Leo Kupa

We are honored to feature Tiffanie Zuttermeister. A respected kumu hula, lei maker, and community minded guest whose work reflects the heart of Hawaiian Culture and connection in Las Vegas.

Born and raised in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu, she carries a long and deep hula lineage that informs her teaching, her presence, and her commitment to preserving tradition. As a kumu hula, Tiffanie brings the depth of that lineage to the ninth island, shar...

Healoha Kamanu is not only a gifted Polynesian tattoo artist, but also a cultural custodian, utilizing the ancient art of tatau (tattooing) to tell stories, honor heritage, and mark significant life journeys for the Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Las Vegas.

Their work goes beyond aesthetics, serving as a powerful medium for cultural expression and a reminder of identity in the diaspora, making them a profound voice fo...

Mikiʻala Wills is a young Hawaiian living in Las Vegas who carries the spirit of her homeland in everything she does. Far from the shores of Hawaiʻi, she speaks ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) fluently, dances hula with deep intentionality, and embraces traditional Hawaiian cultural practices as a form of natural healing — a way of staying rooted, whole, and connected to her identity while navigating life in the desert.

Fo...

Kumu Hula Vincent Iokimo Souza is a revered teacher and guardian of Hawaiian cultural traditions. Kumu Vincent is a master of hula and an advocate for the preservation of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), carrying forth the legacy of his ancestors and ensuring its vibrancy in the modern world. His journey embodies the profound responsibility (kuleana) of perpetuating cultural knowledge, making him an ideal voice to discuss how Ha...

Mailani Makaʻīnaʻi was born and raised in Kailua and Kahaluʻu. A graduate of Maryknoll Schools. She began learning lomilomi in her ohana since the age of 7.  Her first lomilomi kumu outside of her ohana was Ronnie Dudoit of Molokai.  Mailani attended Uncle Ronnie and Aunty Francineʻs teaching in 1996 and 1997.  In 1999 she got to attend and study with Aunty Margaret Machadoʻs school of Lomilomi.  In 1999 and 200...

Hui Mauli Ola proudly presents: Leo Kupa - E Hoʻolono Mai!

Makaʻala Yates returns to Leo Kupa!

Dr. Makaʻala Yates D.C. is a Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian Ancestry) who specializes in Hawaiian medicine. His studies began at the age of 6.  He has been teaching Hawaiian medicine and practices for 35 years.  He is the founder of Mana Lomi® and Indigenous Botanicals.  Makaʻala is also an original crew member of Hokuleʻa in 1976....

Born and raised on the Windward side of Oʻahu, Meghan graduated from the University of San Francisco with a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science. Her health practitioner training continued with lomilomi work since 2007 studying under Kumu Lomilomi, Enrick Ortiz, Jr., as his apprentice in January 2013, and as assistant in teaching his classes since May 2014. In 2008 she went through Haku Hoʻoponopono training with Aunty Malia Craver a...

Hui Mauli Ola proudly presents: Leo Kupa - E Hoʻolono Mai!

Dr. Makaʻala Yates D.C. is a Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian Ancestry) who specializes in Hawaiian medicine. His studies began at the age of 6.  He has been teaching Hawaiian medicine and practices for 35 years.  He is the founder of Mana Lomi® and Indigenous Botanicals.  Makaʻala is also an original crew member of Hokuleʻa in 1976.  He is also a Vietnam Veteran....

Kaipoʻi Kelling is a Hawaiian educator and mahi kalo (kalo farmer) carrying on Uncle Jerry Konanuiʻs teachings. Born on Oʻahu, Kaipoʻi loves to ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and is a collector of different kalo varieties. Kaipo'i returns to Leo Kupa, talking lessons of character from Hāloa, healing and sacred spaces, and keeping our keiki inspired and not being the "poi-lice."

Hui Mauli Ola proudly presents: Leo Kupa - E Hoʻo...

