Hello Readers,

 

 

Let’s start with a quiz. What do these ladies have in common? No peeking. Yes, they are all women.  They all live in northern Colorado: Longmont, Berthoud, Johnstown and Loveland. All work in their respective fields, but their careers vary greatly. They are of different ages and have different friends. They go to different churches. Some are married; some are single. Any guesses? Well, let me tease you a little more. They have a connection to Hawaii – one lived there, one was created there, some visited and all embrace a piece of the Hawaiian culture. Now, any guesses? They all have a strong faith; they all love to dance. Well, these ladies make up the inspirational dance troupe Ka Wai Ola O Ke Akua; the translation from Hawaiian to English is The Living Waters of God. 

 

 

To better understand this praise and worship hula team, I started my interviews with the founder of the dance troupe, Niau Mora- age 63, and two of her first local students: Yvonne Dawdy – age 72 and Billie Best – age 65. Niau was born in Philadelphia. Her Mom is Hawaiian, and when Niau was five years old the family moved back to Hawaii. She was raised on the island of Oahu.  Yvonne was a Jersey girl. Her parents’ ancestry was Dominican Republican with French and Spanish ancestry. When she was seven years old, Yvonne’s family moved to California. Billie’s mom and dad lived in Hawaii when her father was stationed there in the military.  When her mom was 8 ½ months pregnant with Billie, they moved to Colorado where Billie was born and raised. 

Let’s state the obvious. Church seems incongruous with hula dancing. “It raises eyebrows”, Niau said. After you see what we do, it’s easier to understand”. Then, as one viewer said, “I saw performing art, but nothing like this. It grabbed my heart.” 

Niau didn’t start formal dancing until age 43. Like many of us, she only danced informally throughout her life at school dances, weddings, or just for recreation. Yvonne started dancing at age 62; she had been singing in the Loveland Chorale and the programs are choreographed, but like Niau she had only danced informally. Billie’s story is the same. Until age 55, she had only danced for fun. Now, Niau, Yvonne and Billie have been dancing together for over eight years.

An important part of Niau’s story was when she was living in Hawaii. Many in Hawaii attend what are called Hawaiian Sovereignty Issues meetings. The discussions often include Hawaiian political content but the group always began and ended in prayer. A friend invited Niau to attend the meetings and the prayers would move her emotionally. “I was crying and I didn’t know why,” she said. Then, around this same time, she was driving home from work and listening to her car radio.  “There was this funny guy on the radio,” Niau remembers. The folks who attended the Hawaiian Sovereignty meetings told her the man she had been listening to was a pastor and introduced Niau to him.  Niau started attending his church.  Niau said, “I learned the Bible and made a personal choice to “ask Jesus into my heart”. 

Three years later, she met a woman who was a Hulu dancer. This woman shared Niau’s beliefs about Jesus, and Niau was very touched by their meeting. Niau tells the story: “I wanted to learn from this woman. I went to the woman’s house, knocked on her door and said ‘I want you to teach me’ [Hula dance]. The woman said ‘No’. She said she was not a teacher but she could introduce me to someone who was.” Yet, Niau knew in her heart that this was the person to teach her. She went back the next day and the woman said “No” again. For two weeks, Niau would go back and ask the woman to teach her. “She realized I wasn’t going to go away so she decided to teach me.” The woman’s name was Kamalani Kaahanui. For the next six years, she taught Niau Hula dancing as a way of praise and worshipful expression.

Sometime in that first year of learning, Niau and her teacher were in a practice session in front of the dance mirror and the teacher started laughing. Niau said, “Why are you laughing?” The teacher said, “You look like Betty Rubble [from the Flintstones]” meaning Niau was dancing in a cartoonish way. Her movements were stiff and not flowing. This continued throughout the next year. Niau learned the steps and positions, but her movements were still not that of a graceful Hula dancer. 

Then in her third year of dance practicing, Niau felt she wanted to grow in her relationship with God.  She said she felt the need to spend some time alone. She said the pressing quest was “I want to know God”. So she decided to go on what she called a spiritual journey. Niau packed her Bible, her study books, her dog Chi Wawa and camped on Kahi ki ni Mountain in Hawaii.  She stayed there for 40 days and nights; the first thirteen days she fasted with only tea and water. In that time, she would pray, read, and worship in dance. “I grew closer to God,” Niau said. 

About a week after her spiritual journey, she was back in dancing class with her teacher, Kamalani Kaahanui. Something had changed in Niau’s dancing. Niau said her movements were not stiff but “flowing” and “my hands were now graceful. I could mimic a bird”. As Niau described the graceful bird she moved her hands in a delicate fashion. “I had true lovely Hula hands; lovely Hula hips.” Her teacher said in awe, “You have been with God”. Niau said, “So I went from Betty Rubbles to lovely”.

