Moana Dudoit shared something her mother told her over 50 years ago. “Remember, you didn’t get your talent from me, or your dad – you got it from God,” Moana said to the crowd of over 800 on Saturday night, gathered at Mitchell Pauole Center for her annual hula halau fundraiser. “Share your talent for free.”

And so Moana shared. She began a hula halau for her family, but it soon evolved into a group that anyone could join. Over 100 of her dancer’s came back to the stage, some from off island, for last Saturday’s annual dinner and dance fundraiser, performing ancient chants, hula, and the always show-stopping Tahitian-style dancing.

A few of Moana’s younger dancers she refers to as “hula babies,” have a great time while dancing for over 800 guests the annual dinner and dance fundraiser last Saturday evening.Leimana Ritte-Camara is one of the dancers that was asked back, having danced with Moana in the 2000s.

“I’m honored to dance with the fellow members [of the halau],” she said. “I see them in the community, and never knew they were part of the halau at one point.”

One of Moana’s first dancers, her niece Sharon “Sis” Dudoit Naehu, hadn’t danced for 30 years before last week’s show, but her love for Aunty Moana brought her back.

Moana puts on her extravagant show to give back to the community, who’ve shown support for so many years. Any additional donations go toward a trip to Japan for some of the halau’s younger members. Like her other trips to Tahiti and Europe, she covers all expenses so her dancers don’t have to pay for anything.

Missed the performance? While it might not be as extravagant as last week’s performance Moana’s Hula Halau performs every Wednesday night at Hotel Molokai, free of charge.