Hula

Hula is an indigenous Hawaiian dance of expressions and emotions and is an important phenomenon of the Hawaiian culture. Hula is the language of Hawaii, spoken in movements and gestures, and that tells the stories of the Hawaiian people, their history, and of the supreme forces that upholds and sustains the Hawaiian people and their blessed islands.

The hula dance is usually accompanied by or performed to a special song or chant known to the Hawaiian people as a mele. The mele would tell of a story, the story is then expressed through the movements and expressions of the hula dancer.

History of the Hawaiian Hula Dance

During the 1820s the hula dance was outlawed and eventually abolished by the Protestant missionaries arriving in Hawaii. Hula dancing was depicted by the missionaries as being idol worshiping, uncivilized, and ungodly due to its attachment to legendary ancient gods and goddesses. The Hawaiian hula dance was secretly practiced by many Hawaiians while it effectively remained publicly outlawed and banned for more than fifty years. The ban was lifted and hula was resurrected by King David Kalakaua in 1883 when he had came to recognized the importance of hula to the history and identity of the Hawaiian people. King Kalakaua was later quoted as saying:

"Hula is the language of the heart and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people."

During his crowning ceremony in 1883, King Kalakaua invited many hula dancers from across the islands to perform at his ceremony.

Hula Styles

Many different styles of hula has evolved over time, all hula styles are however classified under two classes, the hula kahiko and the hula ‘auana.

The hula kahiko (hoo-lah kah-hee-koh) represents ancient hula and is used to refer to ancient hula styles portraying legends of the Hawaiian culture and the beauty of the Hawaiian people and its lands. Kahiko hula is usually performed to a mele in conjunction with some form of percussion instrument.

The hula ‘auana (hoo-lah au-‘w’ah-nah) represents modern day informal hula that has been influenced by western cultures. Hula ‘auana is non-ceremonial and is not associated with traditional forms of submissions or offerings. Hula ‘auana can be performed to a mele but often allows the performers to interact with and involve the audience in the dance. It can also be performed in conjunction with a song, with percussion instruments or with stringed instruments. The commonly used hula dancing string instruments that have a western influence are the guitar and the ukulele.

Some of the Hula styles that make up these categories include:

• hula hue - hula dance that ends a show or program, a `ai `ami i.e. a fast revolving of the hips as fast as the drummer beats.
• hula holoholona - hulas named after animals or insects (holoholona)
• hula ho`onânâ - any hula performed for the sake of amusement
• hulahula – gathering of dancers such as ballroom dancing.
• hula `âla`apapa - ancient dramatic hula style
• hula hapa haole – western influenced hula with English words
• hula mania - squatting dance with a thin flexible stick striking the floor
• hula kuahu - formal hula with ceremonies
• hula pâ`iumauma – hula dance beating one’s chest
• hula o Kalâkaua – a collection of hula dances performed for King Kalâkaua’s coronation
• hula ki`I - images posture dancing or a dance using marionettes
• hula kolili - love forfeit dance, usually for chiefs.
• hula kuhi lima - hula gestures of hands and of torso while sitting sitting
• hula mea pa`ahana / pila – collection of hula named from  implements or instruments
• hula ku`i Moloka`I - punch dance (ku`i) of Moloka`i
• hula Pele - sacred hula dance honoring the fire / volcano goddess Pele
• hula kuolo - dancer beats the ipu (gourd) and chants while sitting
• hula mu`umu`u - dance while sitting
• hula `ôhelo - dancer leans over on one side and supports self with one hand while opposite arm makes a sawing motion.
• hula ki`elei - hula dance where dancer squats down on haunches
• hula `ôlapa – hula dance with chanting and gourd drum
• hula Pahua - fast hula increasing to a frenzy.

