Na Maka O Puuwai Aloha

Highly recommend you give this studio/ Halau a shot. Daughter has been going here a year they are so great the teachers, the office staff, the atmosphere is all so amazing. So grateful we found this halau.

A quick review about Erin Kanno. My daughter has been going to Na Maka to take hip hop and now jazz from Ms. Erin for the last 4 years. I have seen my daughter in many performances and today I just saw her in a performance at Pearlridge center and I was surprised in a good way. My daughter has become not only a dancer but has poise and confidence that only a teacher could provide for their students. I am happy that my daughter enjoys dance and music. I am also happy to have found a great teacher that doesn't only teach how to do this move or that move but also teaches, as she says, to "dance to the beat of your heart". I could see that in my daughter today. Thank you Ms. Erin, all of your hard work, dedication, and love for your students is well appreciated.

You'll find this studio unique in their Hula as they are a none competing Halau and they choose to travel to share Aloha every 2 years around the world. I feel good about sending my daughter here as the focus is learning the culture and the dance in a non-competitive environment. Mandi is amazing with the kids and is able to capture their interest at such a young age. Na Maka O Pu'uwai also offers classes in various performing arts genres such as hip hop, ballet, jazz, voice, music, etc. Being a student at the studio gives each child the opportunity to qualify for a scholarship to assist in future college endeavors too! Great studio making a difference in the community!

My daughter took a break from hula because we couldn't find a hula class that met all our needs. I was so thankful to be referred to this halau. The Kumu's are so patient and alive! My daughter looks forward to Saturday's for hula. She tells me everyone is so nice and she still raving about this place. Today was her 4th session and she's learning many new things about hula. My boyfriend was a previous hula dancer and he tells me that we've found a LEGIT halau. So happy to hear that because these days, you will pay a stupid high fee for classes that are not worth it. Give this place a try! I live on the opposite side of this halau but I will gladly take my daughter every Saturday's! Also super clean studio. Only downfall is parking is limited.

Excellent dance studio! They offer hula, Polynesian, hip-hop, voice, ukulele, guitar, and so much more! Family environment and so much fun! They emphasize community service (for all) and education (for the kids and teens). Highly recommended.

Great studio offering a variety of classes. Mandi (founder) is wacky and awesome! I like how she doesn't participate in competitions. Instead she would rather have the dancers fundraise to travel...something they may otherwise not experience. She also fundraises, so high school seniors that dance hula can get a small scholarship. She also encourages community service not only to build character, but to help teens when they fill out scholarship and college applications. I wish the classes were at better times, but that's not the studio's fault. Also parking can be a challenge when a lot of the street parking has been taken. Btw, I also like her style of hula with the hips swaying a lot. I stopped dancing for a few years and recently came back...I noticed that her choreography is more beautiful than before.

Let's start with all the good... My daughter absolutely loves the hula classes and kumus! She learned more new songs than she did in the last year than she did in the 3 years she did at the previous halau she dances with. The absolutely only negative I have is the woman who is the cashier/receives Payments in the office is the most unfriendly person there. A hello, smile or thank you wouldn't hurt anyone. But she apparently doesn't know any of that. Not friendly at all and unpleasant to deal with. Luckily everything else about the halau we enjoy, and only need to encounter her once a month.

An OK dance studio but sub par management of upcoming performance at Hawaii Theater. Tickets sold out in two days, leaving many of the performers basic family unable to attend. This is not Bruno Mars...limit tickets per student so all performers basic family can attend.