Roosevelt Elementary students performed the hula dance for charity

Fifth-graders at Roosevelt Elementary performed a play for parents and teachers Thursday that incorporated a hula dance they learned from Hawaii native and Roosevelt teacher Tiffany Kaloustian earlier this year.

Since October, all 95 fifth-graders on campus practiced the hula with Kaloustian, who had flown in orchids from Hawaii to make leis for the performance .

In the months that the students rehearsed the play, they also raised $2,500 by selling lollipops. All the money will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which will help grant a child’s wish in April.

Kaloustian said the play’s meaning is universal.

“The message of the play is spreading the aloha spirit, which is, how can we make a difference in this world?” she said. “That’s what life is about — compassion.”

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