Hula

Origin & history: Hula is the traditional dance of the Native Hawaiian people. In legend it was born of the gods: the goddess Laka is honored as the deity of hula (said to have birthed the dance on Molokai), while other accounts credit Hiiaka, who danced to soothe her volcanic sister Pele, or Pele herself. Hula is often called Hawaii's storytelling in motion, recounting history, genealogy, and nature through oli (chant) and mele (song).

Cultural & social context: Many hula were sacred religious observances dedicated to gods and chiefs, demanding flawless execution. American Protestant missionaries who arrived in 1820 condemned hula as pagan, and Queen Kaahumanu banned public performance in 1830. King David Kalakaua, the "Merrie Monarch," revived it, famously calling hula "the language of the heart" and featuring it at his 1883 coronation. After decades of decline, the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s restored it, and the Merrie Monarch Festival (founded 1971) is now the premier annual competition.

Character & feel: Hula ranges from austere and reverent to light and joyful, always grounded in respect for its spiritual roots.

Technique & movement: Two styles predominate. Hula kahiko (ancient) is danced to chant and traditional percussion; hula auana (modern, meaning "to wander") uses Western-influenced song and instruments. Hand and arm gestures depict words and images (a swaying tree, an ocean wave, an emotion) while basic steps such as kaholo, kao, hela, uwehe, and ami move the hips and feet in time.

Music & rhythm: Kahiko relies on the ipu (gourd drum), pahu (sharkskin drum), and chanted oli; auana adds ukulele, guitar, and bass beneath melodic song. Dancers wear pau skirts, lei, and kupee, with the ti-leaf skirt sacred to Laka.