July/August 2025 HAWAII PARENT 93 Building on that momentum, Kempo JiuJitsu classes began in 1942, and by 1959, the Nuʻuanu location became the first YMCA nationwide to offer both Karate and Aikido—programs that continue today. These early milestones not only laid the foundation for youth martial arts in Hawai‘i but also inspired generations to pursue excellence in both mental and physical discipline. Today, young students walk the same halls as those early pioneers, continuing traditions that began nearly a century ago. In 1969, Kumu Hula Carolee Nishi began teaching hula and Hawaiian culture at Nuʻuanu, founding “Hula Hui O Kapunahala,” which has welcomed generations of keiki and kūpuna for more than 50 years. Today, participants not only learn hula and ʻukulele but also embrace Hawaiian language and life values rooted in respect and responsibility. The program has grown into a true intergenerational ʻohana, with some families now celebrating three generations of dancers within the same class. This connection to culture and 1950s Hula Instruction
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