Hana Arts

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About Us

Our Vision: Hāna Arts envisions our community inspired and united by the profound and long-lasting impact that exposure to the Arts has on people’s lives.

Our Mission: Hāna Arts provides Art & Cultural education and both life-enhancing and income-generating opportunities for all East Maui keiki to kupuna through youth, individual and family programs including classroom teaching, workshops and events that help stimulate and broaden our community’s potential.

Hāna Arts began providing visual art and crafts classes for Hāna children in 1991. We built on this, expanding our programs under the umbrella of the Hāna Youth Center, and then Hāna Cultural Center. By the time we incorporated in 1998, we were offering classes in dance, Hawaiian and world cultures, theatre, visual arts and music to both children and adults.

Hāna Arts is the prevalent facilitator of Art activity in Hāna/East Maui. We collaborate with many local agencies that serve our youth and their families, as well as local schools, universities and other larger art agencies within the Hawaiian islands and beyond.

The Hāna/East Maui geographical area we serve, from Ke’anae to Kaupo, consists of a 30-mile radius coastal community isolated by its geographical boundaries, rural lifestyle and difficult mountain terrain. We support the creative processes of these very special residents, and strive to create opportunities for them to reach their full potential.

Hāna Arts employs professional artists and educators from the community and around the world. Our dedicated staff frequently volunteer time equal to or greater than the number of hours paid to run our quality programs.

Programs

Hāna Arts Academy: A program embedded in Hāna High & Elementary School which educates over 400 students from preschool to high school in the four core art disciplines: Music, Visual Arts, Drama and Dance, as well as Hawaiian Cultural education. Employing professional artists and cultural practitioners, this program augments the current limited educational system to offer students a variety of creative thinking and skill building instruction.

Hāna Arts Community Arts/Culture Education: Our community platform which hosts various classes and workshops throughout the year, including hula, lei-making, yoga, painting and various arts and culture classes. The program allows local and traveling professional artists to share their specialized skills while providing diverse education that can inspire, strengthen, and build the minds and bodies of East Maui residents and visitors.

Hāna Arts Ceramics: A studio which offers classes including wheel-throwing, glazing, and firing techniques. Currently located at Hāna School, and serves elementary to high school students.

Hāna Arts Mural Program: A weekly program that engages youth and a professional artist that teach students about mural curation, restoration, development, and design.

Hāna Arts After School & Intersession: A variety of enrichment activities located at Hāna High & Elementary School. Employing professional artists and cultural practitioners, this program offers a variety of specialized programs including ballet, hula, ukulele, orchestra, theater, band, jiu jitsu, ceramics, and yoga.

Hāna Legends: A community theatre program which allows cultural practitioners a platform to teach their skills and knowledge of hula, mele, oli and craftsmanship through telling an ancient story from the past.

Hāna Arts Presents: Our events and workshops program where we are able to bring various Arts and Cultural performances to Hāna. These educational and entertaining events and workshops are able to unite and inspire the community, as well as bolstering the economy by generating various lodging and sales opportunities.

Hāna Arts Printmaking Studio: We host seasonal workshops where high school youth and adults can come together with their own individual images and designs to learn the Art of Printmaking. We see this as a vehicle for expression, skill-building and small business support.

Calendar

Gallery

When	Who	Who Else	Where
May 2025	Events TBA Shortly!

The Levitt AMP Hāna Music Series is supported in part by the Levitt Foundation, which partners with communities across America to activate underused public spaces through the power of free live music, creating welcoming, inclusive destinations where people of all ages and backgrounds come together. levitt.org

Board Of Directors

President Robin Newton is a talented jewelry artist and co-owns a local boutique which features many local artists’ works. She is also a professional chef and designer with a passion for the ocean and our Hana community of which she has lived for the past 40 years

Vice President Jason Newland is an arts advocate and businessman of East Maui. He has been involved with youth programs and education before opening his own businesses, and currently has two children engaged in Hana Arts programs at Hana School.

TreasurerBlessing Hancock is an award-winning public artist and owner of Skyrim Studio. She has a background in Sculpture and Landscape Architecture, and has designed dozens of large illuminated sculptures installed around the country as well as internationally.

SecretaryJessica Keay is co-owner and designer of a tropical flower company. She is an avid participant at the Hāna Art Barn and is excited to lend her business expertise to developing the program to the next level.

Board Members

Bonika Amarasinghe received her advertising and marketing degree from FIT in New York and has done creative work for large fashion corporations before settling in Hana, Maui. She has two small children who became involved in Hana Arts programs, and was inspired to support through board participation.

