The spirit of Aloha has been at the heart of Zach and Raquel’s marriage. They both share a passion for culture and the arts including music, dance, crafts, and more!
Raquel
Along with her Venezuelan roots, Raquel fell in love with Polynesian cultures at the age of 12. In 2010, she met Sandi Stevens, owner and founder of Ohana Arts. Meeting Sandi greatly impacted Raquel and Hula became a prominent part of her life. She was trained and hired to be a professional Hula performer in the state of Florida. In the Ohana Arts Studio, Raquel began teaching keiki (children); it was there that she gained a passion for teaching kids the art of Aloha through song, dance, and music. Having the opportunity to perform with some of the best companies and performers in South Florida, she lead out on productions both small and large including a children’s episode on PBS Kids, the city of Hollywood’s annual production “Dragons and Drums”, and the Mango Festival at the Botanical Garden in Miami Gardens. She has decided that no matter where she lives, she will always carry and share the spirit of Aloha with her community.
Zach
A Washington local, Zach has been heavily involved with choral productions since his youth. Under the direction of George Guenther, he sang in the Norselanders chamber choir at Puyallup High School. Zach attributes most of his musical experience to Mr. Guenther and other mentors who took Zach under their wings to teach music, composition, and teamwork! He competed at the WMEA solo and ensemble competition in multiple ensembles, with the crowning experience of winning first place at Washington State’s solo and ensemble competition for large mixed ensembles in 2012. He loves to share his passion for music and has become an avid music composer and arranger. He studied music theory and vocal instruction at BYU-Idaho and toured Wyoming with the university’s Collegiate Singers. Currently, he is a member of the Seattle Ensign Choir. Zach graduated with his bachelor’s with an emphasis in business and is pursuing his masters in finance from Harvard University. Zach has always sought for cultural understanding and thrives off of an entrepreneurial view to performing.
Since Zach and Raquel have been married, they have performed in numerous venues throughout Florida, Utah, and Washington State. They are actively involved with the Latin community in Bellevue, WA, but share the spirit of Aloha with all.