After 12 weeks of weekly hula class at the local Sr Center, I go looking for something more challenging and a little faster. Searching for clues on line, I find a very informative site and a class on Wed. evenings for 2 hrs! Only $30 a month. This Kumu ( teacher) has lots of cds as well. I go to taste and see, buy a cd for children to take to this year’s family reunion and take the class. Coincidentally, five lovely youngish Japanese dancers are visiting for a couple weeks to study. They stand in te front of the dozen dancers to lead. The class is very fast and presumes a high level of dance proficiency. I barely hold on. Some of these gals have been dancing for more than 10 years and have their own studios in Japan! Sheesh! I am very glad when the class ends and wonder if I’ll return. Soon after I discover I have Silver Sneakers on my insurance! I can take free classes galore at certain gyms here. So far I see 24 hr fitness and the Y in Kailua, 15 min from home. AND there’s hula at the Y! So, I go to taste this one and find this Kumu is native Hawaiian(a plus), very large gal, very kind and attentive to new folks too. I love her, and she moves the class at a clip. There are maybe 30 ladies of all ages in the class: 14-80!! Cool. Kumu tells me I need a skirt(the ugly cotton hula skirts that flatter no one save the skinny 14 yr old!). I can get one, I say. But she insists she’ll bring one for me next time and it’s only $20. (I know that’s a good price as that’s what they go for at the flea market.) Next day I return (she has class Fri nite and Sat am) and she has brought me a beautiful dark blue and white skirt! I remember then I had been wearing my pretty white blouse with blue embroidery the night before. Kumu is observant and kind. This Sat class is faster and harder but only one hr. I survive. Then I chat w/Kumu about her online information as another student has suggested. She takes my email address and promises to send the info so I can practice the dances at home. I feel a connection with this teacher and decide to learn all I can from her while I am here.