| The Hula dance is associated with Hawaii and luaus | | | | Some of the rules stated that hula students could |
| and while everyone knows what the hula is very | | | | not cut their fingernails or even their hair. Other |
| few people are actually knowledgeable of its | | | | rules stated hula students could not engage in sex |
| origin, not even the Hawaiians. According to | | | | nor could they eat certain foods that were |
| Hawaiian history there is no information available | | | | forbidden. As a result, the life of the hula dancer |
| as to who performed the first hula dance or why, | | | | in hula school was very strict, yet all of the rules |
| however it is a common agreement that the | | | | were for a purpose that believed the students |
| original hula dance was performed by a god or | | | | would learn to dance the hula better if they did |
| goddess, making the dance sacred to Hawaiians. | | | | not engage in the forbidden activities.Today there |
| And this dance is sacred to men and women in | | | | are two types of hula, hula kahiko and hula auana. |
| Hawaii because the hula was danced by both | | | | Hula hahiko is the old style that was described |
| sexes despite some information stating only men | | | | above and generally includes percussion, chanting, |
| danced the hula. This information is incorrect and | | | | and the traditional costumes. Hula kahiko is |
| actually men and women both were involved in | | | | traditional and ritualistic and the chanting tells the |
| the sacred hula dance.There are many types of | | | | story more than the dance moves. However, for |
| Polynesian dances; however the hula is one of a | | | | the more entertaining hula auna there is music, |
| kind and completely different than other dances in | | | | guitars, entertaining costumes to enhance the |
| this area of the world. The origination of the hula | | | | dance, ukuleles and even songs. This type of hula |
| was used for rituals and ceremonies, however | | | | uses body movements and the hands to really tell |
| this changed over time and eventually the hula | | | | the story because it is easier for tourists to |
| was a dance used strictly for entertainment.When | | | | understand.While the hula dance has been around |
| dancing the hula individuals truly must become one | | | | for thousands of years and always been popular |
| with the dance and the actions, objects, or | | | | it almost disappeared in the 1800s when |
| images they are imitating in their hula dance. The | | | | missionaries arrived in Hawaii. The missionaries |
| hula is a very meaningful dance and every | | | | believed that hula dancing was devilish and against |
| movement of the body represents something. In | | | | God and tried to convince the dancers of their |
| addition to this, the hands are very important in | | | | wrongdoing by dancing the hula. However, King |
| the hula dance as well. When the individual is | | | | Kalakaua did not want the traditional dance of the |
| dancing the hula they may be imitating a palm | | | | islands to disappear simply because the |
| tree, war, plants, and even animals. Because of | | | | missionaries did not understand what the hula was |
| this when the individual is dancing they are | | | | all about in the first place so he took action.As a |
| transforming themselves mentally into the object | | | | result, King Kalakaua developed his own group of |
| they are portraying through dance. Basically, the | | | | hula dancers and encouraged them to learn the |
| hula dancer is telling a story through the | | | | hula dance, the old style hula, and fortunately the |
| movements of the body and hands and as a | | | | hula did not disappear and still remains a very |
| result it is very important to watch. Chants also | | | | important dance of the islands and even today |
| accompany the hula dance and while they used to | | | | there are hundreds of hula schools on all the |
| be the most important part of the dance to | | | | Hawaiian islands that teach the hula dance, old |
| portray what was happening they are no longer | | | | style, to the students. Even today many of the |
| so and the movements are most important. You | | | | hula schools have strict rules like the old hula |
| will notice the difference if you see a portrayal of | | | | schools implemented.There are even hula schools |
| old style hula dancing compared to new style hula | | | | and groups that teach old style hula dancing to |
| dancing. While both are still hula dancing and fun to | | | | people on the mainland so while hula remains an |
| watch, the first is more ritualistic and the second | | | | important part of Hawaiian culture the culture is |
| more entertaining.The hula dancers wear a | | | | spreading and many people show an interest in |
| costume in order to perform the hula dance. This | | | | learning how to hula dance.When you visit Hawaii, |
| consists of leis made of flowers around the neck | | | | no matter what island you visit, you will certainly |
| or even the shoulders. A grass skirt is also used | | | | see plenty of hula dancing from old style to the |
| and is made of tapa and known as a pau. The | | | | newer and more entertaining hula and regardless |
| dancers also wear anklets made of whale bone or | | | | which one you like the most you should definitely |
| even dog teeth. The whole ensemble makes up | | | | attend festivals or dances that exhibit both styles |
| the vision of the hula dancer the whole world is | | | | so you can see the performing arts of the island |
| aware of.In the past, when hula was danced as a | | | | and learn about the culture, history and the people |
| religious ritual rather than simply for entertainment | | | | of Hawaii. You never know, you may learn a few |
| the rules regarding the hula dance were very | | | | hula moves yourself.Bill McKenzie is reservation |
| strict and individuals involved in hula dancing school | | | | manager for Wailua Bay View, oceanfront Kauai |
| were required to follow them while they were | | | | Vacation Rentals. He has personally researched |
| learning how to dance. Generally, students were | | | | and experienced many of the Hawaiian activities |
| required to follow all rules and behave properly | | | | and destinations as described above. |
| while obeying their hula teacher in all requests. | | | | |