ABOUT HULA NATION

Our Mission

Hula Nation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to inspiring health, creativity, and connection through art and movement. We create experiences that empower individuals to reconnect with their bodies, express themselves, and build confidence through community-based workshops.

What We Do

Since 2012, Hula Nation has facilitated over 300 workshops, performances, and community activations across New York City and beyond. Our HoopYogini practice blends movement, mindfulness, and play, and has been shared in schools, wellness centers, festivals, and cultural spaces including BAM Dance Africa, TAMA, Hamptons Yoga Festival, and Wanderlust.

We collaborate with artists, educators, and organizations to create pop-ups, immersive experiences, and accessible programming for both urban and rural communities.

Global Impact

In 2019, Hula Nation expanded internationally, working with the Kazo community in Kampala, Uganda in collaboration with Paper Fig Foundation and IGC Fashion. Through these partnerships, we explored the intersection of movement, fashion, and cultural exchange while supporting community empowerment.

Women + Wellness

Hula Nation has also been part of self-care retreats for women, including spaces for mothers and daughters in Colombia. We bring movement into spaces of healing, where women gather to reconnect, rest, and rediscover joy.

Our Founder

  • Isamar Gonzalez is a multidisciplinary Afro-Latina artist and educator whose work bridges textile art, movement, and cultural storytelling. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, her practice is rooted in Indigenous, African, and urban traditions.


    With over 30 years in the fashion and design world, she creates wearable art and immersive experiences that explore identity, adornment, and self-expression.


    In 2011, she founded Hula Nation, a nonprofit dedicated to community building through art and movement. Through workshops and global collaborations, she shares practices that inspire embodied joy, creativity, and connection.