Hula Implements and Musical Instruments

• `ili`ili -  Smooth stones or lava pebbles worn down by water. Usually found in streams. Two stones are held in each hand and are clapped together to make rhythmic sounds.
• Pahu – Large sacred drum made with either a hollowed out breadfruit tree or coconut tree and covered with shark skin. A pahu pa’I is a small version of this drum.
• Ipu – One or two attached gourds used as drums. Play by beating it with the hands while stamping on the ground. One gourd is called a Ipu while two are called a Ipu heke.
• kâla`au - Two hard pieces of sticks or wood struck together to make rhythmic sounds.
• Pūniu – Drum made of a coconut shell and fish skin cover. Played between the knees.
• pû`ili - Short length split bamboo rattles that may be struck together to make rhythmic sounds.
• `ulî `ulî - These are seeds of the canna plant made into rattles and placed in a small gourd or a coconut. It is usually decorated with feathers or a kappa.

• kâ`eke `eke – Different lengths of bamboo sticks or tubes beaten on the floor or on a mat, and usually played by several musicians.
• Kuolokani – This is a large ancient drum or tumbrel.
• nî `au kani - A harp made of a thin strip of wood with a  coconut midrib (nîau) or lengthwise bamboo strip.
• `ohe hano ihu - bamboo nose flute used in conjunction with chants.
• papa hehi - dancing footboard
• pû –  A large triton conch shell or helmet shell used as trumpet during ceremonies, pageants, or performances or to as a signal of an event. Loud sounds produced can travel as far as two miles away.
• `ûkêkê - Several musical bows of two or three strings drawn through holes at one end and strummed to produce sounds.

Hula Costumes and Clothing

The attire worn by hula dancers is comprised of various pieces of clothing and accessories and is usually any combinations of the following traditionally worn items:

• Kîhei - A kihei is a long rectangular piece of bark cloth (called a tapa or kappa) tied into a knot and worn over one. It is similar to a scarf or shawl.
• kupe`e – A kupe`e is an anklet or leglet made from pierced dog teeth or sea shells. In ancient times, the kupe`e was also made from human teeth.
• kupe`e lima – The kupe`e lima also called the apa lima is a bracelet or kupe`e worn on the hand.
• holokû – A holoku is a long fitted Hawaiian dress
• Lei – A worn wreath typically made from strung flowers, leaves, seeds, shells, vines or ferns, feathers, fish teeth or bones.

• lei po`o – A lei that is made to be worn on the head
• lei`â`î - A lei that is made to be worn around the neck
• lole lima pûha`uha`u – A shirt sleeve that is gathered or puffed at shoulder length and at the wrist.
• lole wâwae loloa – Worn pants or trousers
• lole wâwae pûha`uha`u – Short loose trousers gathered at the knees, bloomers.
• malo - (male’s) loincloth A piece of kapa (tapa) used as a loincloth by men.
• mu`umu`u – A loosely fitted dress or gown of various lengths
• palauki – A female shirt or blouse, also called a lakeke or pâkana
• palekoki `ekeke`I – A short skirt
• palekoki loloa – A long skirt
• palekoki pûha`uha`u – A large puffy skirt of gathered material
• pâ`û – A wrapped skirt or waistcloth worn by women. It is traditionally knee length but are of varying lengths in modern hula dance.
• pâ`û heihei - A hula skirt decorated or adorned with ferns, shells or leaves.
• pâ`û hula – The traditionally worn hula skirt
• pâ`û lâ`î – A hula skirt made from ti-leaf.

Hula Teachings

Ancient hula styles as well as modern day hula styles are currently being taught in many different hula schools (halau hula) across the Hawaiian Islands and on the continental US main land. A hula instructors or teacher is known as a kumu hula and a hula student is known as a 'olapa. There are also several hula videos and DVDs made available to individuals interested in learning the art of dancing hula or for those interested in hula for entertainment purposes. A typical tourist traveling to Hawaii will usually see several hula dance performances during their visit and often times will get an opportunity to partake in a  hula `auana dance.