HALAU KEALI’I O NALANI, under the direction of Kumu Hula Keali’i Ceballos, was founded in the spring of 1991. Keali’i draws his love for hula from his mother, Cissylani Ceballos. An avid hula performer and instructor in her own right, “Aunty Cissy” introduced hula to her son. A hula journeyman, Keali’i has studied under such renown kumu hula as Robert Cazimero, O’Brien Eselu, Leina’ala Kalama, George Naope, and Kawaikapuokalani Hewitt.

As a Kumu Hula, Keali’i emphasizes the importance of awareness. He strives in perpetuating the Hawaiian culture - its art, its identity, its language, its sense of ’ohana. The halau serves as the vessel in which these legacies are taught and shared through our hula.