Soka Students Bring Hawaiian Culture to Community

“Being a part of this club made me feel like I was home in Hawaii with the dances and the beautiful Hawaiian music,” said Chelsea Slayter.

Slayter grew up in Hawaii and has been dancing hula since she was 5 years old.

Four years ago, as a freshman at Soka University in Aliso Viejo, Slayter joined the school’s Polynesian club, Ka Pilina Ho’olokahi. She is now the club’s senior advisor.

Ka Pilina Ho’olokahi is a Hawaiian phrase that means “the coming together of peace and harmony.”

The 50 member club is appropriately named. Peace and harmony abounded in the graceful moves of the dancers at Soka’s third annual Luau on April 6.

“Hula is telling a story using your hands,” said Kimiko Plehn, vice president of Ka Pilina Ho’olokahi. “As we teach our members choreography, we’re also teaching them what they’re dancing about.”

Plehn, who has been hula dancing in Los Angeles since she was 6 years old, worked with Slayter to choreograph the dances for the luau.

“Everyone worked hard to contribute,” said Plehn. “The club puts on the entire program from start to finish.”

Ka Pilina Ho’olokahi was formed in 2001 to promote Polynesian, Hawaiian and Tahitian culture to students and the community.

“This year’s lu’au was truly something special, it being my last, and I definitely felt that the aloha spirit thrived as it was shared with the Soka students, faculty, staff and our beloved community members,” said Slayter.

Sophomores Rose Codilla and Yasuko Shizuma are co-presidents of Ka Pilina Ho’olokahi. In addition, Codilla serves as treasurer and Shizuma is the club’s secretary.

Shizuma said she heard about Ka Pilina Ho’olokahi when she was a student at Soka High School in Japan.

“One of my friends is from Hawaii,” Shizuma said.  “She told me about Hawaiian culture and how the songs are really relaxing.”

Codilla, who’s from Fontana, Calif., said she was interested in Polynesian dance and “just wanted to join.”

“It’s a bit of a struggle for me,” said Codilla. “I’m a track and cross country recruit, so sometimes I’m exhausted, but I really like the flow of the music and how it tells a story. It’s my time where I can relax.”

Instruments are also an important part of hula. When bamboo sticks called puili are hit together, a story is told by the different sounds.

“In everything we do, we’re telling a story,” Plehn said.

“Our club isn’t just for girls,” said Codilla. “We have guys performing the Haka dance.”

The Haka, traditionally used for war, is a slapdance that involves hitting the chest and thighs.

The dancers at the lu’au also used a traditional war weapon called a poi ball, which involves the swinging of a tethered ball in rhythmic and geometric patterns.

Female dancers made their own pa’u skirts for the lu’au.

“It’s five-yards of fabric, gathered to look fuller,” Plehn said.

Members of Ka Pilina Ho’olokahi are now rehearsing for Soka’s 11th Annual International Festival on May 5.

Plehn said she enjoys seeing all of the club members practicing. “They’re so eager to learn hula. It makes me feel happy,” she said.

“It’s been an amazing experience sharing the culture with all of the other members and sharing how poetic the songs of Hawaii are and what they mean to us personally,” said Slayter.  “I’ve grown up with this, but others haven’t, and to see them be positively affected by it makes this experience all the more rewarding.”

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For more information regarding Soka University’s 11th Annual International Festival, visit soka.edu/festival.