Nahelenani Cabebe has been a dedicated teacher in Hana for 8 years and currently serves as the Grade Level Coordinator (GLC) department head at Hana High & Elementary School (HHES). Originally from the Big Island, Nahelelani is deeply committed to the Hana community, where she is raising her three children, all of whom attend HHES. Her passion for education and her strong connection to the community make her a valuable member of the Hana Arts board.

Diana Pohai Naihe, known as Pohai, was born and raised in Hana. She is a first-grade teacher at Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Hana (KK), where she brings her lifelong love for arts and culture into the classroom. Pohai has been involved in numerous Hana Arts programs since childhood, nurturing her passion for arts education and community engagement. Her deep roots in Hana and her dedication to fostering creativity in young students enrich her contributions to the Hana Arts board.

Nakua Konohia-Lind was born and raised in Hana and has played a significant role in the community's cultural and educational initiatives. He helped build the Hana Arts building and has been actively involved with the Hokule’a, participating in its worldwide voyage. Nakua attended the University of Hawai'i for boat making and currently works at Kahanu Garden. His extensive experience in traditional Hawaiian practices and his commitment to preserving and promoting Hawaiian culture make him an invaluable asset to the Hana Arts board./span>

Melody Waiwai`ole Cosma-Gonsalves - Melody Waiwaiole Cosma-Gonsalves is an 18th-generation Hāna resident with over 21 years at Hāna School. She taught high school Social Studies and Hawaiian Studies for 15 years and now teaches in the Kaiapuni program. Melody holds a Bachelor’s in Hawaiian Language with a focus on performance arts and a Master’s in Curriculum Studies. Her work fosters cultural preservation and empowers the next generation of Hāna leaders.

Staff Members

Executive Director Becky Elizabeth Lind is the glue that holds our organization together. She has studied Business Administration from University of Hawaii, & has years managing various other businesses. Overseeing all administrative aspects of HA, Becky works closely with the Board, Partners and Staff to ensure all operations run smoothly. Becky is a Certified Festival & Events Executive (CFEE), sits on the Hāna Community Association Board as Treasurer, and is also an active member of the Hāna Advisory Committee to the Maui County Council.

Program Manager & Yoga Instructor Shari Berman earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from University of Maryland. She manages the Hāna Arts Academy programs and serves as the liaison between arts instructors and school teachers to ensure satisfaction with lesson planning and classroom management as well as managing the Art Barn programs. She has been studying and practicing yoga for almost 30 years, both in America and India and has taught throughout Asia, Europe and Hawaii.

Upper Elementary Visual Arts Instructor Carlos Uribe holds a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts for Printmaking. He has been teaching art for over 20 years to all age groups in both urban and rural places. This is his 3rd year working with Hana Arts and he utilizes a wide variety of visual arts methods from watercolor to paper mache.

Visual Arts Assistant A local Hawaiian artist and dedicated teacher who has been honing his craft since high school. Born and raised in Hana and firm believer that anyone and everyone can learn something new, he has returned to the very school where he graduated, now inspiring the next generation of artists. He now stands as an art teacher ready to encourage fresh minds to make art a part of their life as well.

Lower Elementary Visual Arts Instructor Miho Brower attended Tokyo Art School in Tokyo, Japan. She worked as a graphic designer in Tokyo for 12 years before moving to Hana. She has been in Hana for 19 years and has worked with Hana Arts for 4 years. She utilizes many natural sources and Hawaiian cultural influences as possible.

Music Instructor David Yu Vazques has studied Music and Biology at Plano College in Texas. Having studied music from both academic and independent approaches, Yu is well versed in multiple instruments from string family, percussion, brass and woodwinds. He volunteered in many childhood learning programs across different cultures and he seeks to share his long time passion of the language of music with our Hana keiki diversifying personal resources available for expression and communication.

`Olelo Arts Instructor Kaimana Cabebe is an active staff member for Punana leo O Hana (Hawaiian Immersion School), Hawaiian Language Instructor for University of Maui, and a well-versed musician and artist. As Kulakaiapuni was introduced into Hana School last year, Hana Arts Academy employed Kaimana to serve the `Olelo speaking students so that we can continue to provide all Hana School Elementary students with Arts Education.

Hula Instructor Kumuhula Pi’ilani Lua comes from a long lineage of hula and has been practicing for over forty years. She has created the Waimea Hula Competition and halau and has toured throughout the islands, states and even internationally. Several of her students have become instructors throughout the world. Pi’ilani has also been an esteemed judge for the famed Merrie Monarch Festival for five seasons.

