Kumu Hula Luana Kawa‘a was born and raised on the island of Maui. She established Hālau Kili‘o‘opu in October 1995.  Her hula began ar the tender age of 6 with Kumu Hula Alexa Vaught. She continued hula under Kumu Hula Nina Maxwell of Pukalani Hula Hale, Iola Balubar, and at the age of 15 she began training under nā kumu hula, Keali‘i Reichel and Uluwehi Guerrero of Hālau Hula O Ka Makani Wili Mākaha O Kauaʻula. In 2002 she completed the traditional ‘ūniki ʻailolo process under Kumu Hula Hōkūlani Holt.  

Luana has served as a cultural advisor and Hawaiian language teacher for more than 30 years in Hawaiian Language Immersion, and at Kamehameha Schools Maui and Baldwin High School. She is currently a faculty member and Director of Pai Ka Māna Student Support Services at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. She is the owner of The Hawaiian Learning Center, where she teaches Hawaiian language and cultural classes to students and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. 

Luana holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Phoenix. Her greatest accomplishment is being a wife to her husband, Llewellyn, mother to her 4 adult children – Kamalani, Kamalei, Kamaehu, and Kamahiwa, 2 hānai children, Mikaela and Kealaula, and Tūtū to her moʻopuna Ceralena Kaleialohaokeolamauloa Kaio-Kawaʻa. Like their mother, her children have competed at the Merrie Monarch Hula Competition for the past 10 years and are award-winning hula dancers and musicians.