At a Glance
- An 18-month-old, Kuanaoo “Kua” Burke, has captivated over 10 million viewers after a video showed him stomping alongside his parents’ hālau.
- Kua has attended Ke Kai O Kahiki practices in Laie, Hawaiʻi, since he learned to stand.
- His parents, both professional hula dancers, say the art helps him connect with Hawaiian culture.
- Why it matters: The moment spotlights how cultural traditions are passed to the youngest generation and fuels global excitement for upcoming performances in London and at the Merrie Monarch Festival.
An 18-month-old from Hawaiʻi is stealing hearts worldwide. Kuanaoo “Kua” Burke, still perfecting his walk, is already stepping into hula with confidence. A short clip of him practicing with Ke Kai O Kahiki, his parents’ hālau, has raced past 10 million views and shows no sign of slowing.
Tiny Dancer, Big Impact
The video captures Kua in a loose-fitting paʻu skirt, mimicking the dancers around him. He concentrates, then breaks into the kui, a stomping move that signals call-and-response time. His tiny feet hit the floor in rhythm, drawing cheers from classmates and, later, from millions online.
According to News Of Los Angeles‘s report, the toddler has been a regular at the Laie studio since he could pull himself upright. His father, Kaehukai Burke, says the kui is the clear favorite.
“The kui is definitely the one that he loves to do,” Kaehukai explained, referencing a Hawaii News Now interview. “You get to stomp, and you get to move around, and he really likes that.”
A Family Tradition
Kaehukai and his wife, Kilihea Burke, met in college through hula. Both now perform professionally and credit the dance with shaping their lives. They never questioned whether their son would tag along.
Bringing Kua to class felt “natural,” Kilihea says. Ke Kai O Kahiki’s kumu and veteran dancers welcome children, turning the hālau into an extended family where culture takes root early.
“It’s a great place to raise them and help them connect with their culture at such a young age,” Kilihea shares.
For the Burkes, hula is more than choreography. It is language, history, and identity conveyed through motion, and they are proud to pass that foundation on to Kua.
Global Spotlight Approaches
Ke Kai O Kahiki’s reach stretches far beyond the Hawaiian Islands. In mid-January the troupe is scheduled to perform in London at the opening of a Native Hawaiian exhibition at The British Museum, exposing new audiences to the living art form.
This spring brings an even bigger stage. In April the hālau will compete at the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, widely considered the most prestigious hula event worldwide. Dancers spend months perfecting every gesture, and Kua’s spontaneous practice sessions in the studio serve as daily inspiration.
Growing Up in the Hālau
Between trips, Kua toddles across the practice floor, shadowing lines of adults. He claps when they clap, stomps when they stomp, and flashes wide grins whenever the music swells. Instructors keep a casual eye on him while maintaining class flow.
His parents insist there is no pressure. If Kua wants to participate, he participates. If he wanders off to stack implements or nap under a table, that is fine too. The goal is exposure, not perfection.
Kaehukai believes early immersion will pay off whether or not Kua pursues hula seriously. Simply growing up around oli, mele, and the protocol of the halau instills respect and awareness that textbooks cannot replicate.
Online Reaction
Social media users from New York to New Zealand have flooded the clip with heart emojis and praise. Comments call Kua “a keiki rock star,” “the cutest kumu-in-training,” and “living proof that culture lives in the feet first.”
Several Hawaiian-language teachers have shared the video in classrooms, using it to spark discussions about passing traditions to the next generation. Tourism boards have reposted it with gentle reminders that hula is sacred storytelling, not mere entertainment.
Looking Ahead
As January rehearsals intensify for the London trip, Kua will likely stay home with grandparents. The long flight and tight schedule are too unpredictable for a toddler, his parents say, but they plan video calls so he can still “see his hālau family.”
Once the troupe returns, attention will pivot to Merrie Monarch preparations. Costumes will be sewn, lei will be strung, and chants will echo late into the night. Somewhere in the middle of it all, Kua will weave between dancers, testing his balance and practicing those beloved stomps.
For now, the Burkes savor each shared moment. Every tiny step their son takes on the practice floor affirms a lineage that stretches back generations and, thanks to a viral video, now circles the globe.
Key Takeaways
- Kua’s viral moment highlights how cultural traditions adapt to modern platforms while staying rooted in community.
- Ke Kai O Kahiki’s upcoming performances in London and at the Merrie Monarch Festival will place hula on world stages.
- His parents view early exposure as a gift, allowing culture to soak in naturally rather than through formal lessons.
- The video’s 10-million-plus views demonstrate worldwide fascination with authentic cultural expression, especially when embodied by a child.
