Hi, my name is Arlynda Jonas, I am a practitioner of various Pacific Island dances I began dancing at the age of 8 yrs. Old, and in 2011, and I attended an arts school in Kansas City where I learned Pacific Island Dances. I am a resident of NW Arkansas since 2014; I soon began leading a hula ministry at local church and offering private lessons to students. After connecting with local pacific island organizations, I was able to expand my teaching practice to include more students and offer more performance opportunities. I currently lead a group called “Ocean Wave” in Springdale, Arkansas at the Jones Center, and the group has performed in various events across NWA. Ocean Wave is a dance initiative that focuses on exploration and education of various pacific island dances. Our mission is to educate participants and audiences on pacific island cultural traditions, and to empower youth to build confidence through this arts specific approach.