The late Aunty Nona, Keola, Moanalani, and Kaliko
Keola Beamer
Keola Beamer was raised in Kamuela, Waimea, on the Big Island if Hawaiʻi, surrounded by members of one of Hawaiiʻs most illustrious and beloved musical families. The Beamers trace their roots to the 15th century; among their ancestors are the Queen Ahiakumai Kiʻekiʻe and Hoʻolulu, a child of the favored wife of Kamehameha I.
Keola established himself early on as the familyʻs youngest standard-bearer. A child of the rock and roll era, he has always been the vanguard of the Hawaiian contemporary sound. He also helped drive what has come to be known as the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance, and has recorded many of the songs written by his ancestors.
Keola was one of Hawaiiʻs first recording artists to integrate the Hawaiian chants and instruments, like the tiny gourd whistle and the nose flute, with contemporary forms of music.
Today, Keola is recognized as one of Hawaiʻiʻs premier singer/songwriters, arrangers, composers and master of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar.
You can find out more about Keola on his Slack-Key Guitar instruction website, kbeamer.com.
Moanalani Beamer
Moanalani Beamer is a kumu hula (a master teacher of hula). Moanalani began her hula training in 1960 at the age four with Kumu Hula Johnny Hokoana. Since 2004, Moanalani has been a member of Maui hālau Nā Hanona Kūlike o Piʻilani, under the direction of Kumu Sissy Lake-Farm and Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau. In January of 2011 she was offered an opportunity to participate in the preparation and training process known as ʻūniki as a member of Nā Hanona. On October 22nd 2011, Moana successfully completed the year long process of and received her designation as kumu hula.
Through the years Moana has accumulated valuable teaching experience in the art of the hula. Her sensitive nature deepens her understanding of the technique with the spiritual and philosophical currents expressed in hula. Moana remains firmly committed to sharing her cultural knowledge worldwide. Read complete bio.
Kaliko Beamer-Trapp
Kaliko Beamer-Trapp was born and spent his childhood on the diminutive Isle of Wight off the south coast of England. He moved to California in the early 80’s where he started his deeply embedded association with all things Polynesian in 1985 at the age of 15.
Kaliko moved to the island of Hawaiʻi in 1994 at the invitation of Nona Beamer whom he had met as a teenager while in California. He continued his education in all things Polynesian with a particular focus on the Hawaiian and Marquesan languages.
While working closely with Aunty Nona and learning Hawaiian chanting, storytelling, and protocol, he was adopted by her as her hānai son in 1995.
Kaliko has been a lecturer at the Universiry of Hawaiʻi at Hilo for many years and now teaches Hawaiian language full-time via his ʻŌlelo Online Virtual Classroom at oleloonline.com.
