Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kalani Hakkei. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kalani, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

My first experience obtaining my first job as a professional dancer in Las Vegas happened in 2018. I just moved to Las Vegas with very little money and very little time to find a job right away. Luckily, I got hired as a valet attendant part time in downtown Las Vegas so I could make a little money to survive. Within the first month that I was here I saw a flyer for a dance audition. A new show that was opening up at Planet Hollywood.
The show was called” unreal” Britney Spears, and Michael Jackson tribute show.
Little over 200 dancers male and female and they were only hiring for two boys and two girls.

A month had already gone by so all I could think about at this audition is if I don’t get a dance job soon I’ll have to pack my bags and head back home to Hawaii. The experience was very tough because it looked like all the dancers knew each other, and I knew no one. So my headphones on, I was calm and focused on what I needed to do. I gave it all I got, and did my absolute best.

One week later, which felt like the longest week of my life waiting to hear that call back it happened. The choreographer had called me and told me I got the job.
Which blossom my career as a dancer in Las Vegas, and I am so happy that I got that specific show. I had such a great experience and made so so many incredible connection. Darrell Rivera and Matthew Guerrero. Two incredible men this day five years later still takes extremely good care of me in this industry and I was so blessed to meet them on my first dance job. I have no regrets..

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Born and beautiful Hawaii raised on the big island in a little town called Hilo. I grew up as a sports athlete. The dance journey all began when another basketball player at a park Did a breakdown move during one of our water breaks. I was extremely fascinated, and that’s all I wanted to learn how to do. So I along with a few other guys from that basketball court, decided to learn how to become Bboy’s (breakers)

This all started at the age of 13, living with my mother, who went through her 3rd divorce. Though I had three older siblings it was just me and mom.
It was extremely hard, trying to survive school, sports, practice, and learning this new thing I fell in love with Dance all at the same time.

The time I was 17 I got my first job as a dance teacher teaching at an afterschool program. From there, found a local dance studio where I got hired first as a scholarship student and then became a teacher there as well. I always wanted to figure out how I could pay the bills by just doing what I love. And so for the next 10 years from my dance studio to school to outreach programs all I did was teach dance.
15 to 20 dance classes a week giving the love of dance to over 300 students a year. I helped so many others fall in love with Dance as well.

At the age of 27 I was a full-time dance teacher, and competitive dancer for a little over 10 years. And it just felt like it was time. I had stayed that would’ve been my life for the rest of my life which would’ve been OK. But I ,convinced by my mentor Pier Sircello and a few others believe that there was more for me out there and that I should take a risk leave the island and try to be a professional dancer out in the big world.

So I’m 2018 I packed my bags, sold my car and move to LA. Three months later, I moved to Las Vegas..
And here I am five years later in the show of my dreams “Magic Mike Live “

Growing up poor in Hawaii just my mom and I in my teens To when I started living on my own 16. Sharing one room in my aunts house, then living in a one bedroom apartment. The extremely hard times we’ve been through.
Till this day, my mom and I still reminisce on all the extremely hard things we went through how far we came, and where I am in my career today.
It still feels like a dream, words, can’t describe the gratitude and happiness that I feel for where I am today.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

If I had to share a story that illustrates resilience within my journey to get where I am now. It will definitely have to be the first month of arriving in Las Vegas. I did not know a single person in the industry, I didn’t even know where to start what to look for or who to talk to.
At this point, I was very low on money, so it was even hard to pay for a dance class to work myself and train.

At this point, I was staying in my sisters guestroom before she moved to Texas, so I was very limited on time.
So the only way I could get real training in was to move my sister’s car out of her garage and dancing in her garage in Las Vegas weather.
Feeling extremely alone, and starting to lose hope there was this one training session while I was alone in my sister’s garage. Trying to catch my breath I out of nowhere started to cry my eyes out. I felt like it was over. I had failed to become a professional dance performer and it was time to pack my bags and go home. it was time to give up on this far fetch dream that I wanted it so much.

But no matter how much in my brain it made sense to give up go home to where it’s safe and comfortable, tiny little voice in my head kept screaming. Don’t give up it’s not over..
I continued to train in my sister’s garage, I continued to run on these back roads to stay condition. I continued to go to parks to practice in the grass. I did everything a poor dance , who knew nobody could do in order to keep training.

I got a part-time job I went and took classes and I went to that audition. Five years six, Las Vegas shows, and a pandemic.
Here I am still standing, and my dream show.
I can definitely say that resilience I felt that didn’t let me give up is the only reason I am living my dream now.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Other than training and knowledge, what do I think is the most helpful for succeeding in my field? I would definitely have to say attitude all the way.
It is such a simple concept that is overlooked and so easy at the same time.
This for sure, you can be the most talented, the most knowledgeable and the best looking none of that matters if you have a bad attitude.

I’ve seen so many of these specific performers come and go. Some of them being The best I’ve ever seen in my eyes.

This industry, along with so many others, I would definitely have to say have a good heart spread love, and treat others with kindness, and you will be so successful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalanihakkei?igsh=d3BnbWtvc2d1NHUw&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bboyuneek808?si=b9svdrk9I7DO5Ibh