Ia Ora Na and Aloha,
Welcome to the home page of Hei Purotu O Hiva.
This is to announce the opening of a new Polynesian Dance & Culture School, Hei Purotu O Hiva, from January, 2019.
My name is Yoko Gullikson, and I am the director and instructor of the school.
Since moving to and living in Hawaii from 1997, I have spent everyday with Hula,Tahitian dance, and people and culture of Polynesia. It has been and continues to be a pleasure to have so many valuable experiences in the islands of Polynesia. I have been blessed with Hula, Tahitian competitions, appearances in shows, and various fieldwork opportunities.
I began teaching Tahitian dance in Hawaii and Japan in 2005 - sfive years after receiving permission from my teacher.
From 2007 to the present, I have been offering open workshops, school workshops, and have provided instruction for group and solo competition participants throughout Japan as well as taught costume and lei making.
Although workshops are limited in time, I can choreograph, explain the meaning of songs, and offer advice on costumes. However I can not follow up once classes are finished. Because it was difficult to complete my instruction in the limited workshop time, I decided to open my own school with the goal of being able to complete my lessons and instruction, and present lessons in their entirety which explain and enhance students' understanding and appreciation of Polynesian culture.
The school name, Hei Purotu O Hiva, means “the beautiful lei connecting the islands of the Pacific". A lei made of many flowers connects the islands, people, and culture of Polynesia to us. Fragrant and beautiful flowers that shine brightly and colorfully symbolize the students of Hei Purotu O Hiva!
Yoko Gullikson
PROFILE
Education:
1993 - 1996: Hula, 'Ori Tahiti, Kapa Haka: Tokyo
1997 - 2009: Te Vai Ura Nui: (’Ori Tahiti: Hawaii)
1997 ~ present: Kumu Hula Noenoelani Zuttermeister: (Hula)
2009 ~ present: A 'Ori Mai,' Ori I Tahiti ('Ori Tahiti in Tahiti)
Awards and Honors:
1996: Merrie Monarch Festival Ho'ike participant: King Kamehameha Hula Competition
1997: San Jose Tahiti Fete Ahuroa:1st Otea, Aharima: Group Overall: 2nd Place
1998: Merrie Monarch Festival Ho'ike participant: Kauai Tahiti Fete Group Overall: 1st Place
Miss Hinano Tahiti Contest:1st Runner up
1999: Polynesian Dance Review:Tahiti, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Moorea
Aloha Tower Tahiti Fete, Honolulu: Group Overall: 1st Place
2000: Professional Polynesian Dance: Germaine’s Luau - Hotels, special events, private parties
Tahiti Fete of Hilo: Solo, 2nd Place: Group Overall 1st Place Merrie Monarch Festival Ho'ike participant:
Maui Tahiti Fete: Solo 2nd Place, Group Overall 1st Place
2001: Tahiti Fete Of Hilo: Group Overall 1st Place, Polynesian Dance Review: Tahiti, BoraBora, Manihi, Moorea
Mrs. America Pageant, Honolulu: ‘Ori Tahiti Solo
2002: Aloha Tower Tahiti Fete, Honolulu: Solo 2nd Place, San Jose Tahiti Fete: Group Overall 2nd Place
Private Show for Janet Jackson: ’Ori Tahiti Solo
2003: Heiva I Honolulu: Group Overall 2nd Place, Kauai Tahiti Fete: Group Overall 1st Place
Polynesian Dance Review: Tahiti, BoraBora, Huahine
2004: Kauai Tahiti Fete Guest Show: Hula Halau Performance
2005: Merrie Monarch Festival Ho’ike participant: Kauai Tahiti Fete Guest Show
2006: University of Hawaii at Manoa: Dance Concert
2007: Tahitian Workshop: 2 - 4 times, yearly
2008: Hana Maika'i Award: Germaine's Luau 2008
2008: Merrie Monarch Festival Ho'ike Participant
2011: Ala Moana Hula Show: Heiva I Tokyo: Solo Best Costume Award
2014: A 'Ori Mai: Hura Tapairu Mehura Participant (Choreography Assistant), 'Ori I Tahiti Aparoma (choreographer)
2016: Heiva I Tokyo: Mehura Division: 1st Place (Te A Nini 'Ura I Te Moana)
2020: Heiva International(OTWC) Mehura Division: 1st Place
Japanese Group Competition Instruction History:
2011 Heiva I Tokyo Aparima: 1st Place: Group Overall
(Music selection, arrangement, choreography, composition, guidance, costume design and fabrication)
2012 Heiva I Tokyo Aparima: 1st Place: Group Overall, Heiva I Tokyo Tupuna: 1st Place
(Music selection, arrangement, choreography, composition, guidance, costume design and fabrication)
2013 Heiva I Tokyo Tupuna: Participant Award
(Music selection, arrangement, choreography, composition, guidance, costume design and fabrication)
2014 Heiva I Tokyo Tupuna: 1st Place
(Music selection, arrangement, choreography, composition, guidance, costume design and fabrication)
2016 Heiva I Tokyo Mehura: 1st Place, Miss Heiva: 1st Place
2020: Heiva International(OTWC) Mehura Division: 1st Place
(Music selection, choreography, composition, guidance, costume design and fabrication)
Student Award History:
2009 Tahiti Heiva in Tokyo: Solo 2nd Place
2010 Tahiti Nui Heiva I Japan:Vahine 1st Place
2011 Tatauraa 'Ori Tahiti Japan: Solo 2nd Place, Heiva I Tokyo: Solo Best Costume Award
2012 Tata 'ura'a' Ori Tahiti Japan: Tamarii 2nd Place, 'Ori Tahiti Nui: Solo 2nd Place
Tahiti Heiva in Japan: Solo 3 awards
2013 Tatauraa 'Ori Tahiti Japan: 2 Amateur1st Place Winners, Heiva I Tokyo: Award Winners
2014 Heiva I Osaka: 1st Place - 2 Winners, Heiva I Tokyo: 1st Place- 2 Winners, 1 Award Winner,
Tata 'ura'a' Ori Tahiti Japan: 1 Award Winner
2015 'Ori Tahiti: Solo Competition Aparima Award
2016 Miss Heiva I Tokyo: 1st Place: Heiva I Tokyo : Solo 1st Place, 2 Award Winners
Tata'ura'a 'Ori Tahiti Japan: Amateur Division: 1st Place
2017 Heiva I Tokyo: 1 Award Winner
2018 Heiva I Tokyo: 1 Award Winner
Tata'ura'a 'Ori Tahiti Japan: Amateur Division 2 Award Winners, 'Ori Tahiti Solo Competition 1st Place, 2Award Winner
(Music selection, arrangement, choreography, composition, guidance, costume design and fabrication)
2019 Heiva I Tokyo: Solo 2 Award Winners
2020 Heiva International(OTWC): Aito Category 3rd Place, 'Ote'a Solo Aito 3位
Heiva Didtal Excellence Junior Category 5位, Te Faa No Te ‘Ori 25~34yr. Advanced Vahine 3位
Tahiti Heiva in Japan Vahine Piti 1st Place
Others:
● Germaine's Luau Tahitian Solo & Aparima Costume Design & Creation
● Aparima Choreography and Dance Instruction
● Fia Fia Luau: Apalima Costume Design and Fabrication
● Tahitian Solo Contestant Costume Design and Fabrication
● Tahitian Song Lyric Translation
● 'Ori I Tahiti Show Aparima Choreography