Ho'omālamalama [Ho'o]

Founder & Owner of MDP [Manaia Design & Production.]

Ho'omālamalama pronounced using short vowels "ho-oh-ma-la-ma-la-ma"  or Ho'o (ho-oh) abbreviated.

Raised in Nanakuli, HI & former military brat Ho'o clung to her Hawaiian heritage as a means of stability. Upon graduation she found herself working at a Native American school, in the PNW, which was perfect because she could travel back to Hawaii to be with her grandparents during the summer. Her obsession with Polynesian culture, legends and art was the driving force to every decision she made. As a result this momentum sparked an unusual opportunity. She was invited to join a New Zealand based culture team, Te Pou Here Taonga, for a year of learning, performing and traveling. The arrangement was for Ho'o to teach Hula & Tahitian dance while learning Kapa Haka. [Cultural dance of the Maori people.] This particular culture exchange became the inspiration & foundation of MANAIA Ohana.

Upon returning to the PNW she continued to teach and as destiny would have it she made another trip to Hawaii to marry her fiancé. Ray happened to fly into Hawaii from Aotearoa, NZ, and they couldn't bear the long distance relationship anymore. [This was before MySpace & Facebook.] Together they settled into a home and are raising their seven [7] children.   

Ho'o has been a Zumba® instructor since 2011 because it's an awesome way to dance and stay fit. This led her to add Registered Nutritional Consultant [RNC], Group Fitness Instructor, Plate By Zumba® Coach and High Intensity Tempo Training through #SBZ. As a result she combined her certifications & licenses to created a unique program called MANA Wahine Fitness. This allows her to schedule her client time, raise her family & teach Polynesian culture.