- Kumu Hula: Voted most popular Big Island kumu hula in Hawai`i Island Journal reader polls in 2001, Pekelo clearly has a gift for teaching and inspiring his haumana (students). In fact, early students included Keali`i Reichel, Uluwehi Guerrero, and Pauline Leilani Brown, who now have their own hula halau on Maui.
- Early years: Born and raised in Ke`anae, Maui, Pekelo learned his hula and chant traditions from his ancestors. His dedication to hula was foretold by his grandmother, Wilhemina Kealohanui, who on her deathbed instructed her daughter to “take care and guide this grandson of mine well in the sacred dance.” At age 13, he won first place in oli at the Kamehameha Day competition on O`ahu and was recognized as the youngest instructor in the state. He lists Haunani Kauahi Judd, Sam Naeole, Edith Kanaka`ole, and George Naope among his kumu.
- Hawai`i Island: Pekelo moved to the Big Island in 1979 and makes his home in Kahuku, Ka`u District. He has founded several halau and developed a reputation for turning “at risk” youth into award-winning hula dancers – Pekelo feels strongly that rediscovering a positive identity through connection with Hawaiian culture can be extremely beneficial. His halau, He Kula Na Mea Hawai`i, currently meets in three different locations to serve their populations: Kahuku, Honaunau and at Volcanoes National Park. He also travels to Guam and Japan to teach haumana there.
- Ka`u HulaFest: In 1996, Pekelo founded the annual Hula and the Arts Cultural Festival as a way to “give back to the community.” Now in its sixth year, it features top entertainers and spectacular as well as unusual hula performances. A small army of volunteers transforms Wai`ohinu Park into a festive site each Labor Day weekend, and thousands of people come to enjoy two days of hula, music, crafts, food, and socializing. All of the entertainers donate their performances in a celebration that is absolutely free to everyone in a true expression of aloha.
- He Kula Na Mea Hawai`i: Pekelo’s dream is to broaden his school into a cultural resource and learning center on land purchased for that purpose in Manuka, Ka`u. “The Center is a tool for sharing the culture as well as perpetuating and enhancing the culture, keeping the crafts and the life of the land vibrant and passing it on to the children,” says Pekelo. Learn more about the Center at www.hekula.org.
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