All my other dance years she would be backstage to get changed or sit in the audience, every time I made eye contact with her, she would point to her knees as to tell me "Bend your knees". She then would take her 2 pointer fingers, put them on her checks and push up a grin as to tell me to "Smile"! A lot has happened in the last year, before Mona and I started this halau I had asked my Mama what she thought of teh idea of me teaching. She stated that there was a reason Mona and I have met and come together, and that because you have loved the hula from a very young age it was something that I was meant to do. It has been such a big part of your life for so many years, and you should be so proud that there are others of different ethnic backgrounds that want to learn about our culture. She had away about feeling things right or wrong before they would happen. She encouraged me from the beginning, and taught me how to take chances as she always said "An opportunity like this may only come once in your life"! We all loved when she came to class she brought such a gentle calm to practice and performances. I was as proud of her as she was my oldest Haumana and we finally after all of these years got to dance together. She was so proud when she danced; she always had a smile on her face and was always full of gracefulness. She will be forever remembered as she always turned to the side when she did a Kaholo or vamp, and for always asking which dance is this, showing different hand movements of the different songs she had learned.
In my dedication to my "Mama", I would like to say that the last year of her life was the most enjoyable time I had with her, dancing. When I was very young my Mama was the type of person that loved her culture and especially loved to watch the art of Hula. I remember for many years she would always serve food at luaus, helped with organization of costumes for shows. She always made sure she was at every event and competition to support me. She was my biggest fan. My Mama and I only danced a number together a long time ago; when I was learning from Kaimi in Santa Clara. I think I was under the age of 12.Aloha 'Oe Mau loa Mama
Joreen B. Kaulana Bates
