Julene grew up dancing many styles of dance in California. After college, she moved with her husband and family to Spokane. In 2004, her oldest daughter started dancing with Northwest Hula. In the fall of 2008, when her youngest daughter turned three and also started to dance with the halau, Julene then joined and has loved dancing hula ever since. She has been teaching and  choreographing dance for over 20 years. She loves teaching and working with kids, especially since her youngest daughter just left the halau to go to college.

Julene and Kim are honored to have been given the opportunity to carry on as Directors and Instructors of Northwest Hula, the largest Hula school and professional Hawaiian dance company in Spokane. Both currently live in Spokane, Washington and are excited to share their mana'o and love of Hula and the Hawaiian culture with everyone.

Kim, originally from Maui, began her hula journey dancing with Hula Alapa‘i I Malu Ulu 'O Lele under the direction of Kumu Sharon Balidoy and Kumu Roselle Bailey. She later attended Chaminade University of Honolulu, where she was a member of the cheer and dance team and an active member of the Hawaiian Club, performing under the late Kumu John Keola Lake. Kim joined Northwest Hula in 2011 under the instruction of Maryann Souza. After spending three years in Spokane, she and her husband returned to Oahu. In 2023, Kim and her ‘ohana moved back to Spokane, where she rejoined Northwest Hula.