Kumu hula sought to instill culture in others
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Funeral arrangements were still pending yesterday for Paleka Leina'ala Mattos, a highly respected kumu hula who died in her sleep Saturday.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Mattos, 61, was kumu hula of Hula Halau O Kamuela, a school established by her uncle, Sam Kamuela Nae'ole, in the mid-1940s. The halau has consistently brought in high honors in competitions, and brought home the overall title from the Merrie Monarch Festival for the past three years.
Paleka Leina'ala Mattos, kumu hula of Hula Halau O Kamuela, was escorted by brother Kunewa Mook at the 39th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival in April. Funeral arrangements are pending for Mattos, who died Saturday.
Mattos' sister, Zelinda Bright, said her older sister lived, ate, and slept hula from childhood, and loved teaching the art to others.
"She wanted to educate young people about the culture, and embed in them the same passion she held," Bright said.
Mattos' trademarks were the yellow plumeria her students wore in lei and head ornaments, and the long hair styles worn by her dancers.
The plumeria was a nod to older times: memories of her uncle and of greeting shiploads of visitors, Bright said.
The hair was a rule: Everyone had long hair, all kept at the same length.
"Once you were in the halau, she owned your hair," Bright said.
Mattos worked with her brother, Kunewa Mook, who runs Hula Halau O Kamuela II in California.
Bright said her sister was training her young assistant, Kau'i Kamana'o, to take over as kumu hula.
"I've been dancing with her for 21 years, since I was 3 years old," Kamana'o said last night.
Mattos did have interests outside of hula, centering on her family, he said. The last family-related goal she had told him about was that her daughter, Michelle, would give her a granddaughter.
Breyanna Paleka Leina-'ala Mattos-Farias, was born two years ago, making Mattos' life complete, Kamana'o said.
