To celebrate the 62nd Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaiʻi this week, we honor the legacy of Karl Veto Baker, a kumu hula of Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, alongside Michael Lanakila Casupang.With five decades of experience as a hula dancer and teacher, Kumu Veto reflects on his journey that began in 1975 under the mentorship of renowned Kumu Hula, Robert Cazimero, whose 50th year of dancing is being honored this spring. Kumu Veto shares stories of learning hula during the Hawaiian Renaissance in the 1970s, his ʻūniki (graduation exercises), and the founding of his hula school, Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, in 1998. We explore the joys and creativity of teaching, the dedication of his haumana (students), and how hula positively shapes lives both on and off the stage. From honoring family legacies to reviving powerful moʻolelo (stories), Kumu Veto offers reflective insight into the vision, research, choreography, and spiritual essence that fuel his artistry. With contemplations on his love for the hula community, this episode honors hula as the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people. Mahalo for tuning in! Episode Highlights 0:22 Introduction to Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker of Hālau I Ka Wēkiu 0:47 Gratitude to his teacher of 50 years, Kumu Hula Robert Cazimero 4:12 A family legacy of hula dance 5:31 The Hawaiian Renaissance 6:42 ʻŪniki: the process of becoming a kumu hula 8:09 Establishing Hālau I Ka Wēkiu in 1998 8:33 The joy in watching students excel 9:51 Preparing for Merrie Monarch 2025 11:08 Students rising to the occasion in all areas of life 15:45 Hula is the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people 19:14 Abundance flows from aloha 23:12 Striving for the excellence: performances and connecting to the audience 27:14 Newness each year 27:50 It all began in1975 28:10 50th celebration: Reviving the saga of Halemano and Kamalalawalu 33:33 Peʻahi o Makana written by Kumu Hula Devin Kamealoha Forrest 36:41: Vision, research, choreography, mechanics, spirit, strive for the wēkiu
To celebrate the 62nd Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaiʻi this week, we honor the legacy of Karl Veto Baker, a kumu hula of Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, alongside Michael Lanakila Casupang. With five decades of experience as a hula dancer and teacher, Kumu Veto reflects on his journey that began in 1975 under the mentorship of renowned Kumu Hula, Robert Cazimero, whose 50th year of dancing is being honored this spring. Kumu Veto shares stories of learning hula during the Hawaiian Renaissance in the 1970s, his ʻūniki (graduation exercises), and the founding of his hula school, Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, in 1998. We explore the joys and creativity of teaching, the dedication of his haumana (students), and how hula positively shapes lives both on and off the stage. From honoring family legacies to reviving powerful moʻolelo (stories), Kumu Veto offers reflective insight into the vision, research, choreography, and spiritual essence that fuel his artistry. With contemplations on his love for the hula community, this episode honors hula as the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people. Mahalo for tuning in!
Episode Highlights
0:22 Introduction to Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker of Hālau I Ka Wēkiu
0:47 Gratitude to his teacher of 50 years, Kumu Hula Robert Cazimero
4:12 A family legacy of hula dance
5:31 The Hawaiian Renaissance
6:42 ʻŪniki: the process of becoming a kumu hula
8:09 Establishing Hālau I Ka Wēkiu in 1998
8:33 The joy in watching students excel
9:51 Preparing for Merrie Monarch 2025
11:08 Students rising to the occasion in all areas of life
15:45 Hula is the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people
19:14 Abundance flows from aloha
23:12 Striving for the excellence: performances and connecting to the audience
27:14 Newness each year
27:50 It all began in1975
28:10 50th celebration: Reviving the saga of Halemano and Kamalālāwalu
33:33 Peʻahi o Makana written by Kumu Hula Devin Kamealoha Forrest
36:41: Vision, research, choreography, mechanics, spirit, strive for the wēkiu