Kumu Hula Tatiana Tseu Fox & Halau Lei O Ka ‘Iwa Ha’a I Ka Lani

Tatiana Tseu Fox, a Kamehameha Schools - Kapālama 2000 alumnus, was born and raised in Mililani, Waipi‘o Uka, ‘Ewa, O‘ahu. She is the middle daughter of Leighton Tseu & ‘Iwalani Tseu, who are both very culturally active in the local community. Tatiana is very passionate about her culture and is equally passionate about her education. The mantra in her family has always been, “education first.” She whole-heartedly believes in the value of education and the leverage that the western palapala affords a kanaka… it will often break down the invisible walls that muffle native, indigenous voices. As a result, she has an Associates degree from Leeward Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hawaiian Studies with a minor in Sociology, a Master of Education degree in Curriculum Studies with a focus on Middle Level Education, and a 2^nd Master of Education degree in Educational Foundations with an emphasis on Private School Leadership. She received the latter three degrees from the University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa. She is currently an administrator at KS – Kapālama Middle School and KS – Kapālama Summer School.In 2012, Hui ‘Iwa Academy (HIA) – Nā Lei O Ka ‘Iwa Ha‘a I Ka Lani was born. This performing arts academy is a joint effort with Tatiana’s mother, ‘Iwalani Tseu, and younger sister, Aureana Tseu. We are fortunate to have all our classes meet weekly on our ‘āina kūpuna in Honouliuli, ‘Ewa, O‘ahu. Hula is the foundation of HIA, and other performing arts practices from Polynesia, Asia, Europe and the Americas are also explored. It is our hope to inspire and foster artistic development and expression grounded in cultural values and practices in perpetuation and promotion of cultural sustainability. We are a cultural place of learning inspired by tradition and ignited by innovation. Our mission is to provide a safe environment in which all students are encouraged to excel in the performing arts and their overall well-being.While HIA was established in 2012, it did not open its doors until 2015. Within those 3 years, Tatiana had 2 more keiki, which brought her household number up to 7. She, her husband - Wally Fox, and their 5 keiki are proud residents of the Hawaiian Homestead Community in Kānehili, Honouliuli, ‘Ewa, O‘ahu. As a wife and a mother, she always makes it a point to put her family first in all that she does and is devoted in seeing to it that her children are, like her, strongly attached to their strong Hawaiian roots.