Puna Kalama Dawson, also known by her traditional name Keikilaniwahinealiiopuna, is an internationally revered Hawaiian cultural practitioner, Elder, and Kumu Hula whose ancestral lineage reaches deep into the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Descended from Hawaiian aliʻi (royalty), generations of hula masters, lua martial arts practitioners, and spiritual knowledge keepers, Aunty Puna carries a profound responsibility to preserve and share the living traditions, history, and wisdom of her people.

As Kumu Hula of Hālau Ka Ipu Haʻa ʻO Kekauʻilani Na Pua Hala ʻO Kauaʻi in Anahola, Kauaʻi, she guides local and international students through the physical, cultural, and spiritual disciplines of hula. Through her teachings and travels, particularly throughout Europe and Japan, she shares the language, dances, spirituality, and ancestral traditions of Hawaiʻi, building bridges between cultures and nurturing greater understanding and peace.

At the heart of Aunty Puna’s teachings is the philosophy of aloha—a way of living rooted in kindness, responsibility, and the recognition that all life is interconnected. Through her work as a cultural ambassador, educator, and community leader, she reminds us that ancestral wisdom is not simply something to preserve, but something to embody and carry forward through our relationships with one another and the world.

Her dedication to community extends throughout Kauaʻi, where she has helped guide cultural organizations and gatherings, including the Mokihana Festival, the Canoe Association, and Leadership Kauaʻi. She currently serves as Board Chair of Coherence Lab, whose ceremonial heart is Kaiāulu.

At Guardians of the Sacred, Aunty Puna joins a circle of Elders and Wisdom Keepers as a guardian of Hawaiian ancestral knowledge, carrying forward the spirit of aloha and the enduring teachings of her people for generations yet to come.