The Visual Poetry of Hula

Hula dramatizes the words of a song in visual dance form.

Native Hawaiians developed hula to portray the words of mele.

Ancient hula kahiko uses chant and traditional instruments, no guitars.

Hula auana evolved under Western influence during the 19th century.

Dancers perform either sitting in noho or standing in luna.

Hand motions represent nature like swaying trees or ocean waves.

Foot steps include the kaholo, kao, kawelu, hela, uwehe and ami.

A dancer plays feathered gourd rattles called uliuli during hula kahiko.

Male dancers sometimes wore dog-tooth anklets to underline stamping feet.

A green ki leaf skirt uses around 50 leaves.

Lei materials were gathered after prayers to Laka and forest gods.

Students chant outside the halau until the kumu grants entry.

The Merrie Monarch Festival has furthered hula since 1971.

Hula hand motions represent words from a song or chant.