While in lockdown in Oregon in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Native Hawaiian Ke‘ala Hill created a vision board with images of Hawai‘i, including one of Kumu Lua Michelle Manu.

“I had an old Hawaiian Airlines magazine with Kumu Manu in there,” said Hill, who was born and raised in Kane‘ohe, O‘ahu. “I didn’t know who she was, but there she is in all her glorious warrior poses.

It sparked a desire for Hill, who had been living on the West Coast for more than 20 years, to be grounded in her Hawaiian roots — and to meet Manu, the first and only Woman Knight Commander (Dame) in the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, a 10th-degree Black Belt, ‘Alihikaua (General), and Kumu Po‘okela in the indigenous Hawaiian warrior art of Lua (Kaihewalu and Manu lineages).

Four years ago… read more