Halau Ho'ola Ka Mana O Hawai'i - Dallas, TX

Kumu Hula - Ka’iulani Medeiros Cruz

Ka’iulani Medeiros was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Island of O’ahu. Ka’iulani grew up in Hawai’i Kai, attended Hahaione Elementary, Niu Valley Intermediate, and a 1982 Graduate of Henry J. After high school Ka’iulani attended Kapiolani Community College, majoring in Hotel Management. Ka’iulani is the youngest of 4 children, like her two older sisters,

Nalani and Mahealani she began hula at the age of 4 years old trained by Leilani Alama for a very extensive period of time then later under Kealoha Kalama. Ka’iulani’s mom, Sylvia Mililani Medeiros, (Hawaiian) was a Professional Piano Player (Soloist) in Waikiki for 42 years, and her Dad, George L. Medeiros Sr; (Portuguese) was a retired Honolulu police officer (solo bike rider) and Doorman at the Moana Hotel. Ka’iulani grew up in Waikiki performing at the Ho’olaulea, Waikiki Shell, Kapiolani Bandstand, Royal Hawaiian shopping Center, along with a lot of the hotels in Waikiki. In 1992 Ka’iulani and her husband, Kaneali’i, their 3 young sons, Alika, Kawika, and Keoki relocated to Dallas, Texas to start an affordable life on the mainland. After living in Dallas for a little bit, Ka’iulani became homesick and wanted to start hula again, her sister Mahealani, located Frank Keli’i Chang III on the internet and told me I found a Kumu for us that was in 2004. While training under Kumu Keli’i Chang III, I had the honor of competing in the 2004 Merrie Monarch (Hilo, Hawai’i), 2006 E Hula Mau (Long Beach, California) and 2010 King Kamehameha (Honolulu, Hawai’i) competitions. Recently, on October 26th, 2010 I received the most honorable Makana (gift), Kumu Keli’i ‘uniki’d me to Kumu Hula. Ka’iulani currently lives in Irving, teaching hula in the Dallas area and continues to perpetuate the Hawaiian Culture, keeping it alive in Texas.