About the Teacher

Email: momip@aol.com
Phone: (509) 548-2497 or Cell: (509) 433-221

Momi Palmieri, Kumu Hula

Momi began hula study in 1977 with Mapuana deSilva in Kailua, Hawai’i. She was a dancer, a chanter and an alaka’i (leader). She also learned the art of hula from many other hula masters during the next 16 years. She began her halau (school of hula) in 1983 on the big island of Hawai’i. That was the year Mapuana gave her the blessing to teach. Her passion is to pass along the hula knowledge she was so freely given. Hula is the heartbeat and the heart of the Hawaiian people; in it you will find the history and the legends of an ancient culture. Hula is power and grace and laughter. Hula is spiritual and raucous good fun. Hula is life.

The women who perform all live in the Wenatchee Valley. They are wives, mothers and professionals in their daily lives. They are dedicated to their hula and its sisterhood. They are proud and happy to share with you some of what they have learned and respect. They are beautiful hula dancers.

“E hou mai….” Let it come from above, let it come through me and let me give it away. Today we share with you our joy and our aloha

My Journey Through Hula to Date.
I studied intensely with Mapuana DeSilva, Halau Mohala ‘Ilima for many years. She was and is my mentor and my guide. My source. My kumu. During those years, Mohala `Ilima was a performing halau. We danced in the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo, as well as the Kamehameha Day competitions on O`ahu each year.  We danced for many weddings and luaus. With Mapu’s guidance, I took hula seminars and workshops from the modern hula masters.  And with her, I helped teach workshops on the neighbor islands, as well Na Wahine Hele La O Kaiona, her halau for students of Kamehameha Schools. Kihei DeSilva, her husband, was our language expert and storyteller. He made the chants come alive for us. From him I learned to research the translations of the chants.  I was given exquisite gifts of hula knowledge beyond compare; and I will spend the rest of my life passing on those gifts with gratitude and humility. I teach today the way I was taught in Kailua, Hawai`i over 25 years ago.1