What is Hula?
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Cultural dance system that nurtures & sustains Hawaiian people & visitors
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Recalls collective history & identity of Hawaiʻiʻs indigenous inhabitants
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Dance form accompanied by chant (oli) or song (mele), with or without musical or rhythmic accompaniment
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Method of oral & visual record of cultural history & legends for centuries
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Portrays meaning & intent of the words in a visual dance form; complex art form. Many hand motions used to represent words in a song or chant. Hand movements can signify aspects of nature, such as the swaying of a tree in the breeze or a wave in the ocean, or a feeling or emotion, such as fondness or yearning.
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Ancient hula, performed before Western encounters with Hawaiʻi, may be referred to as hula kahiko; accompanied by chant & traditional implements. Serves are both worship & entertainment.
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Evolved under Western influence in the 19th & 20th centuries; called ʻauana ("to wander" or "drift"); accompanied by song & Western-influenced musical instruments (guitar, ʻukulele, double bass, & piano, for examples.)
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Hula practitioners are adorned with lei & florals, & dance to beautiful Hawaiian music.
How is it Taught?
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Taught in schools or gatherings called hālau.
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Teacher of hula is kumu hula, where kumu means source of knowledge, or literally speaking, a teacher.
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Many distinctions between hula studios where hula is taught by an instructor, & traditional hula hālau, under the direction of a kumu hula (or a kumu in training under the supervision of a kumu hula).
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Hierarchy in hula schools - including but not limited to the kumu (teacher), alaka'i (leader), kokua (helpers), & then the 'olapa (dancers) or haumana (students)
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ʻuniki means to complete an intense course of studies under care & guidance of a kumu with full rights, & to pass from one level to the next in a manner determined by the kumu.
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Many thousands of people around the world study Hula; especially true in Hawai'i, where keiki (kids) as young as 2-3 years of age are learning how to hula.
