History of the Hula

         The hula is a wonderful Hawaiian tradition that is not only beautiful to observe, but is also an important part of the Hawaiian heritage.  It has gone through many stages in history.  Its origins are surrounded by legend and according to one; it began when the goddess of fire, Pele, commanded her younger sister, Laka to dance.  Until the early twentieth century, ritual and prayer surrounded all aspects of the hula.  The teachers and students were dedicated to Laka, the goddess of hula and lived and trained in the temples.

        Hula, as old as the Hawaiian culture, was once shared by all of the people, but contact with the Western world changed the hula.  Considered lewd by American missionaries who arrived in Hawaii in 1820, hula nearly vanished in 1896, when the Hawaiian language was abolished from local schools.  The hula went underground and was performed in secret so the art was not lost. Then in the 1830’s, King Kamehameha III issued an edit granting religious freedom and the missionaries, recognizing that the hula could not be quelled, countered with the condition that the dancers wear modest clothing.  In 1874, Kalakaua was elected as king.  He was known as “The Merry Monarch” for his fun-loving spirit.  It was during his reign that the hula gained the reputation of being the national symbol of Hawaii.  King Kalakaua’s once said, “Hula is the language of the heart and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people.

Types of Hula

Hula                       the hula, the indigenous dances of Hawaii.

Hula ‘ala’ apapa           type of ancient dramatic hula

(hoo’ lah AH’ lah

pah pah)

hula hue                       type of hula dancing used to conclude a program, a

(hoo’lah hoo’

(w) eh)                         kind of ‘ai ‘ami with a revolving of the hips as fast as the

                                    drummer can beat time, to see who can dance the longest

hula ‘auana            modern-day hula; informal hula without ceremony or

(hoo’lah au’                   offering, in contrast to hula kuahu; modern hula

(w)ah nah)

hula hapa haole       westernized hula, usually accompanied by English words

(hoo’lah  hah’

pah hao’ leh)

hula holoholona        hulas were named for holoholona (animals, beast, insect)

(hoo’lahhoh’loh             

hoh loh’ nah)

hula ho’ onana         any hula for amusement

(hoo’ lah hoh’

oh NAH’ NAH)

hulahula               ballroom dancing with partners. American dancing massed

(hoo’ lah                       with hula dancing

hoo’ lah)

hula kahiko            ancient hula

(hoo’ lah kah

hee’ koh)

hula kuhi lima         sitting hula with gestures of hands and swaying of torso

(hoo’ lah koo’

hee lee’ mah)  

Hula Related Words

‘olohe                  hula expert, skilled    

(OH’ loh heh)

halau                   long house, as for canoes or hula instruction

(HAH’ lau)                    temple of dance training

hi’ uwai                water purification festivities

(hee oo vai’)

ho’ ike                 exhibition, to show or exhibit

(HOH’ ee keh)

ho’ okupu              ceremonial gift giving as a sign of honor,

(hoh’ oh koo                  respect; appeasing gift, an offering

poo)

hu’elepo                small graduation exercises

(hoo’eh leh’

poh)

kapu kai               ceremonial bath in the sea

(kah’ poo kai’)

kuahu                  altar

(koo (w)ah hoo)

If you would like to learn the Hula, or become a Hula Girl, check out the instructional DVDs below.