Hula dancing has been around for about as long as people could walk, and has since become an integral part of Hawaiian culture. It goes back so far and is so tied into the spirit of Hawaii, none of the islands — Hawai’i, Moloka’i, O’ahu or Kaua’i — can agree where exactly it started. But one thing’s for sure: the grass skirts and shimmying hips that have come to be hula dancing’s trademarks are recognizable everywhere.
The Goddesses of Hula
Hawaiian legend diverges into two main paths when it comes to explaining how hula dancing’s origins. The goddess Laka is widely recognized as the keeper of the hula dancing, although it’s unclear whether she actually gave birth to it on the island of Moloka’i or simply is the honoree of it. A common version is she created the hula in Ka’ana was feted with prayers, leis and offerings; once she died, Hawaiians so revered Laka, they kept her remains deep under Pu’u Nana Hill.
But any conversation about hula dancing isn’t complete without bringing up Laka’s other siblings, Pele — the goddess of the volcano (or fire) — Hi’iaka and Namakaokaha’i. One possible origin of hula dancing comes from Hi’iaka’s fear of upsetting her Pele and used the hula as a way of keeping her calm and soothed. Another story tells of Pele with nothing to do one day, and asking her sisters to entertain her. All of them hesitated until the youngest sister, Hi’iaka, stepped forward and danced a story for her (some stories say Pele asked only Laka to dance for her.)
Meanwhile, a third story yet describes an altercation between Pele and Namakaokaha’i, with the former looking for her own place to live. She had to run far and long to put distance between her and Namakaokaha’i because Pele’s sister was the goddess of oceans and the world is mostly water. Finally, Pele discovered Hawaii, a series of craters, and made it her place; to symbolically let her sister know, Pele danced the first hula in history. No matter which version of the origin is the true one, it definitely makes modern sibling squabbles pale in comparison!
Significance of the Dance
Like many dances with cultural origins, hula has its roots in poetry, music, philosophy, history, and story-telling. When the dance is performed, either chanting — oli — or song — mele, with both portraying a specific story in visual dance form, accompanies it. Oli and mele were used because Hawaiians originally had no written language, and needed a way to pass on their history and lore.
However, to say that oli and mele refer specifically to chanting and music, respectively, isn’t quite accurate. Mele is the more general word that describes any song or chant and, through time, has come to be associated with music, while oli used to be a chant that wasn’t used with dance. As a sign of commitment and strength, speakers would utter long oli phrases in a single breath and trill the end with “i’i.”
Hawaiians take hula dancing very seriously and are trained at special schools — hālau — under hula masters called kumu (“knowledge”) hula. According to ancient customs, children would train in chanting from a young age and were called haku mele, graduating to a very prestigious status in their respective village if they finished their education. Today, the hula is similar to yoga and Islam in that dancers try to combine grace, athleticism, physicality, history and art — by being aware of their feet touching the ground and becoming connected to the source of the dance’s power, hula dancers retreat inward until they can touch their centre.
Focal Point of Hawaii
Whenever the word “Hawaii” is said to anyone who’s about to visit the islands, hula dancing is one of the first images that come to mind. And as such, there’s always a luau with hula dancing to be found at every resort, on every island, during every day and night. While some look at the way hula dancing’s evolution as a tourist trap, the spirit of the dance is always present. Luaus are elaborate Hawaiian feasts with entertainment throughout, celebrating the aloha spirit and united islanders and mainlanders alike. They often come part of hotel packages, but can be attended separately, too. And if visitors to the islands are really lucky, they might even be invited to a Hawaiian’s home for a truly authentic hula experience. But what exactly does the dance look like, and how is it performed?
The Aesthetics and Movements
When hula first started, women wore the famed palm leaf wrapped skirt — pā’ū — but performed the dance topless. This changed in 1820 when American Protestant missionaries arrived and demanded more modest dress, so the skirt dropped down to knee-length and tops were added. Men’s costumes, too, changed, from the traditional bulky loincloth — malo — to more conservative outfits like short pants or a skirt (although the malo is still used as well.) As well as the clothing, both genders would adorn themselves in necklaces, bracelets, anklets (kupe’e), and leis as headpieces (leipo’o.) Some dancers would also wear leis around their arms and lower legs for a more elaborately decorative look.
Once the dancers are outfitted correctly, traditionally men would start with poetic chants, although this has evolved to a lead voice singing in a major scale and occasional harmony parts. The strength of hula is that the dance manages to maintain its historic ties while still looking forward to the future, and hula dances come in two main forms. The traditional form is called kahiko (“ancient”), and can be recognized by women wearing knee-length green ti leaf skirts and either a necklace made from polished kukui tree nuts or a lei, with an invocation starting each dance. In contrast, the modern form that’s typically seen on islands today is called auanai, and features shimmery, undulating movements and a Hawaiian band playing the ukulele, guitar, steel guitar, and bass.
Along with the traditional and modern forms of hula, dancers are also divided into different categories, as designated by Laka. Younger, stronger, more agile dancers are called olapa (“agile ones”), and they represent the youthful generation with energy to spare, dancing the hula on both feet. But when dancers reach an age where they have to sit down — ho’o-paa (“steadfast ones”) — they become the esteemed elders who take over the singing and musical instrument playing. And despite it being olapa or ho’o-paa hula dancing, there are only six traditional moves. It’s the way these base moves are interpreted and combined in unique ways that amounts to the beautiful dance that’s gained worldwide fame and captivated people everywhere.
On Your Own
A person doesn’t need to visit Hawaii to experience the essence of hula dancing — although it does help — and can get in touch with Hawaiian roots from the comfort of their own home. All that’s needed is an understanding of its history, a couple of YouTube videos, and a willingness to engage in one of the world’s oldest and most traditional types of dances. And if the chance to visit the islands ever comes up, it’s a way to experience the authenticity of the dance in an unparalleled, impactful way — and sure to be an experience that’s not soon forgotten. Aloha!
For more information on dance lessons or to get involved with a dance studio in your area visit DanceHub. Discover dance studios, dance instructors, and dance classes near you.
