Hula is a dance from Hawaii.
Dancers move their hands to tell stories. They can show a wave in the sea. They can show a tree in the wind. It is a special way to share history.
Do you like to dance?
Hula is a dance from Hawaii.
People use it to tell stories. They use hand moves to show a wave. They can also show a tree in the wind.
Dancers can stand or sit. Some use a chant called oli. This is a way to speak with power. Dancers may use a small drum. They might use rattles made of gourds. Hula is a very special gift from Hawaii.
Hula is a special dance from the Hawaiian Islands.
It is a way to tell stories through movement. Dancers use their hands to show things in nature. They might show a wave in the ocean. They can also show a tree swaying in the wind.
Some hula is very old. This is called hula kahiko. It uses chants called oli. These chants tell stories of gods and kings. Dancers use traditional tools like the ipu, a gourd drum. They may also use ʻuliʻuli, which are feathered rattles.
Other hula is more modern. This is called hula ʻauana. It uses songs and instruments like the ukulele. Dancers can perform while sitting or standing. Students learn hula in a school called a hālau hula. They learn from a teacher called a kumu. Hula is a proud part of Hawaiian culture. It brings people together to honor their history.
Hula is a beautiful dance from the Hawaiian Islands.
It is a way to share stories through movement and sound. Dancers use their bodies to act out the words in a song or a chant. For example, hand motions can show a tree swaying in the breeze. They can also show a wave in the ocean or a feeling like yearning.
This dance is very important to Native Hawaiians. It helps them keep their history and their stories alive.
There are different ways to perform hula. One main kind is called hula kahiko, which is the ancient style. This style uses chants called oli and traditional instruments.
Another kind is called hula ʻauana, which means "to wander" or "drift." This modern style uses songs and instruments like the ukulele or guitar.
Dancers can perform while standing up or while sitting down. Some dances use both ways to move.
In the past, hula was a very sacred activity. Many dances were performed to honor a Hawaiian god or goddess.
Because it was so important, dancers had to be very careful. Even a small mistake in a ceremony could be seen as bad luck. Students would sometimes stay in a special place to learn. They stayed under the protection of the goddess Laka while they practiced. This helped them learn to perform the dances perfectly.
People use many different tools to make music for hula.
There are feathered gourd rattles called ʻuliʻuli. Dancers also use an ipu, which is a drum made from a gourd. Other instruments include pahu drums covered in sharkskin.
Some dancers even use small stones called iliili like castanets. There are also bamboo sticks called pūili that make rhythmic sounds. These tools help the dancers keep the beat for the chants.
Learning hula is a journey that continues today.
Students go to a school called a hālau hula. They learn from a teacher known as a kumu. In these schools, students show respect by asking permission to enter.
Even though some parts of Hawaiian culture faced hard times, hula has stayed strong. Big events like the Merrie Monarch Festival started in 1971. These festivals help people celebrate and keep the art of hula growing.
Hula is a complex Hawaiian dance form that serves as a visual way to express chant (oli) or song (mele). Developed by the Native Hawaiians who settled the islands, hula dramatizes the specific words of a performance. It is much more than just movement; it is a way to portray stories, history, and emotions. Dancers use intricate hand motions to represent elements of nature, such as waves or swaying trees. They also use their hands to signal feelings like yearning or fondness.
The dance relies on a library of foot and hip movements, including steps like kaʻo and ʻami. While other Polynesian islands have related dances, hula is unique to the Hawaiian Islands.
There are two primary categories of hula: hula kahiko and hula ʻauana. Hula kahiko is the ancient style performed before Western encounters with Hawaiʻi. It is characterized by its use of traditional instruments and chants. In contrast, hula ʻauana, which means "to wander" or "drift," evolved under Western influence during the 19th and 20th centuries. This modern style incorporates Western-influenced instruments like the guitar, the ukulele, and the double bass.
New terms are also emerging, such as "Monarchy" hula, which was composed during the 19th century. There is also "Ai Kahiko," which refers to modern hula written in the 20th or 21st centuries that follows ancient stylistic protocols.
Performing hula requires immense skill and discipline. Dancers can perform while sitting (noho) or standing (kāʻo), and some dances use both. The music for hula is often structured with strophic text, meaning it uses repeating stanzas. These stanzas are usually separated by a brief rhythmic interlude.
In modern genres like hula kuʻi and hula ʻōlapa, the text often consists of two or four lines. Each line is typically set to a uniform number of beats. This structure helps the dancers and musicians maintain a precise connection between the movement and the rhythm.
Historically, hula held deep spiritual significance. Many dances were religious performances dedicated to honoring Hawaiian gods or goddesses. Because these ceremonies were often held at a heiau, or platform temple, precision was vital. Even a minor error during a performance could be seen as invalidating the entire ritual. Such mistakes were sometimes viewed as signs of bad luck or dire consequences.
To prevent these errors, students were often ritually secluded. They practiced under the protection of the goddess Laka until they could emerge from seclusion through a successful ceremony.
Central to hula is the art of oli, or chant. In ancient Hawaiʻi, history was oral rather than written. Chants were used to codify genealogies and tell stories of creation and mythology. Because accuracy was essential, these chants were memorized and passed down through generations.
Hawaiians believed that language possessed mana, which is power derived from a spiritual source. This made the work of haku mele (composers) and chanters extremely important. There are many types of oli, ranging from mele pule (prayer) to kanikau (lamentation). The Hawaiian language even contains 43 different words to describe various qualities of the voice.
Performers use a variety of specialized instruments to accompany the dance. These include the pahu, a sacred drum covered in sharkskin, and the ipu, a drum made from a gourd.
Other tools include the ʻuliʻuli, which are feathered gourd rattles, and pūili, which are split bamboo sticks. Dancers might also use iliili, which are water-worn lava stones used like castanets. Some male dancers even wear dog's-tooth anklets that create sound when they stamp their feet. These instruments provide the rhythmic foundation that allows the dancer to express the poetic text.
Despite a period of decline due to the banning of the Hawaiian language in 1896, hula has experienced a massive resurgence. A cultural revival began in the late 1960s and continues today. This movement is supported by institutions like Pūnana Leo immersion schools and major competitions.
The Merrie Monarch Festival, which began in 1971, is a major event for celebrating the art. Today, students learn in hālau hula (hula schools) under the guidance of a kumu (teacher). This ensures that the traditions, the language, and the profound meaning of hula are preserved for the future.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (14)
+ 2 more
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.