Uncle Herbert Grew up in the ahupuaa of Hakipuu, from a young age the importance of ohana and ʻāina was integrated in daily living. After retiring from the Honolulu Fire Department, Uncle Herbert recognized the health disparities amongst our Native Hawaiian people. His Ai Pono program aims to reestablish the connection of our traditional foods and our traditional well-being. Anakala Herbert was featured in the series: Na Loea: T...

Dennis was born and raised on the west end of Kauai in the rural plantation town of Kekaha.  This provided him with a rich multicultural environment of living and learning respect and appreciation for his own cultural background as well as for other ethnic groups with in his community. His foundational spiritual teachings in both christian and traditional Hawaiian...

Earlier this year Ka Pā o Lonopūhā hosted a huaka’i to retrace the path of Lonopūhā and what many consider the origins of healing in Hawai’i. Around the path of the volcano and through her merciless afterbirth were formed and foundationalized relationships in healing. Workshops, meals and stories were exchanged between multiple generations of practitioners. And to date this last-minute airport run from Waimea to Ke...

Francine, also known as “Aunty Fran” to her patients and co-workers, began her career with Waikiki Health in 1998. She comes from a lineage of Native Hawaiian healers who taught her skills that are valued both in the Native Hawaiian and general community. Her areas of specialty are Native Hawaiian Healing, Hawaiian Cultural Education, Advocacy for Kupuna, Chronic Pain Management, and Individual and Family Counseling. He...

Today we welcome a tutu man with six keiki, seventeen grandchildren and one great grandchild. Worldwide, he is a kumu and teaches Hula, Hooponopono and Native Hawaiian Healing and Culture. He is a kumu hula with Kuhai Halau o Kawaikapuokalani Pa Olapa Kahiko, a Na Hoku Hanohano Award Winner, and studied the Hawaiian Healing traditions of Laau kahea, laau laapau, hooponopono and lomilomi with Aunty...

Makana Risser Chai researched and authored, the Bishop Museum book "Na Moʻolelo Lomilomi: Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing." The book compiles every article and oral history she could find in the archives and old journals from 1794 to the 1930s. She has continued her research by interviewing kupuna, attending workshops and receiving lomilomi as her primary medical care.

She followed up that book with Hawaiian Massage: Lom...

Kaipoʻi Kelling is a Kalo farmer carrying on Uncle Jerry Konanuiʻs teaching. Kaipoʻi is also a teacher of Hawaiian language born here on Oʻahu he loves to ʻŌlelo and collect varieties of Kalo. 

Kaipo'i returns to talk Uncle Jerry with Kamaka. Subjects covered: Angry old kalo farmers. Ledgendary ku'i sessions. The Beastie Boys. The relationsips and friendships that contributed to Uncle Jerry Konanui. 

Hui Mauli O...

Cody Keale is a passionate lā’au lapa’au practitioner, a student of the late Kumu Levon Ohai. He is also a seasoned lomilomi practitioner studying with Aunty Noelani Veary, Uncle Freddie Tira, and Kaliko Chang.

Major influences on his healing through prayer is his ohana. Grandmas, Maria Malachiko Lau and Midge Makaike, and parents mother Ualani Makaike Calleja and father William Keale.

His ...

The Reverand Dr. Malcolm Nāea Chun received his formal education at 'Iolani School and the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. He attended St. John's Theological College in Aotearoa (New Zealand) as a Rotary International Fellow and the Vancouver School of Theology in British Columbia as an Inter-Pacific Fellow. He received his PhD from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in Aotearoa, the first international recipient. He is ordained a pri...

Imai Winchester is a twelve-year kumu at Hālau Kū Māna and one of the organizers for La Hoihoi Ea. Among other impactful Kumu Imai is a student of Kekuni Blaisdell, John Osorio and Haunani-Kay Trask. Though their work and influences and political activities he has helped to shape people and land. Today he speaks with Kamaka on the importance to the health of the lāhui inherent in events like - and recognized by - La Hoihoi Ea.

The ...