Hula Dancing
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While I was in Hawaii last week, I was fortunate to be able to experience many local customs and traditions. One of these is, of course, Hula dancing. There is a lot more to this than you would expect, and it makes for one heck of an awesome show! Do you know what the tradition behind Hula dancing is?
Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song. It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The chant or song is called a mele. The hula dramatizes or comments on the mele.
Hula performed for spontaneous daily amusement or family feasts were attended with no particular ceremony. However, hula performed as entertainment for chiefs were anxious affairs. High chiefs typically traveled from one place to another within their domains. Each locality had to house, feed, and amuse the chief and his or her entourage. Hula performances were a form of fealty, and often of flattery to the chief. There were hula celebrating his lineage and his name. Sacred hula, celebrating Hawaiian gods, were also danced. All these performances must be completed without error (which would be both unlucky and disrespectful).
It’s absolutely beautiful to watch – and not just because the women themselves are gorgeous. Hula dancing is truly an art form, and something you definitely should make time to witness yourself if you are ever in Hawaii.
- MAN DANCING HULA – DASHBOARD SHAKER BOBBLE HEAD
- 26″ Hula Girl with Ukulele – #50004
- Hawaiian Bottle Opener – Hula Girl Dancing Pose
- How To Hula [VHS]
- How To Hula For Body, Mind & Spirit
- 2003 Queen Lili`uokalani Keiki Hula Competition
- VINTAGE BRONZE HULA LAMP 37″ – LEILANI DANCING WAHINE- SURFING DECOR
- Hula Figurine / Hand Painted / Dancing Wahine / 20″
- 2009 Merrie Monarch Festival Hula Competition 4 DVD Boxed Set
- 2008 Merrie Monarch Festival Hula Competition [4 DVD Box Set]
- Hula for Everyone
- HAWAIIAN DANCING HULA GIRL CANDLE LAMP
- Hawaiian Luau Flower Headband, 1 Dozen
- Hula Girl Straws
- Decorated Mouse Pad with Hawaii, hula, Polynesia, woman, dancing, leisure, scene, sand, tribal, beach
- Decorated Mouse Pad with dancing, Polynesia, flowers, woman, lei, Hawaii, hula, beverage, drink
- Decorated Mouse Pad with “black and white”, dancing, cultural, ethnic, Polynesia, dress, woman, beach, Hawaii, hula
- Real Hawaiian Hula Girl Costume – Toddler
- Child’s Raffia Palm Hula Skirt (1 pc)
- Disney Lilo & Stitch – 3″ Hula Dancing Friends Patch
- Hula Hoop Sassy (Choose Your Color)
- Walking Dancing Hula Doll, Blue Blue
- HULA GIRL DASHBOARD SHAKER BOBBLE – DANCING POSE
- ALOHA GIRL DASHBOARD SHAKER BOBBLE – DANCING POSE
- 2 Pack Bell Automotive 36707 Hula Dancing Girl
- The Art of the Hula (Island Treasures)
- Art Of Hula Dancing (Running Press Mini Kits)
- The Hula
- Hula Hoop Energy (Choose Your Color)
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- For Listening and Hula Dancing / Dreams of Old Hawaii
- John K. Almeida / Lei Momo Sweethearts: Hawaiian Hula Tempo Featuring Vocal: Little Brown Gal / Gorgeous Hula
- Eddie Kekaula; Hawaii’s Golden Voice; Autographed LP; 1976
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3 Comments
Kat
August 10th, 2009
at 7:23pm
I went to Hawaii this year, and to the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. I believe the dance in the video is from Samoa.
Jonathan Greenlee
August 11th, 2009
at 8:37am
You are describing Kahiko Hula, the ancient form. There is also a modern form which is what is more frequently encountered in tourist venues. The Merrie Monarch festival held yearly in Hilo on the Big Island is a great place to see both forms demonstrated by the most respected artists.
sharon
August 13th, 2009
at 1:44pm
Your story is abut the Hawaiian hula, yet the video you displayed was of the Tahitian ‘ote’a. That was not at all correct!!There is a LOT of diference between the two.Their only simiarity is that they are both Polynesian.