1980's

Danced From: 1986-2026 (Still teaching and dancing)

What they're up to now: Kerri Shintaku has been dancing with Cathy since she was seven years old and started teaching at 18. Kerri works as an office manager at Dukes Waikiki and has 2 kids Elijah (26) and Khloe (17). Kerri is still involved with the studio and taking many dance classes a week including street jamz workout and adult hip hop classes. 

A fond memory of dance: My most fond memories is everything about dance. I met the bestest of friends and learned from the most dedicated and loving teachers.

Closing words of thanks: To all my dance friends, thank you for all the fun silly memories. I’m so excited to dance with all of you again. To Ms.Cathy, Ms.Elizabeth, Jared, and Molly thank you for making me love dance even until this day. And to my mom thank you for always supporting me with dance and being that mom that filmed all our performances. 

Danced From: 1986-1988

What they're up to now: I started as an original Honolulu Girl and left in 7th grade to pursue sports at Mid Pacific.  I went back to dancing in college on the University of Puget Sound dance team and most recently I have been dancing with Street Jamz Werkout the last 11 years.

I am a Financial Planner and have an employee benefits business, Inspired Financial Partners, LLC.  I published an autobiography, Hope Inspires Strength to share my journey of building two businesses while caregiving for my mom since 2008 and raising my children Leah and Jett, who has multiple special needs.  

Closing words of thanks: Congratulations, Cathy on 40 years!  You have built a  legacy by creating a safe and positive dance company for generations of students.  

Danced From: 1986-1992

What they're up to now: Naomi is blessed by her wonderful husband, Jon, and their 3 sweet children, Bella, 17y.o., Sofia, 15 y.o. and Micah, 13 y.o.  She is an intensive care registered nurse and professor of nursing on sabbatical to focus on her family and help her husband manage his remodeling company.  Naomi enjoys surfing for physical fitness and soul refreshing. 

Closing words of thanks: Dear Ms. Cathy,

I’m so grateful that I got to be one of your dancers 40 years ago!  You created such a wonderful, safe place for kids to bloom.  You instilled in us, a love for dance, expression, and creativity as well as important life skills of hard work, cohesively working as a team, encouraging and uplifting others, grit, and resilience.  Through your loving care, patience and high standards of excellence, we pushed ourselves much further than we thought we were capable of.  This is why I signed up my Bella under your studio!

Thank you for always believing and bringing out the very best in us.  Thank you for loving us unconditionally, like your own family!  Congratulations on running the best dance studio for 40 years!!!

So much love, Naomi

Danced From: 1986/87-1998

What they're up to now: Hi my name is Toni Nelson, formerly known as Toni Taniguchi. I got married to my husband in 2005 and became a Nelson. We have 3 kids; our oldest TJ is currently in the Navy with the flight crew. Taylor is a sophomore at San Diego State University. The baby is Tegan-Jacob who’s a freshman at Mid-Pacific. I am the night manager and bar manager at Nico’s Pier 38.  

A fond memory of dance: I have too many fond memories with my dance family. But Nalani and Kerri were in my wedding party and have been close friends for forever. I love our random Nalani visits and all of the dance family getting together and hanging out like we are still in high school. 

Danced From: 1987-1994

What they're up to now: Since age seven, Nalani has been a part of HDS… from company member, to Junior/Teen Co. Director (before moving to Los Angeles), and continuing to choreograph and teach workshops over the years. In L.A., her most notable accomplishment was building Debbie Reynolds Studio into one of the most popular training institutions worldwide. These days, most of her time is spent teaching at and managing a Pilates studio in Studio City, CA. 

