Hula ʻAuana
with Kumu Hula Leimomi Ho
"Hāʻena Beauty" or "Hanohano Kekaha"

Kumu Hula Leimomi Ho has experienced a life blessed by hula masters revered in the realm of the hula world for over seven decades and has proven credit of her recognition as one of Hawai‘i’s most prominent kumu hula today. 
Aunty Leimomi (Duarte) was born on July 22, 1944, in Hanapēpē on the island of Kauaʻi. She recalls that she had always danced hula, often joking that she was taught to dance before she was taught to walk. She believes “if it’s in your heart and meant to be, Hula will find you.”
At eight, hula found her first hula teacher, Helen Waiaʻu, on Kauaʻi. A few years later, her family relocated to Oʻahu. Hula found her on Oʻahu when she tagged along with a friend going to a hula class taught by Kamuela Naeole. He was her first hula instructor here on Oʻahu. Aunty Leimomi’s dad introduced her next hula teacher, John Piʻilani Watkins, to Uncle Joe Kahaulelio. Through Uncle Joe, Leimomi was introduced to Vickie Iʻi Rodrigues, a renowned musician and entertainer.
At the age of 13, Auntie Vickie Rodrigues took Leimomi as a “hānai” and was raised as a “punahele” along with Auntie Vickie’s children – Nina, Lani, Lahela, Boyce and Ioane. Learning hula from Auntie Vickie required close observation and listening.  Words and motions were pronounced and performed three times with the expectation that they be committed to memory.  There were no lyric sheets or writing motions and steps. Mama Vickie’s instructions were simple and etched into her memory, “Listen…. Listen again…. Listen carefully…. Now it’s your turn.”  Leimomi will confess that much of what her kumu has given her remains unwritten, and the only repository is inside her heart and mind.  
Aunty Vickie and Leimomi’s lives were intertwined with hula masters such as Aunty ‘Iolani Luahine and Lokalia Montgomery. Leimomi Ho was “the hands and feet” of Auntie Vickie for many years. She taught the hula to those who sought out Auntie Vickie to learn songs and hula. After a while, Auntie Vickie decided that instead of Leimomi going here and there to “teach,” it was time Leimomi should establish a ke‘ena a‘o hula, a place to teach/learn hula. On March 5,1984, Keali’ika’apunihonua Ke’ena A’o Hula was established with Aunty Vickie’s blessing and her name -  Keali‘ika‘apunihonua – “The Chief who traveled around the world.” 
Three years later, Auntie Vickie passed away on July 22, 1987, Leimomi’s birthday. All hula in Leimomi’s life came to a halt with the loss of the person who was her world. It took firm talk from her sister, Lani Custino, who reminded Leimomi that no one else could continue Auntie Vickie’s hula stylings. 
Although Leimomi lived and received Aunty Vicki’s “Hā” and had all the rights and privileges to teach, Loea and Kumu Hula Lani “Aunty Nana” Kalama formally graduated her as kumu hula with the traditional ‘uniki ritual and ceremony. At the same ʻuniki ceremony, Leimomi’s daughters were also recognized: Kuʻukamalani as hoʻopaʻa and Vikilani as ʻōlapa. Their ‘uniki was on Hawai’i Island at Aleʻamai, just outside Hilo, where the forces of nature were present: sunshine, rain, rainbow, snow on Mauna Kea and Kilauea erupting.
Leimomi has a long history of performing hula through the years with the Hauʻoli Hula Girls, Kodak Hula Show, and as a hula instructor at Kapiʻolani Community College. In 2024, she joined the Kilohana Hula Show, which harkens back to the Kodak Hula Show days featuring hula in Waikiki. Her hula school, true to its name, has performed and competed throughout Hawaii, Japan, the U.S. Mainland, Rome, Belgium, and Tahiti.  They have brought home top honors and awards from competitions such as the annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, King Kamehameha Hula & Chant Competition, Hula ‘Oni E, and Iā ‘Oe E Ka La Hula Festivals. Leimomi continues to share her manaʻo and wealth of knowledge as a judge at hula competitions and workshops. 
Leimomi instills within her haumāna that although we live in a Christian world, we must still respect the traditions and culture of our Kūpuna, Honor God, Love our Family, and know the Art of Hula embodies life itself in everything we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch.
The Keʻena follows an ‘Ōlelo Noʻeau that serves its mission:
“I hoʻokahi kahi puʻuwai, I hoʻokahi kahi ka manaʻo, I hoʻokahi kahi ke aloha, I mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono.”
“We strive towards the goal to be of one heart, one thought, and of one love, so that the goodness of life may always be perpetuated.”