Marnie Kawailehua Pfeffer
“Kumu Kawai”
Classes are taught under the direction of Marnie Kawailehua Pfeffer (Kumu Kawai), who has more than 30+ years of experience. The hula compeittions that Kumu Kawai has performed in are the E Hula Mau Competition in Long Beach 2010 (with a group and as a solo dancer), and again in 2011 with a group under Kumu Kaiolani Bosque. She was a special guest chanter for her hula sister, Kumu Leila Leihuluonalani Fernandez Matthews in the 2014 8th Annual George Naʻope Hula Festival in Sacramento.
Kumu was privileged to be chosen to participate in intensive hula training with Kumu Hula Frank Keli’i Chang. She received ʻuniki in 2013 and was granted permission to teach hula. Kumu Kawai is committed to keeping all that is handed down in its purest form. By doing so her Kumu Keli’i Chang and his kupuna will not be lost or forgotten.
Kumu Kawai is now under the mentorship of Kumu Kahealani Ohumukini Blackmon. Kumu Kawai believes that hula is a lifelong journey and she hopes to continuing learning and studying always.
Kumu Kawai began dancing more than 30 years ago after seeing a friend dance at a local luau. Kumu has always enjoyed dancing as a child in home country Belize, Central America. Where the Caribbean drumming and rhythms stayed in her soul. When she first began lessons it was almost all Hapa Haole and modern hula. After many years Kumu began studying Hula Kahiko and learning how to chant. She has studied and attended many workshops with renowned Kumu Hula Masters. It is the traditional form she loves most and believes that it should be kept sacred. Sharing the hula includes history, crafting, and chanting and it is in this way that Kumu Kawai shares hula and hopes to continue perpetuating the Hawaiian culture.
When asked what she loves most about teaching hula she answered, “I love seeing my haumana grow in their hula, seeing the transition of those students who just wanted to learn to dance, move into the realm of understanding that hula is life, love, loss, grief, tears, laughter, playfulness, people, and places. I love teaching and providing a space where anyone can come and feel welcomed, cared for, and build a new ʻohana. I love that my students find a safe place in me, their trust, their concerns and anxieties, all their stories matter to me. My phone may be non-stop with notifications, but I don’t mind, they are all important, they are ʻohana, and I always want them to know, to feel that.”
