アンソニー・カヴェナ・ラウオラカ・フック・リュン・マン（以下カヴェナ）は、ハワイのオアフ島に生まれ、育ち、現在に至る。少年時代は、世界的に有名な少年合唱団、ホノルル・ベイ・クワイヤーに所属し、合唱団付属のハラウ・カ・ウア・キリフネにおいて、クム・アラン・マカヒキ・バーカーシに師事する。
当時ハラウでは、クム・バーカーシがアンクル・ジョージ・ナオペから学んだチャントを少年たちに教えていた。カヴェナはハワイの島々での公演で歌い、踊り、さらにはハラウのメンバーとして、当時のアメリカ及びヨーロッパ領サモア諸島、タヒチ、トンガ王国、日本、韓国、香港などへの遠征ツアーにも参加した。

合唱団での目覚ましい活動の後、カヴェナはセント・ルイス・スクールに進学し、アンティ・アイウ・レイクのもとウニキ（フラの卒業儀式）を修めたクム・ジョン・ケオラ・レイクのもと、フラを再開する。
この新しいクムのもと、カヴェナは初めて伝統的なフラ・カヒコを学び始める。高校卒業後、カヴェナはホノルル・ベイ・クワイヤーの同窓コンサートに参加する。その時にクワイヤーを率いていたのはクム・チンキー・マホエであった。カヴェナはクム・マホエとの親交を深め、彼のハラウ、カヴァイリ・ウラに参加する。

クム・チンキー・マホエのもと、８年間フラを学んだ後、初めてカルフォルニアを訪れた際に、クム・カヴァイ・カプオカラニ・ヒューイットと出会う。その時にはまだ、クム・カヴァイカプ・ヒューイットのもとでフラを学ぶチャンスを得るとは、予期していなかった。
1997年に大学を卒業後、カヴェナは自動車塗装の仕事を自ら始めていた。ある週末にクム・ヒューイットから一本の電話を受けた。オアフ島にあるワイマナロ・ヘルス・センターの経営管理アシスタントを探しているという内容のものだった。
カヴェナはすぐに面接を受け、彼と共に働くことになった。後に、クム・ヒューイットが主催するクーハイ・ハラウ・オ・カウアイ・カプオカラニ・パ・オラパ・カヒコに参加する。

数年間、フラに非常に熱心に取り組み、2008年４月、クム・ヒューイットのもと、クムフラ・ウニキを修める。クム・マホエ、クム・バカーシ、2008年5月に亡くなられたクム・レイクら、かつての恩師より授かった知識を継承しつつ、クム・カヴェナは、クム・ヒューイットと共にさらなる学びを続けている。

Anthony Kawena`ulaokala Fook Lun Mann (Kawena) was born and raised on the Hawaiian island of O`ahu. As a child, he was a member of the world famous Honolulu Boy Choir, where he was formally introduced to hula. Since that time, Kawena has been immersed in hula and other Hawaiian cultural activities. He has been a student of highly respected and renown Kumu Alan Makahinu Barcarse, Kumu John Keola Lake, Kumu Chinky Mahoe, and Kumu Kawaikapu Hewett. Honoring his knowledge lineage in authentic Hawaiian cultural practices, Kawena graduated Kumu Hula in April 2008,

Kawena has always enjoyed the outdoors, and despite the emergence of computers and video games in the 1980s, most of Kawena’s entertainment remained outdoors. Beginning weekly hula performances with his hālau at the age of 9, Kawena was solely responsible for making his own adornments. Near Kawena’s home was a special place where he gathered laua`e ferns for his lei. From the beginning, Kawena established a pattern of making his own adornments, a work habit that would continue throughout his hula career. Under Kumu Lake’s mentorship, Kawena would make lei of bougainvillea and mock orange gathered from bushes around his home. Chinky Mahoe taught him how to make lei with yellow kolomona, which Kawena gathered from the side of the freeway for his own lei. Kumu Hewett taught Kawena to make various lei with hala, lauae, and ti. Kawena enjoyed learning about plants with Hewett while working with him in Waimānalo. Kawena attributes his skilled lei-making to the four- kumu hula, who taught him about the traditions of making lei and other Hawaiian crafts.

Kumu Barcarse first taught Kawena to make `ulī`ulī (feather gourd), and this art was refined under the instruction of Kumu Lake. While a student of Hanai Hayashida, Kawena learned to make his first pahu (drum). Aunty Hanai was the foremost authority in Hawaiian crafts, whom also taught Kawena other crafts such as lei making. Kumu Hewett taught Kawena to make pū`ili (split bamboo). These deeply cultural experiences helped foster a love for creating Hawaiian crafts and a deeper desire to learn more. On his own initiative, Kawena learned to make pūniu (small knee drum), kāhili (feather standard), `ohe kāpala (bamboo stamp), as well as holiday wreaths and floral arrangements. Kawena also researched other Hawaiian crafts such as hula ki’i (hula puppets, marionette), `ūkēkē (jews harp) to teach theses crafts to his patients of the Hawaii State Hospital.

Kumu Hewett always stressed the importance of `ike aku, `ike mai to recognize one’s teachers. In addition, Kumu Hewett also stressed the importance of 'kapilina' relationships. These two values very much resonate with Kawena as they keep the positive flow of energy between Kawena and his teachers who generously passed on their values and skills. Kawena perceives himself not as the creator of the crafts or art, but as a skilled and honored student of those teachers who came before him and that took the time to share the traditions of these arts with him. Respectful relationships and communication are important because they help Kawena stay grounded as he moves forward. Kawena cotinues to maintain respectful relationships and communication with his teachers. They all continue to help and to guide him in his work as a kumu hula.

Me ke aloha to Kumu John Keola Lake and his ohana. Kumu Lake passed away in May 2008.

Kawena has recently moved to Japan. Please contact Kawena if you would like more information about hula, lei, ukulele, craft classes or upcoming events.