Kaula is guided by a creative team whose collective work spans theatre, hula, choreography, music, education, cultural stewardship, and community leadership.
Together, they have created a production grounded in Native Hawaiian values while drawing from the diverse traditions of the Pacific.
Each member of the leadership team brings a lifetime of practice to the work. Their combined experience extends across classrooms, hālau, theatres, museums, film productions, festivals, and cultural institutions throughout Hawaiʻi and around the world. At Kaula, their paths converge to create an evening shaped by collaboration, respect, and shared purpose.
KUHIO LEWIS
Executive Producer
As CEO of Hawaiian Council, Kūhiō Lewis serves as Executive Producer of Kaula and provides the strategic vision behind the production’s long-term impact.
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As Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, he has championed initiatives that strengthen Native Hawaiian communities through culture, education, entrepreneurship, housing, and economic opportunity.
His leadership reflects a belief that cultural experiences can create meaningful opportunities for local artists, businesses, and practitioners while deepening visitors’ understanding of Hawaiʻi. Under his guidance, Kaula was conceived as a production rooted in Native Hawaiian leadership, artistic excellence, and community investment.
KIPE IBANA
Producer & Creative Director
For more than four decades, Kīpe ʻEbana has helped shape the landscape of Hawaiian and Polynesian entertainment.
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His work has contributed to some of Hawaiʻi’s most recognized productions, including the Old Lāhainā Lūʻau, ʻUlalena, Paradise Cove, and the Kilohana Hula Show. With Kaula, Kīpe brings together a lifetime of experience to create a production centered on storytelling, collaboration, and cultural care.
His creative philosophy is grounded in relationships—to ʻohana, kūpuna, ʻāina, and the communities that continue to carry Hawaiian traditions forward. Every artistic decision is guided by a commitment to honoring those relationships while presenting culture with integrity and respect.
MEHANAOKALĀ HIND
Cultural Advisor
Mehanaokalā Hind serves as Kaula’s Cultural Advisor, bringing decades of experience as a Native Hawaiian educator, kumu hula, and master chanter.
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Her guidance informs the production’s cultural framework, helping shape language, protocol, ceremony, and the deeper meanings carried throughout the evening. With academic training in Hawaiian Studies and years of leadership across Native Hawaiian organizations and educational institutions, Mehana bridges scholarship with lived cultural practice.
Her work helps ensure that Kaula reflects Hawaiian values with care, thoughtfulness, and accountability while honoring the ʻike entrusted to each generation.
TIANA LIUFAU & KAYLA FAʻAMALIGI
Choreographers
Creative partners Tiana Liufau and Kayla Faʻamaligi bring an international perspective rooted in generations of Pacific cultural practice.
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As Creative Director and Raʻatira of Nonosina Polynesia, Tiana carries forward the legacy established by her grandmother, Estella Nonosina Reid, while continuing to expand the organization’s influence across the Pacific and beyond. Her work as Cultural Consultant and Choreographer for Disney’s Moana, Moana 2, and the upcoming live-action adaptation has introduced Pacific storytelling to audiences around the world while maintaining a steadfast commitment to cultural accuracy and artistic excellence.
Working alongside Tiana, Kayla helps guide creative development, artistic partnerships, and organizational leadership. Together, they cultivate opportunities for Pacific artists while ensuring that choreography, movement, and visual storytelling remain grounded in cultural knowledge and lived experience.
Their collaboration reflects a shared belief that culture is strengthened through mentorship, innovation, and the continued practice of ancestral traditions.
ANDREA TORRES
Aerial Director
Andrea Torres brings the artistry of aerial dance to Kaula, creating moments that expand the storytelling beyond the stage and into the sky.
MOSES GOODS
Writer
Acclaimed playwright, actor, and star of Apple TVʻs Chief of War, Moses Goods crafted the incredible narrative that anchors Kaula.
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Drawing from Hawaiian storytelling traditions and contemporary theatre, his work invites audiences into stories that are deeply rooted in place while speaking to universal themes of family, memory, identity, and belonging.
As founder and Artistic Director of ʻInamona Theatre Company, Moses has dedicated his career to sharing Hawaiʻi’s stories through Native Hawaiian perspectives. His writing for Kaula provides the emotional thread that connects each chapter of the evening, allowing music, movement, and performance to unfold within a single cohesive narrative.
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Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Andrea is the founder and director of Samadhi Hawaiʻi, the first aerial dance company and school in Hawaiʻi. Over the past two decades, she has helped establish aerial dance as a respected performing art throughout the islands, mentoring generations of artists while developing a style that blends technical precision with expressive movement. (Samadhi Hawaii)
Her career began in classical ballet before leading her to Hawaiʻi, where she originated the role of Hina, the Hawaiian moon goddess, in the acclaimed production ʻUlalena. Since then, her choreography and performances have appeared in theatre productions, concerts, television, film, and cultural festivals throughout Hawaiʻi and across the Pacific. Her work has also been featured in productions including Disney-related performances, the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, the Hawaiʻi Theatre Centennial Celebration, and numerous collaborations with leading musicians, hula organizations, and dance companies.
At Kaula, Andrea shapes the production’s aerial language, using movement above the stage to extend the emotional arc of the story. Her choreography introduces another dimension to the performance, allowing the themes of connection, memory, and transformation to unfold through graceful movement suspended between earth and sky.
Kaula is proud to work alongside 166 local professionals across performance, production, hospitality, culinary, design, technical operations and more!
Each performance reflects thousands of hours of rehearsal, planning, craftsmanship, and collaboration. By working with West Oʻahu talent and locally owned businesses, Kaula keeps investment within the community and highlights the strength of Hawaiʻi’s cultural and creative industries.
DESIGNED WITH ALOHA creates the custom décor that welcomes guests to Kaula.
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Based in Waimānalo, this husband-and-wife team designs and handcrafts event décor inspired by the beauty and traditions of Hawaiʻi. Every piece reflects thoughtful craftsmanship and an appreciation for local culture, helping transform celebrations across Oʻahu.
HAWAIʻI NAUTICAL extends the Kaula experience through ocean adventures across Oʻahu.
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Owned and operated by Kaneʻohe husband-and-wife team Mark and Tahnee Towill, Hawaiʻi Nautical offers ocean experiences grounded in safety, hospitality while promoting responsible ocean stewardship. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA's Marine Debris Program, and the Surfrider Foundation are just a few of the orgs they have partnered with.
ISLAND DISTILLERS crafts the signature spirits served throughout the Kaula experience.
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This sibling-owned distillery creates small-batch spirits that celebrate the flavors and natural resources of Hawaiʻi. Guided by a farm-to-bottle approach, Island Distillers uses locally sourced ingredients and native Hawaiian plants to produce distinctive spirits rooted in craftsmanship and sustainability. Their dedication to local agriculture and quality is reflected in every bottle enjoyed by our guests.
MOANI ISLAND BISTRO AND BAR makes all the incredible food for Kaula
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What started as an idea in Tutuʻs garage, is now a Hawaiʻi staple. The locally owned restaurant in the Ka Makana Aliʻi shopping center on Oʻahu’s west side, plays a key role as Kaula’s trusted event partner. Known for their local comfort food and vibrant live music, Moani brings the spirit of hospitality rooted in the Keolanui family’s legacy to every gathering.
