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PERFORMER'S BIO

ELEIA - Polynesian Dancer
Eleia has been dancing and performing Polynesian dances with Nalu for over 13 years. She leads hula classes and assists Lisette Marie Flanary, a filmmaker who created the Hawaiian group, "Ka Lehua Melemele" and films such as "American Aloha" and "Na Kamalei: The Men of Hula." Together, they share their knowledge of hula to the local Hawaiians in NYC and to those who are Hawaiian at heart. She has performed in front of thousands of people at Knoeble's Resort in Pennsylvania and numerous venues throughout the east coast.

NALU - Polynesian Dancer
Nalu has been seen on commercials such as, "Dove Body Wash" and "The Travel Channel" featured as a Polynesian dancer. Nalu has also appeared as Liat in "South Pacific", Tahitian Girl in "the Conan O'Brien Show", numerous roles as a Pacific Islander in daytime soap operas and even a cameo appearance opposite Blair Underwood in "Sex in the City". She was a model for many years and has worked with Cosmopolitan, Self, All You Magazines,several print ads and billboards throughout the U.S. including Hawaii and some even in Asia. Now, she focuses more on Polynesian dancing and teaching yoga.

MATI - Polynesian Dancer
Mati graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in dance. For many years, she has enjoyed both performing and teaching the art of dance to almost every age range. Mati has performed regionally and nationally in shows such as "the King and I" and "42nd Street" , and has appeared in numerous industrials, commercials and concerts for Amena cellphone (Spain),Total Payments, Prudential Insurance, Johnson and Johnson,Kool and the Gang and many East Coast Polynesian Dance troupes. She has appeared on almost every major television network and performs and teaches regularly in the tri-state area with organizations such as the Leadership Program. She part-restaurateur and also co-founder and Artistic Director of a dance school in Staten Island,NY.

CHIEF - Fire Knife Dancer
Chief is one of Aloha Hula NYC's Samoan fire knife dancers. His father pioneered fire knife dancing in NY in the 1950's. Not only that, his brothers and cousins are also fierce fire knife dancers. He was born in American Samoa, moved to Hawai'i, studied at BYU (Bringham Young Univeristy) and worked at Polynesian Cultural Center before finally calling New York his home.

ANDY - Musician
With family ties to the island of O'ahu, Andy developed an insatiable love for Hawaiian music and the fingerstyle tradition of ki ho'alu (slack key guitar.) For over a decade,he has returned to Hawai'i to study with a host of Hawaiian slack key guitar masters including Ozzie Kotani, Keola Beamer, and George Kahumoku, Jr. Andy has become an ambassador of this art, delighting audiences across the east coast. He has performed Hawaiian music, solo or with other musicians, at a variety of events and venues in the tri-state area. In 2007, he performed at the 15th Annual Taro Festival in Hana, Maui and opened for the Makaha Sons and Hoku Zuttermeister at the Thomas J. Meehan Center for the Performing Arts. He has provided musical accompaniment for various hula groups including Na Lehua Melemele and the Hawai'i Cultural Foundation. Visit: http://www.myspace.com/taropatch

BILL - Musician
Bill's music evokes memories of an island paradise - even for those who have never been there. The music of Hawai'i captured Bill's heart at an early age and hasn't let go. For over 25 years, he has shared the music and culture of Hawai'i with audiences everywhere - from Atlantic City's finest casino/hotels to Carnegie Hall and - most recently - at Honolulu's historic Hawai'i Theatre as a finalist in the KINE/Aloha Festivals Falsetto Contest. Since 1987, Bill has recorded more than 200 Hawaiian songs in his recording studio. Through these recordings and his live performances, Bill has earned the respect of the living legends of Hawaiian music for preserving and spreading the tradition while moving it forward.He is a member of the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). Each year, HARA presents the Hawaiian music community with the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards - the Hawaiian equivalent of the "Grammies."

CHRIS - Musician
Chris truly loves and deeply appreciates the beauty of Hawaiian culture.He has been playing the steel guitar for over 30 years and has performed at many events on the East Coast, including Joe's Pub (NYC) and with Vince Gill. His playing can be heard on CD's by Dan Bonis,Terrence Martin and Billy Rush(Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes). Chris also co-authored an instruction book,"The Art of Hawaiian Steel Guitar, Vol.2" with Grammy winner Stacy Phillips which was published by Melbay Productions.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING ALOHA TO YOU!