When Mary Jo Freshley arrived in Hawaiʻi in the early 1960s, she intended to build her career in physical education. Instead, she found herself drawn into the world of Korean dance where she would spend the rest of her life preserving, teaching and sharing.
Freshley, who was born and raised in Ohio and turns 91 in September, moved to Hawaiʻi to teach at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, where she worked for more than 30 years.
Her first steps with dance began in 1962, at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, when she enrolled in a summer class, taught by pioneering Korean dancer Halla Pai Huhm.
“Learning from Halla Huhm was sometimes stressful, sometimes not,” Freshley said. “But overall, the one thing I admired the most about her was that she always wanted to learn more.”
Learn more and purchase tickets to the 75th anniversary recital on September 6, 2025.
After joining the studio and years of extensive training, Freshley was formally recognized as an instructor in 1975, and given the Korean name Pai Myung-sa.
When Halla Huhm passed away in 1994, Freshley became the director of the studio, guiding her students through new eras of ever-modernizing and changing dance styles.
She and her students will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the studio with a concert in September.
Bringing Korean dance to the ‘Bows
In 1998, Freshley took her talents and passion for teaching outside of the dance studio and into the classroom.
She started off as an instructor with the UH Mānoa Department of Music and then to the Department of Theatre and Dance, where she continues to teach introductory and upper-level Korean dance classes.
Freshley said while teaching at UH Mānoa is much different than teaching at her studio, it’s just as fulfilling.
“Some students just take my class because they need the one credit,” Freshley said. “But, then they suddenly discover there’s more than one way to move your body and learn so much, and that’s the part I enjoy.”
A lifetime of teaching
Teaching wasn’t always her calling—she just wanted to be able to move around and stay active, so when she discovered the career of a P.E. teacher, she knew it was the job for her.
“In college, I realized I could major in physical education and still run around and have fun and do all those activities, and even get paid to do it. So I decided then and there that would be it,” Freshley said.
Regardless of her motivations to pursue teaching, her passion and wealth of knowledge resonated and continues to resonate with all her students.
“I always feel safe with Mary Jo and I know her studio will always be a safe place where I can be comfortable while I’m learning from the best of the best,” said Cynthia Lee, a student of Freshley for over 20 years.
Leaving her mark
Freshley now looks to the future as she and her students soon celebrate the 75th anniversary of the studio she’s been with for over 60 years.
“I’m not the most logical person to be teaching Korean dance—I’m from Ohio,” Freshley said. “But I want my students and everyone to know that I love what I do and I’m passionate about it, so that’s the legacy I hope to leave.”
The Halla Pai Huhm Korean Dance Studio’s 75th anniversary concert is on September 6, 2025 at 4 p.m. at the Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center. Learn more and purchase tickets at the website: Halla Huhm Korean Dance Studio.
—By Grant Nakasone
