Governor's Heritage Award - Gloria Fujii

Gloria Fujii of Shoreline is the Seattle area’s foremost teacher of hula and Polynesian dance. A Native of Hawai‘i, she has been teaching the Northwest community about the values, strength, beauty, and wisdom of Polynesian culture through its language and dance for over thirty years. In 1976 she founded the dance school, Hula Halau O Napualani, to further her vision. There, Fujii regularly teaches beginning and advanced classes in hula and other Polynesian dance to children and adults. She has demonstrated the beauty and gaiety of Polynesian people and culture through lectures, lei-making classes, assemblies at schools, and performances throughout her community, state, and region. Fujii has held office in the Hui‘O Na Kumu Hula, a national organization of hula teachers, and she was awarded the designation of Hula Pala Pala, a master of hula, for her many years of leadership in hula dance.