Dance Lecturer
Hula
traciekl@hawaii.edu
Tracie Kaʻōnohilani Farias was raised in Kaimukī surrounded by the music of her mom, Karen Keawehawaiʻi. She now resides in Pūʻahuʻula with her husband Dr. Keawe Lopes and three daughters Piʻikea, Kaʻōnohi and Hāweo. A 1989 Kamehameha graduate, she holds a BA and MA from UH Mānoa.
She is an accomplished dancer blessed to have been awarded the titles of Miss Hula Pākahi, Miss E Hoʻi Mai I Ka Piko Hula, and in 1994, Miss Aloha Hula at the Merrie Monarch Festival. She also received 1st place chant awards at the Kamehameha Day Competition. In 2005, Tracie and Keawe founded their hālau, Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, continuing the traditions of kumu O’Brian Eselu, Thaddius Wilson, Kimo Alama Keaulana, Johnette Keawehawaiʻi, Mapuana Yasue and Flo Koanui. Tracie is happy to be back in Mānoa to share her love for hula as the kumu of the DNCE 433 Hula course.