Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Acevedo, Co-Owner of Hōkūleʻa Academy of Polynesian Arts, located in Chicago, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Hōkūleʻa Academy is Chicago's premier Polynesian dance academy and entertainment company. We provide quality instruction in Polynesian dance, music, and arts, as well as performances across Chicagoland. Our classes and shows are Polynesian, and it is our mission to stay true and respectful to the people and cultures of the Pacific Islands.
Tell us about yourself
Ale and I have always been dancers since we were young. We had strong backgrounds in traditional dance styles such as ballet, jazz, hip-hop, etc. At 15 years old, Ale was a backup dancer for a famous Mexican Singer in Mexico, and I danced in musicals and show choir while in high school. After graduating, she and I discovered Hawaiian Hula and ʻOri Tahiti (Tahitian Dance). These unique, ethnic dance styles captivated us and eventually brought us to Hawaiʻi for a dance competition where we would meet.
I believe we are motivated each day by the drive to educate. Unfortunately, over the years, Hawaiian Hula and other forms of Polynesian dance have had large misconceptions and misunderstandings. Every day we work hard to educate our students and audiences on the authenticity of these cultural dance styles, the stories, and legends behind them and give voice to the Pacific islands we represent.
We are also very aware that we have been blessed with a platform that provides an outlet for people to learn and grow. Our company is a large family, and many of our students and family members need a secondary outlet to escape the daily stressors of big city life.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would have to say surviving 2020. When forced to closed, we chose an extremely different approach to teach dance classes through Zoom. An easy route would have been to close the academy for good and focus on other things. Our passion was so strong, however, and our students craved instruction and fellowship (even through a computer screen) that we made the decision to push through. Bills piled up as the overhead remained at the physical location; however, we full-heartedly believed that we would work through all obstacles, much like the early Polynesian voyagers when they'd set out on long journeys into the unknown.
Thankfully the push and belief in something greater ahead have allowed us a swift comeback. Over all of the years, we are extremely proud that we have been able to create something out of nothing and become Chicago's only Polynesian dance academy and number one source for authentic Pacific island entertainment.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Sacrifice and flexibility. In the early years, we often times missed out on gatherings with friends or family. We also both held full-time day jobs, taught dance classes in the evenings, and then worked late into the early morning hours on administrative tasks, choreography, and/or costume construction.
When your "product" is not a tangible good but instead people, flexibility comes into play big time. Sometimes we've missed out on big opportunities to perform for a client because our dancers were unavailable. Other times we worked hard for a couple of years to create a strong A-Line of dancers, and we'd lose some due to out-of-state college, or they'd have other career opportunities.
Every challenge, though, caused us to steer the business differently, and we've recognized each change as a chance to learn and grow. We are constantly challenged with how to best manage our business by staying mindful and respectful of the people it is made up of. We have always been blessed, however, to have the most amazing group of students, dancers, and their family members at Hōkūleʻa. Many of them have deep passions similar to ours for the Polynesian cultures and arts. Beautiful people inside and out.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- You must be passionate about your business. So passionate that you'd be willing to give up a lot to continue working on it, growing it, believing in its purpose and how it can better others. Don't give up.
- Be ready to work hard. In the beginning, you might be the same person cleaning the office, repairing things, creating things, as well as talking to clients, and managing your team. Then, work hard at delegating responsibilities so that you can grow the business.
- It's OK to have setbacks. Be open to some failure and look at every downfall as an opportunity to learn, grow, and come out stronger and more refined.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.dancehokulea.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancehokulea
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancehokulea/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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