Tracie Kaonohilani Farias Lopes

Tracie’s early hula roots are with her own Aunty Johnette Keawehawaii, Uncle Kalanikoa Ioane, and Ed Collier. She studied with and danced for OBrian Eselu and Thaddius Wilson for 16 years with Na Wai Eha o Puna. Tracie often credits the constant influence and teachings of Aunty Mapuana Yasue and Aunty Flo Koanui. Her advanced hula studies included the demanding Hula Olapa, Hula Alaapapa and Hula Pahu courses of Kimo Alama Keaulana, from which she graduated in formal Uniki ceremonies in 2000 and 2002.

Tracie has been a Hawaiian Language teacher and lecturer at St. Louis High School and the University of Hawai’i for over 10 years. She was a junior specialist in recruitment and retention for the Kawaihuelani Hawaiian Language Program at theUniversity of Hawai’i Manoa for 2 years, and currently, she is a Hawaiian Language Instructor for Hawaii Pacific University. She has earned her BA in Education and an MA in Public Administration.

Tracie’s solo hula career has been impressive, beginning with awards as both Miss Hula Pakahi on Maui and Miss E Hoi Mai I Ka Piko Hula on Oahu in 1992. In 1993 and 1994, she earned the 1st Place Chant Award at the prestigious King Kamehameha Day Competition. She is best known for the excellent performances at the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo, in 1994, which earned her the coveted title of Miss Aloha Hula.

Daughter of famed Hawaiian singer, Karen Keawehawai’i, Tracie has earned her mother’s gift of song, and performs with husband and co-kumu hula, Keawe Lopes regularly. Tracie Lopes is a respected professional hula dancer, and is a regular with singer Jerry Santos and Olomana.

Keawe Lopes

Keawe Lopes is a recording artist, bass, guitar, ukulele and piano player, show producer and Hawaiian language teacher. His intimacy with the language is a foundation for the hula he teaches, and his knowledge of music and chant lend a depth to his language teaching. At the halau, Ka La Onohi Mai O Haehae, Keawe shares kumu hula duties with his wife and partner, Tracie Farias Lopes.

His hula teachers were Patrick Choy, Nalani Kaehuaea Tenorio and Kimo Alama Keaulana, from whose advanced courses Keawe graduated – in 2000, a formal uniki for Hula Olapa and Alaapapa, and in 2002 for Hula Pahu.

Keawe has earned degrees in Hawaiian Language and Education, and currently teaches in the UH Manoa Kawaihuelani Hawaiian Language Program where he finds joy in teaching not only the Hawaiian langauge, but mele courses he has developed for the sole purpose of inspiring young talents to spend time with the compositions of our kupuna. He credits, Uncle Kimo Alama Keaulana for this love he has for mele. Keawe is currently ABD (All But Dissertation), and near completion of his PhD in Education.

A show producer and performer, Keawe has played and sung with the best, and continues to share his talents as a recording artist. In 2003, his debut recording, “He Aloha No,” garnered Na Hoku Hanohano nominations in the Hawaiian Language Album and Haku Mele Song Composer categories.

Keawe is often called on, for his Hawaiian language proficiency and knowledge of Hawaiian mele to judge language in hula competitions, and he has been a Hawaiian Language Judge for the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts.