The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Kaui Isa-Kahaku and her students raised nearly $800 for SCS at her dance school's hula-thon.

Hulas and hips help support SCS

By Natasha Collins

With a shake of the hips, a twist of the hands and a step to the left and the right, about 30 hula dancers raised money for Sunnyvale Community Services Nov. 18.

Kaui Isa-Kahaku, owner and instructor of Island Moves dance studio on Murphy Avenue, thought hula dancing would be just the thing to earn some cash for SCS while having a good time.

"I had participated in the city's walk-a-thon to raise money for SCS and thought I could do something with the school," Isa-Kahaku said.

Dressed in shorts or wrap-around skirts, dancers swayed and wiggled and raised nearly $800. Despite the rain, everyone who signed on for the event showed up, putting on a show for 20 or so onlookers. For each performance, the dancers received donations from friends, family and audience members.

Jessica Gadduang, 15, raised $143. She's been hula dancing for almost a year and thought the hula-thon would be a good use of one of her favorite pastimes.

"I really like the Hawaiian culture and really enjoy dancing," she said.

Dave and Jan Baza have been hula dancing for years and have been impressed with Isa-Kahaku's teaching style, and they were not surprised she came up with the idea of a hula-thon.

"She teaches a lot about the spiritual energy involved in hula dancing," Jan Baza said. "She is the best teacher we have ever had."

Young and old participated in the hula-thon. Two young dancers, both less than 7 years old, showed their talent as Isa-Kahaku played a drum and called out dance moves.

"They just learned this dance this morning, and they were wonderful," Isa-Kahaku said.

[ Back to Contents Page | Sunnyvale Sun Home Page | Archives ]

This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, November 26, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.