1. The Heartbeat of the Hawaiian People
To do hula dancing, you have to understand how it came to be. The Polynesians that started coming to the Hawaiian Islands in the fifth century originated the hula dance. Of course, legend says that the hula came to be as Pele, the Goddess of fire, ordered Laka, her sister, to start dancing. There are various other versions, but the hula is considered a sacred dance. Early missionaries claimed it was a pagan dance, so it carried on in secrecy for many years. In the late 1800's King Kalakaua allowed the hula to be danced again, proclaimed it the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people and made it a Hawaiian national symbol.
2. The Hula Dance Tells a Story
Hula means "dance" in Hawaiian. There are two types of hula dancing the ancient, kahiko hula and the modern, auana hula. Ancient hula relates to the history, ritual ceremonies and ancient customs. Modern hula celebrates life in a contemporary way of telling ancient stories through artful dance. Hula speaks through the dance movements. It tells a story, recites poetry and passes on the culture and history of the Hawaiian people. There are many basic movements of hula dancing with the dancer keeping rhythm with her feet along with her hips moving side to side, turning slowly and posing at different points in the story. The hands and arms move around in a graceful manner to describe the open seas, waves, palm trees, flowers, waterfalls, the moon and the stars. The most recognizable dance movement is the wide spreading circle extension of the hula dancer's arms to speak through dance "Aloha."
3. Grass Skirts, Then and Now
Can you even imagine doing the hula without a grass skirt? The hula dancers originally wore native Polynesian grass skirts. When the hula was allowed to be danced again in the late 1800s, the dancers wore skirts and high collared Victorian style clothing. Now, grass skirts are back at Hawaiian luaus and festivals and they're worn proudly in celebration of the Hawaiian culture and history.
4. Hula to the Beat of the Hawaiian Drum
You need the right music to do the hula. Traditional hula music keeps its steady beat with instruments like the pahu drum, made of the breadfruit or coconut tree trunk. Made from half of a coconut shell, the puniu becomes a drum instrument. The ipu heke drum is made from a large double gourd. These wonderful traditional instruments have mostly been set aside in favor of the modern ukulele and guitar.
5. Spirituality of the Hula Dance
The hula dance is a spiritually enlightening dance. Dancing the hula brings together nature and the universe. Its roots are in worship and spirituality. The hula is a beautiful dance, which carries on traditions, history and cultures from centuries past.
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