Hula Dance Hawaii

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　

Hula Dance

***** Location: Hawaii
***** Season: Non-seasonal Topic
***** Category: Humanity

*****************************
Explanation

Hula is a form of chant and dance, which was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there.


Hula is often performed as a form of prayer at official state functions in Hawaii. Here, hula is performed by Kumu Hula Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett for a ceremony turning over U.S. Navy control over the island of Kahoolawe to the state.

The chant (mele) is accompanied by ipu (a gourd) and 'ili'ili (stones used as clappers). Listeners dance in a highly ritualized manner. The older, formal kind of hula is called kahiko, while the modern version is auana. There are also religious chants called mele; when accompanied by dancing and drums, it is called mele hula pahu.

There are various legends surrounding the origins of hula.
According to Hawaiian legend Laka, goddess of the hula, gave birth to the dance on the island of Molokai, at a very sacred place in Ka'ana. Laka's remains were secretly hidden on her death somewhere beneath the hill, Pu'u Nana. The birth of the hula is celebrated in a festival called Ka Hula Piko every May on Molokai. The island is praised in the saying '"Molokai Ka Hula Piko,"' which translates "Molokai, the center of the dance".

Another story tells of Hi'iaka, who danced to appease her fiery sister, the volcano goddess Pele.
Prior to 1778 in the pre-European period, hula was closely tied to religious practices. Dances accompanied by the pahu (sharkskin-covered log drum, used in temple ceremonies) appear to be the most sacred, dedicated to the gods. American Protestant missionaries, who arrived in 1820, denounced and banned the hula as a heathen dance.

The Hawaiian performing arts had a resurgence during the reign of King David Kalakaua (1874-1891), who encouraged the traditional arts. Hula practitioners merged Hawaiian poetry, chanted vocal performance, dance movements and costumes to create the new form, the hula ku'i (ku'i means "to combine old and new").

The pahu appears not to have been used in hula ku'i, evidently because its sacredness was respected by practitioners; the ipu gourd (Lagenaria sicenaria) was the indigenous instrument most closely associated with hula ku'i. Ritual and prayer surrounded all aspects of hula training and practice, even as late as the early twentieth century. Teachers and students were dedicated to the goddess of the hula, Laka.

Hula changed drastically in the early twentieth century due to tourists and Hollywood film audiences.
A renewed interest in hula, both traditional and modern, has emerged since the 1970s.

The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural festival and hula competition in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.

© About.com
http://experts.about.com/e/h/hu/Hula_(dance).htm

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Click HERE to see photos of the Hula Dance !

*****************************
Worldwide use

Europa

When I was growing up, the hoola hoop was very fashionable, and for me, a favourite pastime. I remember dancing with it it for ages and ages -- and there are photograpohs to prove it!

There was a pop song too, which I can still sing by heart...

Is the hula dance done with hoola hoops?

hoola hoop --
dancing with it in my mind
so young again

Isabelle Prondzynski

!!!
no hula hoops in the hula.. keep your eyes on the hands... Shanna


Click HERE to see the Hoola Hoopers !

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Japan

Hula Dance is very popular, especially for elderly ladies to keep young in body and mind.


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU



Laka, goddess of hula...
movement
imitating the forest


the hula halau
goes to the forest
become one
making their lei and costumes
worshipping and chanting to Laka

Shanna Moore, September 2006

More Haiga from Shanna. Click on the thumbnails to see them.







*****************************
Related words

***** - - - Hawaii Saijiki - - -



[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::