We teach the Huna of Kuauhaoali’i, Daddy Bray, Pappa Bray, Taneo Sands Kumalae, Uncle George Naope, and John Kaimikaua. In our workshops, you will meet many native Hawaiians, each of whom will impart their specialized knowledge and wisdom of their lineage. Our trainers’ schedules vary and there will be a variety of different presenters. We have permission to carry on the lineage and teach in Hawaii.
Matthew B. James, MA, PhD
Dr. Matt is one of the most highly-sought after trainers and educators in the world today. He is the president of Empowerment, Inc., the world’s leading integrative personal development company for over 34 years.
A dedicated Master Trainer of NLP and respected expert on Ho’oponopono (Hawaiian forgiveness process), Dr. Matt empowers students in NLP, Hypnosis, Mental Emotional Release® Therapy, and a 28 generation lineage of Huna – energy, healing and spiritual development utilized in ancient Hawai’i.
As an industry leader in personal development, Dr. Matt teaches his students how to live their most empowered life incorporating the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of Self through NLP, Ho’oponopono, Huna, Mental and Emotional Release® Therapy (MER®) and Hypnosis.
Dr. Matt is certainly making his life a living demonstration of the extraordinary power of this wisdom. Along the way, he has picked up several university degrees, including an MA in Organizational Management and a PhD in Health (Integrative) Psychology. He is the author of The Foundation of Huna: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times, Find Your Purpose, Master Your Path and Integrate the Shadow, Master Your Path, and is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and Psychology Today.
Uncle George Na’ope (October 26, 2009)
George Na’ope’s full name is George Lanakilakekiahiali’i Na’ope, but throughout the Hawaiian Islands he is known simply as “Uncle George.” He is revered for his knowledge and mastery of traditional hula and chant. Born on O’ahu and raised in Hilo, Na’ope began his studies of hula at the age of three under the training of his great grandmother, Mary Malia-Puka-o-ka-lani Na’ope who lived to be over 100 years old. By the age of 12 he was already performing on recordings of Hawaiian music. Upon graduation from high school, he moved to Honolulu and opened the George Na’ope Hula School. A lifelong teacher, in 1962 he founded the Merrie Monarch Festival. A landmark turning point in the renaissance of Hawaiian culture, the festival is focused on the traditional chant and dance of the islands. Recognized by the Governor and Hawaii State Legislature with the designation “Living Golden Treasure,” he has welcomed both President Franklin Roosevelt and President John F. Kennedy to Hawaii and he more recently represented Hawaii at the royal wedding of Japan’s Emperor Akahito. Uncle George has traveled the world over performing and teaching hula. Uncle George believed that hula is for everyone; not just Hawaiians. Uncle George was always an honored part of Empowerment, Inc.’s Huna training in Kona, Hawaii every March and September. Empowerment, Inc. will always recognize Uncle George as a mentor and inspiration, his attendance was a real gift. His entire life he gave from his heart and was there for so many. And rather than focusing on paying this back, we should all honor him and live by his example, so that we too may have such amazing lives.
Etua Lopes
Etua Lopes has studied under the tutelage of George Na’ope for over 25 years and carries on the hula traditions of his teachings. Hand chosen by Uncle George, Etua was sent to other Hula masters to learn during his training with such hula greats as ‘Iolani Luahine, Lokalia Montgomery, Edith Kanaka’ole and Henry Pa. Since Etua’s uniki (graduation) to Kumu Hula, he has started his own halau, an award winnng halau that focuses his teaching on (keiki) children. He starts to teach them at the young age of 3 years old, taking them on their journey at a pace they are willing to learn. Etua has been teaching hula approaching 25 years in Kona Hawaii. Twenty-two of those years, Etua has been teaching at the Huli He’e Palace. He is the only Kumu Hula that has the privilege of teaching on these royal grounds. His halau puts on a performance once a month on the Huli He’e grounds to share his Hula teachings. Etua attends Empowerment, Inc.’s Huna Training in Kona Hawaii every March and September. He is the Kumu Hula of our Huna class teaching important ancient lessons through the art of the dance.
John Kaimikaua (1958 – 2006)
John Ka’imikaua and his wife Ka’oi have been sharing their knowledge of Huna with our students for many years at our bi-annual trainings in Kona Hawaii. We are very grateful to have had the chance to spend time with John at our last Huna Training in March 2006 before his passing.
Kumu Hula and Hawaiian Scholar, John attributed his knowledge to a 92-year-old woman named Kawahinekapuheleikapokane (Sacred Woman Traveling on the Night of Kane), who began mentoring him at age 14. He was given the responsibility of carrying on 156 Molokai chants, ranging in length up to 928 lines “an unbroken oral history of our people for 1,000 years,” he once explained. His passion was to share his knowledge for hula and Hawaiian culture by teaching his lineage to people all around the world.
Since 1978, John Kaimikaua taught at Leeward Community College, the University of Hawai’i and, Hawai’i Pacific University. Ka’imikaua wrote 15 compositions on a CD, “From Deep Within,” released in 1997 for the 20th anniversary of his Halau Hula O Kukunaokala. John also founded the Moloka’i Ka Hula Piko festival in 1991. The annual three-day cultural event in mid-May features lectures and a hoolaulea showcasing hula, foods and crafts.
We thank John for sharing his passion and knowledge of hula with our Huna students. His teachings have been a blessing and inspiration that will live on in each and every one of us. Ka’oi Ka’imikaua will continue to share the light of her husband by carrying on his teachings at our next Huna training and many more to come.