Jennifer Kēhaulani was born in the Monterey Bay of California. Her `ohana is strongly rooted in the Hawaiian culture with family lines tied to O`ahu, Kaua`i, Maui, the Big Island, Philippines, Portugual, and Japan.  Kēhau was the first child on her paternal side to be born on the mainland U.S.  Her family was spread throughout the Monterey Bay area as both of Kēhau's grandfathers served in the military and were stationed at the old Fort Ord.  Though they later moved to Gilroy, California (Garlic Capital of the World!) they spent a majority of the time in Monterey to be with `ohana.  Kēhau began dancing hula with her Aunty Lei Fernandez in Marina, California when she was five years old.  When she was about twelve she began dancing with Kumu Kaimi Matthews.  Kēhau moved to Honolulu in her early 20's and married her husband, Scott, in 2004.  They welcomed their son, Ian Kahiapokukunaokala, to their family in 2006.  A year later Kēhau and her `ohana relocated to Washington D.C. where she began studying hula more intently under the direction of Kumu Hula Paul K. Neves of Keaukaha-Hilo, Hawaii, and later, his daughter, Kumu Hula Akala Nahikulani Neves.  Kumu Paul is a student of the late Kumu Hula Wayne Kaho`onei Panoke, who in turn was a student of the late Kumu Hula Winona Kapuailohiamanonookalani Desha-Beamer.  In June 2009, Scott and Kēhau welcomed a daughter, Adri Pōhinala`anuionālani, to their family.  They made their final move to Austin during the summer of 2015.  In January 2016, Kēhau traveled to Keaukaha-Hilo, Hawaii where she was ‘uniki to Kumu Hula by Kumu Hula Paul Neves.  In 2016, a year after her move to Austin, TX, Kumu Jenn Kēhaulani Riddick started Hālau Ha`a Kea o Kēhaulani and was handed the kuleana for Hālau Ha`a Kea o Mokihana. Our Hālau adhere by these principles: 

 

ALOHA. We share the breath of life and do all things with love and compassion.

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MAHALO. We live a life of gratitude and appreciation.

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ʻOHANA. We gather and treat one another as family.

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HAʻAHAʻA. We act with humility.

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KULEANA. We embrace our responsibilities and carry them out with integrity.

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LŌKAHI. We live and work in harmony with one another and in the world around us.