The diversity of ethnicities in Hawai'i is a given, but in the everyday hustle and bustle, we tend to overlook gems of cultural events taking place nearly every day.

While our many hula halau provide perhaps the most visible sign of traditions being preserved, other ethnic groups are contributing their own artistic influences, too.

A case in point is the Hanayagi Dancing Academy, which offers its first recital of the year tomorrow at the Mission Memorial Auditorium. The academy was founded in 1947 by Hawai'i-born Viola Ikie Hosokawa, who traveled to Japan to study dance before the attack on Pearl Harbor. When war broke out, she was stranded there and wasn't allowed home until the war ended.

After her return, Hosokawa, under the professional name Hanayagi Mitsuaki I (Hanayagi being the name of the school in Japan and Mitsuaki being the name bestowed upon her by her dancing master), formed the Hawai'i branch of the academy. Its purpose: to teach the people of Hawai'i, particularly those of Japanese descent, classical dances of Japan.

Current director Karen Fujishima-Lee took over after Hosokawa's death several years ago. Fujishima-Lee has been bestowed the title Hanayagi Mitsuaki II.

We caught up with Fujishima-Lee just before a recent performance at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, and she talked about the school's purpose and process.

"Our students vary in age from 3 to 91. The school has different branches and numerous instructors. The main O'ahu branch is in Kailua, at my home. Since students work one-on-one with the instructor, classes do not require large studio spaces. Other branches can be found throughout O'ahu, on the outer islands, the Mainland and, of course, in Japan.

"The form of dances we do comes mostly from the kabuki style and is mainly performed to songs, many of which date back to the 18th century. All the songs are in Japanese, and since most of us don't know the language, that's a problem for us. We have to rely on music or word cues," she said.

There are abstract as well as story dances, and the use of props is common.

"Since the performers are clad in kimonos, the emphasis is on the upper body, particularly the arms, head and shoulders. Movements and spatial orientation are very specific and controlled," she said.

Fujishima-Lee has been dancing since childhood and made her first stage appearance at age 6.

Now it is her task to organize and produce the many events the school offers to the community. Despite teaching mathematics full-time at Leeward Community College, she still finds time to teach, rehearse and present her students to groups of school children, senior citizens and the general public.