Aileen
“Puananikauikawekiu” Collo Luna Gaspar, oldest daughter of Nestor and
the late Maternidad Luna Sr., was born on the island of O'ahu. She lived in
Hawai’i until the age of 12 years old when her family moved to
California in search of something better. Aileen first started dancing
hula when she was 14 years old. Her Aunt Priscilla Collo Valdez took her
to a nearby dance “school” in Milpitas on the premise that the two of
them would do it together. On the way there, her aunt mentioned that she
hoped the first thing that they would learn was not Tiny Bubbles or
Pearly Shells. In fact, that was exactly the first set of songs that
they learned. Her aunt soon decided to stop dancing, but Aileen
continued and ended up performing at various parties and events,
including often at Paramount’s Great America in Santa Clara, CA.
After a year, Aileen’s
parents took her to see Auntie Linda Danek of Hula Halau ‘O Pi’ilani in
Santa Clara. She joined the halau immediately and there began her
commitment to dancing. While there, Aileen not only performed at private
functions, but at competitions in Las Vegas, Utah, and San Francisco, as
well as the Joseph Kamohai Kahaulelio Chant & Hula Festival and the Ia
'Oe Ka La Hula Festival in Pleasanton, CA. In 1987, Aileen earned the
title of Olapa and was given the responsibility to help several girls
assigned to her line. She treasures the memories of her first halau and
attributes her basics and foundation of hula to Auntie Linda Danek and
her daughter, Toni Kanani Troche Densing. Aileen left the halau during
her third year of college to concentrate on her studies.
Aileen joined Hula
Halau ‘O Lokelani in May 1992, and remained a haumana of Auntie Rose
Lokelani Kalena No’eau Thomas until her passing on December 26, 2002. Under Auntie Loke’s guidance, Aileen’s concentration was to assist in
the choreography of the dances and to learn more in depth of the
Hawaiian culture. Auntie Loke held an ‘uniki in November 1996 for Aileen
and one of her hula sisters.
Aileen strives to
learn at every opportunity in order to further her growth and knowledge
in
history of the dance and different dance
styles, protocols, chants, language and culture.
The following is a partial list, but she has participated in workshops
with Leonard Kaleo Beck, Clark Bolivar Jr., Bill Char, Sonny Ching,
Makau Foster-Delcuvelllerie, Mark Keali 'i Ho 'omalu, Paulette
Kahalepuna, Maeva Goo, Patrick Makuakane, Anthony Manaois, Renee Price,
Tati and Hina Salmon, and Mahealani Uchiyama.
She also attended the 7th annual
E Pili Kakou I Ho’okahi Lahui that was held for the first time in
Sacramento in September 2004. She was able to take workshops with
Sonny Ching, Chinky Mahoe, Kealoha Kalama and Blaine Kia. Aileen
attended the second Ka ‘Aha
Hula ‘O Halauaola World Conference on Hula held on Maui in July
2005 (http://www.hulaconference.org) where she attended cultural classes
in oli, dance, costume, etc.
Ho’oulu i ka
na’auao (to grow in wisdom)
