Hinako is a hula dancer living in Shonan and also serves as a model for seed and soil.
She continues to practice hula while traveling between Japan and Hawaii, and you can sense her pure, girlish energy and inner strength. We asked her about the connection to nature she gained from Hawaiian culture, and her current lifestyle. On this day, she took us to her favorite cafe, which she often visits.
"Recently, I've been preparing for the screening of a hula film, so I've been working here a lot. Usually, I'm writing a blog, posting on social media, or planning my next trip. I'm not busy at all, and time seems to pass slowly. Some days I go to hula practice, and if there are waves, I go surfing." 
[Wearing an organic cotton tank top (toffee, size S) ]
Born in Shonan, she enjoyed surfing and skateboarding from an early age, and began attending a nearby hula dance studio at the age of eight.
"When I started hula, I had so much fun wearing cute costumes and dancing like a princess. It wasn't just about moving my body; I found it interesting to understand the meaning behind each and every movement and express my own feelings through them."
Hinako says that hula is now an essential part of her life. She became obsessed with hula dancing, and a major turning point came when she studied abroad in Hawaii in 2016 (when she was 18 years old).
"I wanted to learn more about hula, so after graduating from high school I went to study in Hawaii, the home of hula. When I went to Hawaii, I felt like I had found my path. It felt like all the pieces fell into place. I was able to dance hula freely and surf, surrounded by nature and the presence of the gods. Everyone was relaxed and alive in nature, and I found this cycle very comforting. I experienced and learned a lot in the four years I spent in Hawaii, but the best thing of all was that I was able to realize who I really am. I think that is the basis of the way I live my life today."
Hinako seemed to realize what brings brilliance to her life, and she says that her studies in Hawaii had a major impact on her fundamental values and mindset.
"The biggest difference between the hula I did in Japan and the hula I learned in Hawaii was the connection between hula and nature. In Japan, I was taught the choreography and its meaning, and then I simply danced it, but in Hawaii I was able to feel and understand everything with my bare hands. I went into the mountains to pray to the mountain gods, and gathered plants there to use in my costumes. These experiences helped me to better understand the meaning of the choreography, and added depth to my dancing. While learning about Hawaiian history, I also visited places where legends are passed down. We made all of our costumes and instruments for the dance using plants that we gathered in the mountains. It was an experience I could never have had in Japan. I was always taught, and felt it with my bare hands, that 'hula exists because of the earth.'"
"There's a concept called 'Mauka to makai' that Hawaiians hold dear. It means returning to nature what we receive from nature, such as the plants we pick ourselves, or the leis and rice skirts we use in hula. We gather plants from the mountains (mauka), use them in our dance, and return them to the ocean (makai), filled with feelings of gratitude and prayer. This isn't just something that applies to hula, but something that has been valued in Hawaii since ancient times. It's a phrase that expresses the cycle of nature."
As he spoke slowly and calmly, recalling his memories of Hawaii, his kindness and concern for nature was apparent.
Recently, Hinako has been not only focusing on hula, but also on making leis for hula and surfing. She often travels with her surfer boyfriend and enjoys spending time in the ocean together. She says that surfing and making leis are essential for maintaining her mental health.
"I'm truly happy when I'm making leis. I love flowers, and seeing and touching them all gives me energy. I cherish both the leis I give to others and the ones I make for myself. I've grown to love surfing even more since meeting my current boyfriend. Time passes slowly, and nothing goes to waste. It's the ultimate relaxation."
She lives in harmony with nature while pursuing her own favorite pastime, and is filled with a sense of peace.
[Wearing an organic cotton tank top (ivory, size S) ]
"I want to value the things I love more than money. There was a time when I was thinking about money and doing a lot of part-time jobs, but I felt like I wasn't being myself, so I decided to quit. When I did that, new opportunities and events naturally came my way."
[Wearing an organic cotton cardigan (olive) ]
Don't have too much, just have the bare minimum. Hinako herself seems to embody this. I asked her what kind of mindset she has in her everyday life.
"In everything, it's good to have the bare minimum. There are actually a surprising number of things that you can do without. I think there are many things you notice when you pursue simplicity to the max. When I go shopping, I try to think carefully about whether I really need something before buying it. I love vintage clothes, and when I buy new things, I try to make various adjustments, such as altering the length, so that they can be used for a long time. I think my policy is to choose clothes and things that will last a long time. I always choose shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, and toothpaste that are made from materials that are safe to use in the ocean. When I travel and surf, I can see the wastewater I produce flowing directly into the ocean, so I think it's important to absolutely follow this rule."
Finally, he shared his thoughts about the future.
"I want to do more and more of the things I love. Of course, I intend to continue doing hula forever. Right now, I'm trying to find a way to create demand in society for the things I love and what I want to do. Recently, I've been holding regular lei-making workshops, and in October I'm planning a lifestyle retreat on Amami Oshima. I want to live a happy life doing what I love."
Hinako combines the modesty of a typical Japanese person with the open-mindedness she gained from studying in Hawaii. We look forward to seeing her continue to excel in the future.
Profile
Hinako Kanda
Born in Shonan in 1997, she began learning hula at a young age and is a member of the Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu, led by Oahu's leading kumu, Sunny Chin. In 2018, she represented the Japan branch at the All Japan Hula Championships, where she was crowned Miss Hula Japan 2018. She has also appeared four times at the Merrie Monarch, the pinnacle of hula, as a member of the Hawaii branch. She currently creates spaces to share the meaningful time she spends making flower leis and leipoo, a daily activity in Hawaii, and promotes the beach lifestyle of her roots in hula, surfing, and skateboarding.
