About Kumu Kawika Alfiche
Kawika Keikiali'ihiwahiwa Alfiche has been teaching hula and other aspects of Hawaiian culture for over 23 years and has been a student of the Hawaiian culture all of his life. He is the Kumu Hula (teacher) for Halau o Keikiali'i and the Director of the Kaululehua Hawaiian Cultural Center in South San Francisco. With a mission to preserve and perpetuate all things Hawaiian, Kawika spends his life learning, teaching and sharing his culture through hula and other cultural art forms.
Kawika has had impeccable training from his Kumu Hula and learning from both is Kumu Hula and other well-known mentors. His first Kumu Hula was Tiare Maka-Olanolan Clifford of Hanalei, Kaua'i. After her passing in 1992, Kawika became haumana (student) of Kumu Hula Harriet Kahalepoli Kealihihau-Spalding of Keaukaha, Hawai'i, who opened the halau with Kumu Kawika in 1994. Aunty Harriet's kumu was her grandmother, Mary Ahi'eha Kekuewa, who was affectionately known as Mama Fuji'i. In 1996, Aunty Harriet encouraged Kawika to learn from Kumu Hula Rae Kahikilaulani Fonseca of Hilo, Hawai'i, an 'unkiki (graduate) of Uncle George Lanakilakekiahiali'i Na'ope, a hula master and treasure of Hawai'i. In March 2007, Kumu Kawika was one of six to be a part of Kumu Rae's first and only 'unkiki (traditional graduation).
The goal of his Halau o Keikiali'i is to educate the general public about the Hawaiian culture, its traditions, customs, values and protocols. In addition to regularly scheduled classes, they hold educational workshops, performances and other cultural events. Their primary focus is on cultural traditions; including hula kahiko (ancient dance), hula 'auana (modern dance), oli (chant), mele (traditional songs), himeni (modern songs), na mea hula (arts, crafts and implements), loge hula (hula attire), 'olelo (language) and mo'olelo (stories).
The halau has staged various hula productions that are both entertaining and educational. Kumu Kawika and the halau have performed alongside such well know entertainers of Hawai'i as the Brothers Cazimero, Makaha Sons, Hapa, Nathan Aweau, Herb Ohta, Jr., Willie K., Melveen Leed and more.
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