Kumu Vincent Iokimo Souza | Leo Kupa Season 2, Episode 1

Kumu Hula Vincent Iokimo Souza is a revered teacher and guardian of Hawaiian cultural traditions. Kumu Vincent is a master of hula and an advocate for the preservation of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), carrying forth the legacy of his ancestors and ensuring its vibrancy in the modern world. His journey embodies the profound responsibility (kuleana) of perpetuating cultural knowledge, making him an ideal voice to discuss how Hawaiian identity thrives through spoken word, chant, and dance.

In this conversation, Kumu Vincent shares about his hula lineage which he traces through his kumu, John Lake. He discusses the importance of understanding his kuleana as both a responsibility and a privilege - one he carries with honor as he perpetuates his kumu's teachings, now from Las Vegas where he has resided since 2008. 

This Leo Kupa Podcast Series explores the vibrant heartbeat of Hawaiian culture thriving in Las Vegas — the place Hawaiians lovingly call the Ninth Island. Through intimate conversations with practitioners, elders, and community builders, we journey into what it means to carry the sacred traditions of Hawaiʻi across the ocean and into the desert, keeping them alive with reverence, resilience, and aloha.

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Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtwiLZWeD8usvx_z-bIrIPg

Mahalo to the sponsors of this episode:
Kanani's Cafe
Waiakea Water

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, grant number MN-252929-OMS-23. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

This project received support from Papa Ola Lōkahi through the Makamaka Ola program. We gratefully acknowledge their generous funding, which helps us continue uplifting Native Hawaiian voices and traditional healing practices through the Leo Kupa Las Vegas series.