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About Us
Heali'i's Polynesian Revue is under the direction of Kumu Kathy Heali'i O Nalani Gore-Stanley and has been growing strong since 1967.
Together with her family, they perpetuate and share the love of Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand through island song and dance keeping traditions alive.
As a professional and competitive group, they have been blessed with numerous 1st place and overall awards from Polynesian dance and music competitions. Heali'i's Polynesian Revue has been featured around the world traveling throughout the United States, Hawaii, Tahiti, and Japan. They have also had the honor of performing with many of Hawaii's music legends and American state symphonies.
Sharing their love of the Polynesian cultures, Heali'i's Polynesian Revue continues to teach and educate their students with historical emphasis and traditions. Their halau motto is based on their central focus and foundation of ohana (family). 'A 'ohe hana nui ke 'alu 'ia- No task is too great when done together by all.
Kumu Kathy Heali'i 'O Nalani Gore Stanley
Kathy Heali'i 'O Nalani Gore Stanley is the founder and Kumu Hula of Heali'i's Polynesian Revue. She is blessed to be the protégé of Kumu Napua Hanaiali'i Woodd, Kumu Johnny Pi'ilani Watkins, Kumu Ma'iki Aiu Lake, Kumu Nona Beamer, and Tahiti's Elaine Frisbee. At the young age of four, she began her love of hula with Aunty Napua Hanaiali'i Wood, the woman that introduced hula to the motion pictures of Hollywood, who would later introduce her to Uncle Johnny Pi'ilani Watkins. With him, Kathy soon became his soloist and her professional career with the world of Polynesian dancing came into full swing. Diving back into olapa and the deep Hawaiian traditions, Aunty Ma'iki Aiu then brought Kathy into the world of kahiko where she became the youngest performer to dance and chant simultaneously. During this time, Elaine Frisbee kept Kathy strong with her Tahitian foundation. Kathy Heali'i O Nalani was soon blessed to study under the loving Aunty Nona with whom she later did her "Uniki." During the ever fruitful time of Polynesian dancing, Kathy was equally honored with the opportunity of being Hawai'i's child ambassador.
As the child star of Hawai'i, she toured the U.S. with Hawaiian legends such as Ed Kenney, Marlene Sai,and Genoa Keawe. She was also a regular on the Lucky Luck's Show, the Reef Hotel's Polynesian Water Ballet Show, and at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Kathy also had the privilege of being selected to dance for the Kennedy and Reagan families, as well as New York's "Paradise Island" production. It was here that she had the honor of performing with the world renowned Guy Lombardo, Arthur Treacher, Moe Keale, Elaine Malbin, and Honey Sanders. With her father in the US Navy, Kathy Heali'I' O Nalani Gore was relocated with her family to San Diego. It was here that her and her family began the group Heali'i O Nalani and her Hula Maidens in 1967 which would later become Heali'i's Polynesian Revue/ Halau O Healil'i.
Alaka'i Edieann Heali'i 'O Nalani Stanley
Edieann Heali'i O Nalani Stanley is a Kumu and Artistic Director of Heali'i's Polynesian Revue. She is the eldest child of Kumu Hula Kathy Healiʻi O Nālani Gore Stanley (Honolulu, Oʻahu) and Eddie Lee Stanley, Jr. (San Diego, California). Since birth, she was blessed to dance along side her mother who carries of the traditions of her kumu hula, Napua Woodd, John Pi’ilani Watkins, Mai’iki Aiu Lake, and Nona Beamer at Hālau O Heali’i - Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue (San Diego, Ca.). Edie Healiʻi has been fortunate to nurture many generations of haumāna keeping the Polynesian traditions alive on the mainland. From 2006-2009, Heali’i was invited to study under Kumu Hula Sissy Lilinoe Kaio and her daughter Kumu Hula Annette Lilinoe Kaio of Hula Hālau O Lilinoe a me Na Pua Me Ke Aloha (Carson, Ca.). In 2020, Heali’i received an invitation from Kumu Hula Pele Kaio to join the cohort of ‘Ūhaka where she was blessed with the opportunity to carry on another beautiful lineage of Hula and our Hawaiian traditions for her ‘ohana and community in San Diego.
