Kumu Hula
A 1991 graduate of Waimea High School and a 1995 graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Leināʻala Pavao Jardin is
Kumu Hula of Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala who hails from Kalāheo,
Kauaʻi. Established in 1996, her hālau has grown to nearly two hundred students on Kauaʻi along with a beautiful hula ʻohana in Japan and Mexico. Her mission is to instill in her students the many facets of hula that will allow them to perpetuate this most sacred art at a high level of excellence.
Kumu Leināʻala began her life long hula journey at the young age of three with Kumu Hula Kuʻulei Punua. She later continued her keiki hula training with Aunty Lovey Apana and her sister Aunty Beverly Muraoka. Upon graduating from Waimea High School, Kumu Leināʻala ventured to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo where she began her advanced hula training with Kumu Hula Rae Fonseca of Hālau Hula ʻO Kahikilaulani. She returned home to Kauaʻi in 1995 to care for her mother and soon after, with the blessings of Kumu Rae, opened the doors to Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala. Kumu Leināʻala formally received her rights of ‘ūniki in 2007 from Kumu Rae.