Does anyone knows how to do a Hula Dance from Hawaii ?

Answer 1

Yes, I've been a hula haumana (student) for nearly 3 years. I've learned a number of dances and have danced both `auana (modern) and kahiko (ancient) styles. I've also had the opportunity to learn a how to use a number of hula implements including pu`ili, kala`au, `uli`uli, ipu. I've a little taste of hula with ipu heke, pu niu and `ili`ili and look forward to learning some numbers that involve these implements. I am still thrilled that I decided to join a halau (hula school)...I've had some great times with my hula sisters and have learned a lot about Hawaiian language and culture.

Is there anything specific that you'd like to know about hula (such as history, general overviews, what it's like to dance hula)? I'd be happy to share more about hula if you're interested! Or are you just looking for other hula sisters or brothers to connect with? If that's the case, I'd love to chat! :)

Answer 2

Hula (IPA: ['hulə]) 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.

There are two styles of hula. Old-style hula, as performed before Western encounters with Hawaiʻi, is called kahiko. It is accompanied by chant and traditional instruments. Hula as it evolved under Western influence, in the 19th and 20th centuries, is called ʻauana. It is accompanied by song and Western musical instruments such as the guitar, the ukulele, and the double bass.

Hula is taught in schools called halau. The teacher of hula is the kumu hula, where kumu means source of knowledge.

There are other dances that come from other Polynesian islands such as Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga and Aotearoa (New Zealand); however, the hula is unique to the Hawaiian Islands.


Instruments
Ipu -- single gourd drum
Ipu heke -- double gourd drum
Pahu -- sharkskin covered drum; considered sacred
Puniu -- small knee drum made of a coconut shell with fish skin (kala) cover
ʻIliʻili -- water-worn lava stone used as castanets
ʻUliʻuli -- feathered gourd rattles
Puʻili -- split bamboo sticks
Kalaʻau -- rhythm sticks

The dog's-tooth anklets sometimes worn by male dancers could also be considered instruments, as they underlined the sounds of stamping feet


Costumes

Female dancers wore the everyday pa'u, or wrapped skirt, which left the breasts bare. As a sign of lavish display, the pa'u might be much longer than the usual length of kapa, or barkcloth, which was just long enough to go around the waist. Visitors report seeing dancers swathed in many yards of tapa, enough to increase their circumference substantially. Dancers might also wear decorations such as necklaces, bracelets, and anklets, as well as many leis (in the form of headpieces, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets).

Male dancers wore the everyday malo, or loincloth. Again, they might wear bulky malos made of many yards of tapa. They also wore necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and leis.

The materials for the leis worn in performance were gathered in the forest, after prayers to Laka and the forest gods had been chanted.

The leis and tapa worn for sacred hulas were considered imbued with the sacredness of the dance, and were not to be worn after the performance. Leis were typically left on the small altar to Laka found in every halau, as offerings.


There are various legends surrounding the origins of hula.

According to one Hawaiian legend Laka, goddess of the hula, gave birth to the dance on the island of Molokai, at a sacred place in Kaʻana. After Laka died, her remains were hidden beneath the hill Puʻu Nana.

Another story tells of Hiʻiaka, who danced to appease her fiery sister, the volcano goddess Pele. This story locates the source of the hula on Kauaʻi, in the north shore valley of Hāʻena.

Answer 3

yes, I just saw a performance recently. The male dancers wear loincloth and bare chest, twirling a stick with fires on both end around his body. Sometimes, he would toss it up in the air and catch it behind his back.

The female dancers shake their hips by pulling the hip up from side to side and sometimes a hipthrust. Her hand movements including raking,waving her palms real fast with arms straight out and straight up from the elbows.

Answer 4

YES!!! Just try and swing your hips without moving your hips-up. Shoulders are okay.