For five years, Niau danced as a praise and worship dancer in Maui, Hawaii. Her son lived in Colorado and told her “Mom you need to move here. There is a ministry here for you”. She came here, and within the first week she was teaching praise dancing at a church in Colorado Springs.

Yvonne moved to Colorado in 1967. Her husband had lived here before entering the Navy and Yvonne said “we wanted a better place to raise our children then California”. Yvonne had always had a desire to learn the exotic dances of Tahitian and Flamenco. Then she heard that Niau was looking for students to teach praise and worship hula dancing. “I knew I wanted to be a part of it”

Niau had been invited to a Bible Study/church meeting, and Billie and her mom attended. Remember, Billie’s mom and dad had been stationed in Hawaii earlier in their marriage. Billie said, “Mom always had a soft spot in her heart for Hawaiians.” As they watched Niau dance, Billie said “I was crying tears of the awe and beauty.” She said to herself, “I want to worship like that. I saw God in a whole new way.” 

Niau had been attending Charis Bible College in Colorado Springs (now located in Woodland Park). There, she also taught praise and worship Hula dancing. Her students were not limited to Hawaiian. She has had African, Korean, Hawaiian and folks from the states in her class. Niau told Billie and Niau that after she graduated from college she would take them as students. 

In 2007, Niau moved to Longmont which brought her closer in proximity to Yvonne, a Berthoud resident, and Billie, who lived in Longmont. Then in 2010, Niau graduated and was licensed to perform clergy roles such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals. As well, she created a new dance team. By 2011, Billie and Yvonne were her original students of the dance team we see today – Ka Wai Ola O Ke Akua; this is the Hawaiian title for The Living Waters of God.

 

 

Now readers, are you confused as to what this dance may be? Having seen the ladies dance, I understand what they are saying but it is difficult to paint a picture with words of the style and grace in their dancing. Here are the words of the dancers: Yvonne said, “It is an artistic expression of our adoration of God.” Niau said, “It is a way of thanking God for all He has done.” She explained, “Hula mimics life – the way the bird flies, the way the water flows. Before there was a written language, history was communicated in the dance and the chanting.” Billie said, “it is an expression of God without using words. It tells stories with our hands, our eyes, our hips. So we are telling God’s story with dance.” 

The first time they danced before an audience Yvonne laughed, “We were scared”. Billie chuckled, “it was a very forgiving audience”. But the feedback was that they had done very well. From that small handful of three, the team has now grown to a group of eight women. They are a 501 c 3 non-profit ministry. They are invited three or more times a month to perform their unique worship ministry. They’ve traveled to dance in New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Kansas, Indiana, Hawaii, and all parts of Colorado. They’ve danced for churches, nursing homes, hospitals, birthday parties, weddings and anniversary celebrations, as well as funerals. They’ve ministered at banquets, festivals, stores and fundraisers. 

It is not just a dance troupe for the ladies. They go to minister and help others. They have cooked, served food and found ways to meet the needs of their audience. For a wedding where they danced, Yvonne said, “we peeled 100 pounds of potatoes”. The money they raise helps cover the cost of their travel and wardrobe expenses, but it also has another purpose. When someone is in need, they find ways to help. There was the time they met a family whose car had broken down on the road. The dance team filled the family’s gas tank. They have fed families who have been homeless. 

The wardrobe of the dancers follows traditional Hawaiian styles: flowers in their hair, leis and flowing skirts. Billie designs and creates almost all their outfits. One skirt – called pa’u – uses four or five yards of material gathered at the hip and includes three panels of elastic. All the material is ordered from Hawaii. Niau designs and then creates most of the intricate pieces for flower adornments and leis. There are two kinds of flower designs: the pua – flowers pinned in the dancer’s hair; and lei po’o – a band of flowers worn like a crown on the dancer’s head. The Lei is a necklace made from natural items found in Hawaii, such as: flowers, shells, nuts, leaves and seeds. 

 

      

(Lei po’o being constructed and finished in top pics; Examples of leis made by Niau in Hawaii at the bottom; the left is made of orchids, the right made of crown flowers)

 

One of their unique opportunities to dance came when they were invited to the First Nations Native American Tribal gathering. Over 200 Native Americans met on the Clabato, New Mexico reservation. Hawaii was the last state accepted into the United States and Native Americans are often called the First Nation. The “first” and the “last” nations, for three days, told their stories in dance. Numerous tribes performed their respective dances. There was a traditional Native American drum circle. Each day, the eight ladies of Ka Wai Ola O Ke Akua told their stories about God in their dances. 

