Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa rests in one of the most historic districts in all Hawaii. The lands known as Keauhou played a very significant role during the Kamehameha dynasty and several defining moments in Hawaii's history took place here. To further resort efforts to share the rich culture and history of Hawaii with guests, Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa has "adopted" Halau Kala'akeakauikawekiu.

The developing relationship with Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa means that the halau (hula school) holds its practices on resort grounds. Guests are welcomed to sit, watch, enjoy, and take photographs as the keiki (children) and adults work diligently with their kumu (teacher) to perfect intricate hand and foot movements while expressing the emotion of hula.

Halau Kala'akeakauikawekiu ladies practice each Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. From 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. keiki, ages 4 to 12 years, rehearse. Keiki return each Wednesday afternoon from 2:30 p.m. until 5:00 and ladies from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Rehearsals are generally outdoors on the Hawaii or Bayside Lawns.

Halau Kala'akeakauikawekiu educates and enriches the lives of Hawaii's youth through the proper protocol and perpetuation of Hawaii's culture and history through hula. Nurturing the responsibilities of a dancer and their direct link to nature, culture and family, students learn and live Hawaiian concepts and principles through the meanings of ALOHA, a - akahai (modesty), l - lokahi (unity), o - 'olu'olu (pleasantness), h - ha'aha'a (humility), a - ahonui (patience).

Halau Kala'akeakauikawekiu was founded by Kenneth "Aloha" Victor in 2004 with four male high school seniors. As time, experience and opportunities progressed so did the number of his students and their ages. Victor now teaches students as young as age three, which includes his son Shayne Kala'akeakauikawekiu Victor, the namesake of the halau. Shayne is the youngest ho'opa'a or student that helps keep the rhythm of the dance with the ipu heke or double gourd drum.

"Its kind of amazing to see my son pick up the ipu heke and beat rhythms some adults can't master. Sometimes he corrects my mistakes on the beat of the songs," Victor shared. Shayne is not the only one in the family active in the halau. Daughter Shyla is the "hands and feet" of the dance when inspiration hits. "Never knowing when inspiration might come, she has done hand and foot motions for me in the middle of the night, while shopping, or before school so I could better visualize my inspiration," Victor commented. In November 2005 at the age of 8, Shyla won her first solo keiki hula competition, Miss He Lei Hiwa O'Iolani, after rehearsing for only two weeks.

Core to kumu Aloha's desire for his halau and others is to see more Hawaiian hula practitioners self sufficient and able to make the things necessary for themselves as a dancer including lei, hula implements and costuming.  In hula, one must move their hands, feet, hips and head all at the same time to precise motions that replicate nature like the wind and water, sky and birds while smiling and displaying emotion. "I don't know everything or have the ability to make everything, but I don't hesitate to ask our kupuna (elders) and friends for help," Victor asserts. "Our community is great and there are many knowledgeable people here. I am humbled and grateful for everyone's help, including Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, for me, for our kids, our future. We must teach them now, before it's too late."

One of Halau Kala'akeakauikawekiu's dancers is Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa executive assistant, Lily Lyons. "Hula is the magic in my life, where I find myself. It keeps me true to who I am. Now, I am able to share this with children and other ladies that have the desire to learn hula. Honestly, I never thought I'd be sharing hula in this way but since I've been assisting Aloha with his halau, my love for hula has been taken to another level, one I didn't know existed.  As one of my sisters told me recently 'when it's coming from beyond you that's when you know it's meant to be.' For that I am humbled and grateful."