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Hula: An Integral Part of Hawaiian Culture
You spell Hawaii and the image of beautiful Hula dancers instantly crosses your mind. The Hula is the true celebration of rich and colorful traditions that Hawaii is all about.
For us, the people of outside world, Hawaiian Hula is a typical heap swaying style of dancing performed by the young girls royally dressed in grass skirts, colorful garlands covering their upper bodies. Watching the unique body movements of Hula dancers under the backdrop of beautiful Pacific, with the rhythms of unusual chants is an experience of lifetime. For the Hawaiians, Hula is much more than a mere dance form. Hula is an integral part of Hawaiian religion and culture and a way of their life. For the Hawaiians, Hula dancing holds great philosophical significance. Remember, your Hawaiian experience will remain incomplete if you do not watch a Hula performance. However if you are familiar with the background of Hula, you will be able to better appreciate this age old dance form.
Origin of Hula
The origin of Hula is shrouded in mystery; according to the Hawaiian beliefs, Hula is an inherited gift from one of the ancient Hawaiian God or Goddess. Thus Hula acquires a religious status. For outsiders Hula may appear as just another type of exotic entertainment, but for Hula dancers, their art becomes an offering in the feet of their sacred gods and goddesses during the religious festivities.
Costumes Used
The costume has a significant role to play in hula performances and it is this unique style of dressing that demarcates this Hawaiian dance from the other Polynesian performing arts. The traditional Hula dancing costumes comprise the leis for the head and shoulders. In the lower part of the body you can find the flared skirt called pau which is made of grass like tapa. The dancers also flaunt anklets that are crafted out of dog-teeth or whale bone.
The Dance Features
The traditional Hula performance is based on certain poetic text. This is called ‘Mele’. The hula is the visual interpretation of Mele where different movements and hand gestures are meant to represent the meaning of the Mele. Different movements come to signify different meanings such as plant and animals. The Hula dancers can even act out a war for you with their specific choreography.
Traditionally the dance is accompanied by chanting of tunes, which are not necessarily melodious. Multiple singers chant in unison accompanied by indigenous percussion instruments.
Training for Hula
Due to its special religious status, the Hula dancers’ training and lifestyle are replete with variety of strict religious rituals. The special codes of conducts were written for the Hula trainees undergoing the Hula lessons in Halau Hula (Hula school) under the strict supervision of Hula teacher, Kumu. Laka was the Goddess in charge of everything associated with Hula. Hence the students had to perform before the altar of Laka. The graduation of the Hula students was observed with festivities and feasts.
In modern Hawaii also you can find a number of Halau, that are engaged in extensive research works and training programs to keep this ancient dance form alive. More or less the same training rules are followed by today’s Kumu who want to pass the sacred legacy to the future generations.
The westernized versions of Hula dancing that you get to see in many Hollywood movies are only the distorted versions of this age old dance form. A traditional Hula dancing is different ball game altogether and to get a taste of authentic hula dancing you must visit this exotic island at least once.