bio

it is so much fun to create your own mythology.

(big) kahuna + hula (hoop) = kahunahula.

i’ve been hooping diligently for about six years.  my oldest friend on the planet, dbug, introduced me to it.  i wasn’t convinced it needed to be a vibrant part of my life until i saw spiral weave her spell at burning man.  i was enchanted.  i knew i had to give hooping a real try.  when i hesitantly did so, i found i could barely keep the thing at my hips.  it was obvious that i had my work cut out for me.  the process of getting from those early days in a barn to where i am now has been an amazing adventure.

i’ve hooped through several major life transitions and issues, including hooping my way through an amicable divorce and out of type II diabetes.  it has become the basis for a large part of my social network, the core of my fitness regime, and my favorite form of play.  i never would have expected it to be hooping, of all things. that still surprises me.

i feel fortunate to have the chance to hoop everywhere i can.  homebase is definitely the san francisco bay area- the thriving music/dance scene combined with a kickass hooping community makes it a great place to learn and perform.  i’m currently a member of the multi-disciplinary fire troupe, solar flare, and co-founder of firish.  i’ve performed with fireflirt’s infernal circus, pyrotation, and temple of poi.  i’m also rumored to have co-founded a band of notorious hoop-misfits called HooppaiN.  i can neither confirm nor deny that.  i’m a member of bay area hoopers and a contributor to hooping.org.  in between performances and jams, i tutor individuals in hoop skills and teach hoop classes.

my philosophy about hooping is simple.  it takes the discipline of practice, constant improvisational exploration, and the active pursuit of inspiration to be a great hooper.  the whole point is to release that graceful, exciting, expressive hoopdancer slumbering within. while tricks are an exciting part of any hoop repertoire, manifesting that intangible thing called flow in your spinning is what it is all about.  that is what i strive to realize in my performances and what i work to help my students reveal.

whether you are new to hooping, a seasoned hoop performer or someone who just loves to watch the artistry unfold, nice to meet you.

kahunahula

photo by donovan watts, 2007.