Albert Fakalata has actively worked to share the polynesian culture for over 4 decades.   He grew up in Tonga where he pioneered the kindom's first Polynesian floor shows in with his family of musicians and dancers.  While in college, he helped build Oahu's Polynesian Cultural Center.  He was also the hottest part of the show . . . a fire knife dancer!  After graduating college he moved to California and was the manager and entertainment manager of the famous Zombie Hut restaurant in Sacramento.  It was there that he met Cheryl Cook.  A few years later he became a musician for Cheryl's troupe Aloha Polynesia!  Today he is our lead musician and MC.  We cherish Albert's contribution to our troupe and are encredibly thankful to dance along side of him!

Tyra Leihana Manuarii Simoni was introduced to Polynesian dance when she was eight years old and has studied under Cheryl Cook, Uncle John Manuia, Kimo Baird, Albert Fakalata, and Kumu Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett with whom she Unikied under in February of 2007. She has performed in over one thousand shows with Aloha Polynesia! and has participated in Tahitian dance competitions.  Polynesian culture and dance has been her passion for over two decades and she has been an instructor and choreographer for Aloha Polynesia! for nearly 15 years.  Tyra earned her teaching credential in 2001 and is also a faculty member at American River College in Sacramento, where she has been teaching Polynesian dance since 2003.  She has also lead a Master Class in Hawaiian dance at California State University, Sacramento.  While teaching, she continues to attend related lectures and dance workshops so she can challenge herself as a dancer and help her students grow as well. In  2008, Aloha Polynesia  joined forces with "Spirit of Polynesia"  and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line  to tour though the South Pacific. Tyra has joined the touring company three times in the past two years.  She continues to teach locally and abroad. In June of 2011, Tyra will be sharing Hula / Ori Tahiti in Barcelona, Spain  for the second time.

Cheryl Leilani Cook fell in love with Hawaiian dance as a toddler and has  been dancing ever since.  She studied under several Northern California kumu hulas and Tahitian dance instructors over the years, participated in Tahitian dance competitions,was a Zombie Hut dancer, and performed in thousands of floors shows.  In 1982 she inherited the dance troupe Tai's Dancers  from her former dance instructor, renamed it Aloha Hawaiian Dancers, became the instructor, and worked to make it grow.  Today the dance troupe is named Aloha Polynesia! to reflect the array of Polynesian dances we teach and share with the community.  Cheryl is the proud owner of one of Sacramento's oldest Polynesian dance schools and continues to perform in over fifty shows a year.  In October of 2008, Cheryl and Tyra were invited by Kimo Baird to perform on a Royal Caribbean Cruise to Hawaii.  This was a fabulous way to wind down the 2008 show season.