Ceramics Instructor Tania Woessner has more than a decade of experience in the field of pottery. She has lived in Hana for over 18 years and is a loving mother to two children. With a background in Finance, Tania not only instructs art as expression but also as a viable business. Tania has developed and designed the studio and has produced works on display and for sale at several shops and galleries throughout Maui. You can see her work on her instagram page @mermaidislandpottery (Mermaid Island Pottery).

Theater Games Instructor Melody Sare is an enthusiastic media novice who studied Radio and Television at Colorado Media School. Her background in theatre has fueled her passion for storytelling and performance. Her passion for connecting with people and her dedication to the craft make her a versatile talent in both the entertainment and media industries.

Hula/Olelo Instructor Didi Mililani Krause is a valued cultural practitioner and hula dancer with an expansive knowledge base and high fluency in Native Hawaiian language and traditions.

Visual Arts Instructor Hiroko Otakagi graduated from the College of Osaka University of Arts and Design in Japan, with one of her artworks becoming an acquisition for the University's art collection. She has joined many private, public and commercial mural projects as a painter including Disney and Universal Studios and was involved in mural workshops for kids, that led her to become a part of the crew of the 50th Anniversary of Independence of Indonesia Commemoration Mural Project at the University of IKIP and STKW in Surabaya, East Jawa from Osaka prefectural government.

Girls Group Instructor Angela holds a Master's Degree in Teaching and taught High School Social Studies at Hāna School for two years. She also received her 200-hr Yoga Teaching Certificate and Holistic Health Coach Certification which she uses in leading the Hāna Arts Girls Group program. She is currently a counselor at Hāna School and is pursuing another Masters degree from UH Hawaii in Counseling.

Hawaiian Arts Instructor Jaimie Peters

Tahitian Dance Instructor Hinarau Gold

Kula Kaiapuni Ka’koo Shy Tolentino

Hawaiian Arts Instructor Kili’ohu Thomas

Art Barn Instructors

At this location, we showcase several music and dance instructors, martial arts sensei, several yoga teachers, figure drawing host, and many more. Each month can host an average of 12-16 in-kind instructors.

Eliza Darling, Yoga Instructor
Shari Berman, Ashtanga Yoga Instructor
Vance Pu, Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Poerava Tehiva, Tahitian Dance Instructor
Christel Blumer-Buell, Yoga Instructor
Pi’ilani Lua, Hula Instructor

Volunteers HA enjoys a huge host of volunteers who donate their time and energy to help make this organization thrive.

Hawaiian Cultural Practitioners and Experts of Hāna

Mililani Krause Kumu for our Kula Kaiapuni program; expert in La’au Lapa’au (Hawaiian herbs)

Fawn Helekahi Our University of Hawaii Maui College Academic Support professional, Fawn is also the head Kumu (teacher) for several Hawaiian cultural programs.

Moani Aiona A counselor at Hana High and Elementary School, Moani also manages the local Hula Halau.

Pi’ilani Lua Kumuhula Pi’ilani Lua comes from a long lineage of hula and has been practicing for over forty years. She has created the Waimea Falls Hula Competition and halau and has toured throughout the islands, states and even internationally. Several of her students have become instructors throughout the world. Pi’ilani has also been an esteemed judge for the famed Merrie Monarch Festival for four seasons.

Strano Castro A local Hawaiian artist and dedicated teacher who has been honing his craft since high school. Born and raised in Hana and firm believer that anyone and everyone can learn something new, he has returned to the very school where he graduated, now inspiring the next generation of artists. He now stands as an art teacher ready to encourage fresh minds to make art a part of their life as well.

Nahelelani Cabebe

Contact

Hāna Arts
P.O. Box 686
Hāna, Hawaii 96713
(808) 248-7569

Donate

A donation of $25 will provide you with an annual membership! Your membership and donations have a direct impact on the Hāna community.
Active involvement in visual arts, drama, music, and dance programs has been proven to increase confidence & self-esteem.(SIAP)

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Pili ‘Ohana (Connected Family) – $25/year
Mālama Partner (Guardian of the Arts) – $100/year
Ho’ōla Benefactor (Culture Sustainer) – $500/year
Kuleana Circle (Legacy Sponsor) – $1,000/year and above
Top Tier Opportunity: ‘Ohana Visionary Sponsor – $10,000 and above

Every dollar helps and all donations are tax-deductible.

If a monetary donation is not within your means, you may also donate service, materials, and equipment to support our programs.

Board Of Directors

Board Members

Staff Members

Hawaiian Cultural Practitioners and Experts of Hāna

Sponsors