The group has a bucket list prayer: All eight of the ladies want to get to Israel “to go to the Holy Land to dance”, Yvonne said. 

Shirley, age 60, one of the hula dancers, moved to Colorado from Florida four years ago. As a new guest to our state, she was lonely and homesick for the life she left behind. That first year, she had many sad days and she would pray to God to bring her family closer. Shirley said God answered that prayer in a surprising way. “I still have and love my family,” she said, “but God has also given me my new friends here.” Talking about the other ladies of Ka Wai Ola O Ke Akua, Shirley said, “The have become like family to me. When I am sick they make sure I have food and I’m taking my medicine. They care about me.”

I attended and watched the ladies dance for a Bible study’s Christmas party, I was curious about their interaction with each other and their audience. I watched them greet folks with hugs and tenderness. I saw them serve food, set up tables and chairs and clean up after the party. They laughed, they danced and they showed a lovely unity, not only among themselves, but with those in attendance. Readers, you might have heard of Mattie Stepanek. He was a young boy who had muscular dystrophy. He was well-known as an American poet and motivational speaker. By the time of his death at age 13, Mattie had seven best-selling books that included peace essays. I’m quoting Mattie when I describe what I saw among the women of this unique praise and worship team. “Unity is strength. . . when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”     

Last month we heard about Gary Golter and his fellow Cultivate volunteers. They truly are on the front line of serving folks in this pandemic era. Here are some of the readers thoughts:

Susana says, “I love your heroes in the storm blog, pictures and poem. I truly enjoyed them.”

Donna says, “Love your blog, Debbie. The stories are told so well.”

Chrysti says, “It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you – having met because of Cultivate. You are a beautiful soul and such an inspiration for living the life you love, no matter what obstacles you have faced. Thank you for your beautiful story highlighting the incredible volunteers at Cultivate.”

Susan says, “This is the loveliest blog ever.  You shine a light, not only with the blog, but with your kind interpretations”.

Ann says, “As always, a very enjoyable blog.  Thank you, Debbie, for this inspiring media boost.”

Rita and Jill send similar sentiments with a “Bravo” and “Great job”.

Jan says, “Cultivate sounds like a wonderful organization. Kudos to all those volunteers and their selfless acts of kindness.” 

Susie says, “So heartwarming to read this article… love how with the help of others you get to remain independent and live as you choose… you’re a glass half full girl”.

Until next month, may peace be at your side,

Debbie Noel

We have several ways to interact with Debbie!

• Email her at DroppingInWithDebbie@gmail.com

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Debbie Noel
C/o Longmont Senior Center
910 Longs Peak Avenue
Longmont, Colorado 80501

 

Members of Ka Wai Ola O Ke Akua: Dancers: Niau – hula teacher, caregiver for people with disabilities and seniors and designs “Never Fading Flower” hair adornments; Billie – 20 years as a driver for Via Mobility Services and 10 years as a driver for Senior Center buses for some of its trips; Yvonne – entrepreneur as a beauty shop owner/hair-dresser, Avon representative, Loveland Auto Auction clerk, election judge and bookkeeper for several ministries; Joni Mangeris -jewelry designer and election judge; Sherry Unruh – owner of two All State Insurance locations; Laurinda Ball – owner and massage therapist of Healing Center, in Longmont; Trish VanderMolen – caregiver for the elderly; Shirley Tingley – homemaker and hand crafter.

 

**for more information and how to support the work of Ka Wai Ola O Ke Akua (The Living Waters of God):

• Phone: 720-442-2695
• Mailing address: Consultors Ministry. 420 Michigan Avenue. Berthoud. Colorado. 80513

**Longmont Senior Center has a wide variety of dance and movement classes, including Zumba, Bailes de mi Tierra, line dancing, Feldenkrais, and more. As facilities continue to slowly reopen to the public during the COVID crisis, check the updated GO Catalog to see what is offered this quarter and which classes are available virtually. For example, I am teaching my creative writing class online through Zoom teleconferencing. For the most up-to-date information on LSC classes, check the GO or call the LSC at 303-651-8411 for information and to sign up for the regular email update.

** VIA offers resources and transportation services to older adults, people with disabilities and others living with mobility limitations. For more information or to give a donation, contact: https://viacolorado.org/  or email info@viacolorado.org  Phone: 303-447-2848; mailing address: Via Mobility Services, 2855 N. 63rd Street, Boulder CO 80301