Edie Healiʻi is a former Miss Pacific Islander 2005 and Miss Hui O Hawai'i 2001 and 2002, representing the Hawaiian community. Edie Heali'i graduated from San Diego State University in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Business Administration.
In 2008, she was chosen as one of twelve women in the world to compete for the title of Miss Aloha Hula at the Merrie Monarch Competition. Shortly after, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Hawai'i's top female vocalist, selected Edie Heali'i to be her solo dancer during her concert tour of Japan, the opening of the University of Hawai'i football game in Las Vegas, as well as in Tennessee with the Nashville Symphony. Since then, Edie Heali'i continues to tour Japan, Canada, the East and West Coast of the U.S. with Amy Hanaiali'i and HAPA.
Edie Heali'i as also had the privilege of performing as a soloist since the age of 14. She has been featured in the documentary of Kim Taylor Reece and has danced for many of Hawai'i's music legends such as HAPA, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Kapena, Makaha Sons, Aunty Genoa Keawe, Rev. Dennis Kamakahi & Son, Cyril Pahinui, Herb Ota & Son, Ernie Cruz Jr., Darleen Ahuna, Aaron Sala, Na Palapalai, Nathan Aweau, Lorna and Sonny Lim, Teresa Bright, Ahumanu, Kawika Kahaiapo, Daniel Ho, Tia Carrera, and Justin Young.
In addition to her hula achievements, she has received numerous overall and 1st place awards in Tahitian dance competitions with her most recent as the overall vahine dancer at the Heiva i Las Vegas.
Edie Heali'i, an advocate for the youth of the Polynesian community, continues to share her love and passion for enrichment through cultural perpetuation, motivational speaking, team building events, youth empowerment workshops, and educational development. As her family has taught her the values of love, respect, humbleness and compassion, Edie Heali'i is dedicating her life to in turn sharing these values with all.
Alaka'i James Lee Keolamaikalani Stanley
James Stanley is a San Diego native who was raised embracing, embodying, and sharing Hawaiian culture and arts. He is the eldest son of Kumu (Hula Teacher) Kathy Heali’i Gore Stanley, the founder of San Diego’s Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue. As such, James was immersed in Polynesian arts and began performing dance and playing the ukulele at a young age. His love of dance and movement inspired him to earn a BS in kinesiology from CSU Northridge in 2018. With his education he has helped our ohana work towards a healthy mind and body so that our dancers understand the proper and safe ways of moving.
James has performed with many of Hawai’i’s music legends, including HAPA, Na Leo Pilimehana, Amy Hānaiali’i, Makaha Sons, and Kalani Pe’a. Today, James is an alakaʻi (co-leader) and kāne director (men’s director) for Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue. He pours his aloha into nurturing his family’s hālau (Hawaiian dance school) through music, dancing, and functional movement.
We are proud to have James as a leader in our hālau as he is also a teaching artist for the Center for World Music’s youth education program. James engages with over 900 San Diego County school children a week with Hawaiian language and traditions, ukulele, and dancing.
Alaka'i Anthony Lee Kauka Stanley
Anthony Kauka Stanley has been immersed in celebrating and sharing the beauty of his Polynesian culture since birth. The son of esteemed hula dancer Kumu Kathy Heali’i O Nalani Gore-Stanley, he is a pillar of Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue, his family’s halau (performing arts troupe and school), which has taught and shared the traditional island songs and dances of Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand since 1967.
As a full-time professional musician, Anthony shares his music locally and internationally, primarily playing acoustic Hawaiian/Polynesian music. Recently, Anthony was the guest artist accompanying Mevina at his concert, and the band FAIVA in Disneyland.
As the Music and Drum Director at Heali’i’s, he teaches Polynesian dance and music with an emphasis on tradition, history, and universal family (ohana). Today, Anthony uses his double major in economics and music, from Occidental College, to help him navigate his way on elevating himself and the the hālau. Kala Brand Music Co. took a liking to Anthony and made him an ukulele artist for their company, as well as the Center for World Music for bringing on Anthony as one of their lead teaching artist for the San Diego Schools.
His mission is to share his music outwardly, working toward a deep and broad cultural environment that enriches the community and offers a platform for youth. Anthony seeks to create music that retains its cultural qualities while bridging gaps and creating connections between people from all walks of life.
