau Kiuwailehua is a hula school based on a standard of excellence and teachings passed on to Kumu Hula Sonny- Jean Irvine Preston and anointed through blessings set forth by Akua and her Kumu Hula to transform the lives of everyone that steps through our halau doors. 

 Sonny- Jean Irvine-Preston was born in Hilo, Hawai’i and lived in her family home in the small town of Pepeekeo before her ohana relocated to  the Windward side on the island of O’ahu.  She began her hula journey at the age of 8. As a haumana of Kumu Hula Camille Collins, Mary Kupau and Al Makahinu Bacarse, Sonny- Jean served as an olapa, alaka’i and ho’opa’a for more than 32 years before collectively being blessed to carry on the traditions of her Kumu Hula. Sonny-Jean has taught and danced all over the world sharing her love of hula, but her passion is for her community of Kahalu'u and Hau’ula on the North Shore where Halau Kiuwailehua resides. A native to Hau'ula, Sonny-Jean's husband is a 5th generation to the land of the red hau and it is in the uplands of the Hau'ula Homestead that the permanent halau studio sits and nourishes hula each week.  Besides caring for her ohana and teaching hula, Kumu Sonny Jean serves full time as HCAP's Windward District Social Services Manager in Kahalu'u right alongside Key Project where she has humbly served the community for over 15 years. It is also where halau offers weekly classes since 2015.

Halau Kiuwailehua offers classes in oli, kahiko and auana to all levels. 

Class schedules and times:

Kahalu'u on Tuesdays:

5:00-5:45 p.m. Papa Liko (kaikamahine and keiki kane ages 3-7)

5:00-6:30 p.m. Papa Lehua (kaikamahine and keiki kane ages 8-13)

6:30-8:30 p.m. Papa Kupukupu (Wahine ages 14-34) Enrollment for beginners is now closed. At this time, we are only taking new wahine haumana with a minimum of 7+ years of experience. 

Papa Hinahina Kupuna 50 years and older - please email for class days and time

Hau’ula on Saturdays:

8- 9:15 a.m. Papa Liko- Enrollment closed

Tuition:

Monthly Tuition is $60 a month per haumana. 

• There is a $10 discount for each additional household member.
• A late fee of $15 will be added if paid after the 1st of each month.
• There is a one-time $60 registration fee per Ohana due at registration. This includes haumana who wish to return after a leave of absence.
• Ohana may be asked to purchase additional items such as costumes, implements and other hālau associated items in order for them to function proficiently as a dancer.

All fees are non-refundable. 

 If interested please email us at kiuwailehua@gmail.com