Nā Mamo No'Eau Hālau

Nā

Means "the" and makes the following noun plural.

Mamo

the most prized and valuable bird of Hawaiʻi. Because of their rarity and beauty, the bright yellow feathers on this mostly black bird were more valuable than any other object in ancient Hawaiʻi. Taxes were paid with them. The feathers were used in the most beautiful and valuable of the feather cloaks (ʻahuʻula), helmets (Mahiole), kāhili, and lei. Only Aliʻi were allowed to wear the Mamo feathers. Mamo also means descendants or progeny. The idea of using “Mamo” came from my kumu, Patrick Makuakāne.

Noʻeau

Skilled, talented, clever, creative, artistic. It is Rick's Hawaiian name.

Important in a company's name are words that capture the essence of the group, looking at its past and future, and the persons in the company. When a student became a teacher, his or her teacher would suggest words for that person’s new school.

Literal translation of our name, Nā Mamo Noʻeau: The skilled descendents.
Our meaning: The Talented Ones of Highest Value.

Kū ʻAhu Pahu

This Hālau respects (nā mahalo), remembers (nā haliʻa aloha) and recognizes its heritage with pride; it here states its pahu genealogy (kū ʻauhau pahu):

From pre-contact unknown hula pahu masters
To Kumu Hula Kamawaʻe and Kumu Hula Niuʻolaʻa (1800’s)
To Kumu Hula Keaka Kanahele (1881-1940)
To Kumu Hula Lōkālia Montgomery (1903-1978)
To Kumu Hula Maiki Aiu Lake (1925-1984)
To Kumu Hula Mae Kamāmalu Klein
To Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne

To Kumu Hula Rick Noʻeau Smith

This Hālau is directed by Kumu Hula Rick Noʻeau Smith.

Cultural Arts

In order to perpetuate and preserve the gifts given us by the Hawaiian/Polynesian people through the ages, our Hālau is one not only of dance, but also encourages and enhances the deepening knowledge of the history, moʻolelo, cultural values and languages of Hawaiʻi and other Polynesian islands.

Hula

Hula's ancient roots can be seen in the movements that symbolize nature with all its forms - the gentle swaying of the palms, the rolling seas, the whispering winds, the falling rains, the flow of volcanoes, the flights of birds, the glorious rainbows, the starry skies, and the bright moon.

Hula also tells of the human condition; tales of Gods and Goddesses, Kings and Queens, the exploding dances of war, and love in all its forms.

There are many varieties of hula, but today's hula is usually broken down into two basic styles: Hula Kahiko (ancient of traditional Hula), performed to the chants of a Hoʻopaʻa (chanter) usually playing an ipu heke (gourd drum) or a pahu (skinhead drum); and Hula ʻAuana (which means to wander away from the traditional), set to contemporary music.

ʻOri Tahiti

Just like Hula, Tahitian ʻOri also has its roots in the same forces of nature and man as hula.

It may sometimes consists of ʻōteʻa, fast, rhythmic hip movements, usually set to the beat of the toere, pahu (bass drum) and faʻatete (single head drum); and some other times by song, accompanied by more recent instruments such as the guitar and Tahitian ʻukulele.

Traditions, Chants and Crafts

At Nā Mamo Noʻeau, we make our own costumes, leis, implements, and other traditional dance items. We also study ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and to Oli (chant) in Hawaiian.

We study the variety of levels of kaona (meaning) in each of our mele, oli, dances and songs so they can be expressed properly and with correct feeling.

We also learn to make and use traditional implements, such as the feathered ʻūlī ʻūlī, the ipu and ipu heke, (hand held gourds), the pūʻili (split bamboo sticks), and the ʻiliʻili (hand held small stones.