Pacific Index

Long time dancer Cadee Yamashita takes on the role of instructor this hōʻike  

   NHOH’s annual hōʻike is a first experience dancing hula for some students, but not for freshman Cadee Yamashita who has been dancing for fifteen years. Starting when she was around four years old, Yamashita is an experienced dancer from Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu who is already instructing one of the wahine ʻauana performances for this year’s hōʻike. 

   Yamashita explains that she started dancing because a friend of hers had decided to, and hasn’t stopped since. Beyond her love of performing, dancing in a hālau provided community. “I started dancing because my friend started doing it and I wanted to do something with her,” she shares. “But then after a while it was just because I had so much friends and I had enjoyed being around them. Dancing is fun for me, I like to perform.” 

   Prior to coming to Pacific, Yamashita danced for a hālau in Kāneʻohe with which she performed in the annual Christmas parade, participated in private events, and did community service. It was there she developed bonds with other members, or her “sisters.” Experienced in hula kahiko and ʻauana, Yamashita is bringing her knowledge and skill to Pacific’s stage. 

However, this year has presented a new experience for her: instructing. Yamashita recalls, “I used to teach basics to my younger sisters in class. I was never really the one as the boss though, so that’s definitely a new experience, being the one in charge.” Though this may seem like a daunting task for a freshman, Yamashita says that she enjoys this change. 

   “It’s not as tough of a transition as I thought it was going to be, but it’s still a new challenge I enjoy,” she explains assuredly. With years of skill under her belt, Yamashita seems comfortable and confident leading her dancers in the second wahine ʻauana group. 

   She also brings a bright excitement to instructing, as it’s something that she’s wanted to do for some time now. “I think I wanted to be an instructor because I heard so much about NHOH… and then I always heard stories from my kumu about my older sisters… and I was like, ‘I want to be like that.’” Yamashita says. After a long time of looking up to older sisters in her hālau who instructed and hearing about NHOH’s hōʻike, Yamashita has finally had the opportunity to take the step from being a student to an instructor. 

   The main difficulty Yamashita has come across in instructing is the stress that comes with being in charge. “It’s definitely a lot more stressful because I’m, you know, in charge of twenty people and they’re all looking to me but, I mean, I find a way to manage,” she says. 

   In spite of this, stress is not a deterrent for Yamashita who smiles as she recalls the progress she’s been able to watch her group make over the past couple months. “It’s definitely exciting to see everything backstage, everything that goes behind the scenes to come together… Seeing it from point A and now we’re like almost done… and everyone looks so great, everyone looks so pretty…” she says. 

   Though instructing is not without its struggles and stress, Yamashita is excited to see the final product of her labor in April and has maintained a positive disposition throughout her time teaching. 

   Yamashita hopes to instruct for a kahiko group next year (if she can transport her ipu heke, which she lovingly named Jacquavius, up to Pacific), and will continue to use her skills, experience, and positivity to bring Pacific Islander culture to the mainland.