Closing words of thanks: The memories and friendships/extended family through HDS are countless and I couldn’t imagine what my life would have been like growing up without the studio and Cathy! I cherish all the connections made and a very special thank you to Cathy for helping the little girl who never really felt like she fit in feel welcomed way back when… and for continuing to always be there for me! With love always, Nalani

Danced From: 1987/88-1991

What they're up to now: Hi! My name is Leina Nakashima Chow, most of the OG dancers and Ms. Cathy call me “Leinaala.” (Cringe) I’m a Dance Mom to my two daughters, Kailee (16) and Aubrey (12). Kailee is a HDS company member and Aubrey is a HDS/BDH company member. It’s so surreal to be dancing on the same stage with some of the dancers that I looked up to when I was Aubrey’s age but also to be dancing in the same concert with my daughters. When I’m not being an Uber driver to and from the studio, I’m working with my husband, Chris, at his busy dental office. I also enjoy traveling and spending time with my Havanese/Shitzu, Bailey.

A fond memory of dance: I loved concert time at the Mamiya Theatre!  We didn’t have dance competitions back then so it was so exciting to be dancing for family and friends on a big stage. 

Closing words of thanks: Thank you Ms. Cathy for sharing your love of dance with me and now my two girls. 

Danced From: 1987-2002

What they're up to now: Jaelyn Villanueva is a commercial real estate appraiser who enjoys traveling and spending quality time with friends and family. Above all, she is a dedicated wife to her husband, Chris, and a proud mother to her two children Caden (8) and Jordan (5).

Closing words of thanks: To Ms. Cathy, Ms. Elizabeth, Jared, and all the incredible teachers who guided me through my dance journey: thank you for your endless dedication and support. You didn’t just teach me to dance; you helped shape me into the woman I am today. Those years of dance will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Danced From: 1988-1996

What they're up to now: I’m an entrepreneur by heart, doing real estate sales, interior design and managing a co-founded business with my friend and our daughters called The Pineapple Collective. 

A fond memory of dance: Some of my fondest memories of dancing with HDS was traveling to Disneyland, getting butterflies just before going on stage and hanging out at the studio for hours on end.

Danced From: 1988-1995

What they're up to now: Chenise is a commercial leasing attorney and owner of Ziva Law, and a high-performance mindset coach. Outside of work, she’s a mom to Camryn (12) and Dane (9). She’s deeply grateful for HDS, which laid the foundation for the confidence, discipline, and leadership she brings to her work and life, and gifted her lifelong friendships that remain a meaningful part of her world today.

A fond memory of dance: One of my fondest memories is the pure joy and passion for dance that HDS cultivated in me. I was completely obsessed and couldn’t get enough—taking class, rehearsing, watching dance videos, or doing across-the-floor combinations down the Safeway grocery aisles without a care in the world. Sharing that love of dance with my HDS family and dance sisters (and Derek) was truly magical and remains one of the greatest gifts of my childhood. “Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” — Martha Graham

Closing words of thanks: Endless gratitude to Cathy for being a steady mentor and steward of this love of dance; to Elizabeth, my all-time favorite ballet teacher, who saw potential in me before I could see it in myself; and to Jared, for helping build and lead BDH, and for his distinct hip-hop style, always pushing me to find more groove and edge, while adding an exciting new dimension to HDS.

Danced From: Circa 1988-1992

What they're up to now: After leaving the company I swam and paddled in high school. I joined my college Dance Team. I'm currently a PE teacher who participates yearly in the faculty pep squad dance for homecoming! I'm married with 3 kids, ages 18, 14 and 12. 

A fond memory of dance: I can't believe we danced at Disneyworld! What a great experience Cathy gave us. I remember rehearsing on tennis courts before the show! 

Danced From: 1991-1998

What they're up to now: At 18, Derek shared the stage with Mickey Mouse as a Kids of the Kingdom performer at Walt Disney World. At 20, he moved to Los Angeles, represented by Bloc Agency. Highlights include NSYNC and Michael Jackson at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, music videos for NSYNC, Gloria Estefan, and Blu Cantrell. He moved to New York City in 2002, appeared in Oyster, Out, and Elle, and recently returned to Hawaii to care for his mother.

A fond memory of dance: My fondest memory was being the first male member at the Honolulu Gurlz & Boyz Dance Company, dancing alongside all these talented girls. It’s where my love for performing truly began, and I’m so grateful to Cathy for the technical training that launched my incredible dance career.