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{{about|the Hawaiian dance}} |
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[[Image:Hula Kahiko Hawaii Volcanoes National Park 01.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hula kahiko performance in Hawai{{okina}}i Volcanoes National Park]] |
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[[Image:US_Navy_hula_031112-N-3228G-001.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hula is often performed as a form of prayer at official state functions in Hawai{{okina}}i. Here, hula is performed by Kumu Hula Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett for a ceremony turning over U.S. Navy control over the island of Kaho{{okina}}olawe to the state.]] |
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'''Hula''' ({{IPAEng|ˈhuːlə}}) is a [[dance]] form accompanied by chant or song. It was developed in the [[Hawaiian Islands]] by the [[Polynesia]]ns who originally settled there. The chant or song is called a ''[[mele (song)|mele]]''. The hula dramatizes or comments on the mele. |
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There are many styles of hula. They are commonly divided into two broad categories: Ancient hula, as performed before Western encounters with Hawai{{okina}}i, 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 ''{{okina}}auana''. It is accompanied by song and Western-influenced musical instruments such as the [[guitar]], the [[ukulele|{{okina}}ukulele]], and the [[double bass]]. |
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Terminology for two additional categories is beginning to enter the hula lexicon: "Monarchy" includes many hula which were composed and choreographed during the 19th century. During that time the influx of Western culture created significant changes in the formal Hawaiian arts, including hula. "Ai Kahiko," meaning "in the ancient style" are those hula written in the 20th and 21st centuries that follow the stylistic protocols of the ancient hula kahiko. |
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Hula is taught in schools called ''[[halau|hālau]]''. The teacher of hula is the ''kumu hula'', where ''kumu'' means source of knowledge. |
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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]]. |
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== Hula kahiko (Hula {{okina}}Olapa) == |
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[[Image:Hula Kahiko Hawaii Volcanoes National Park 02.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hula kahiko performance at the pa hula in [[Hawaii Volcanoes National Park]]]] |
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Hula kahiko encompassed an enormous variety of styles and moods, from the solemn and sacred to the frivolous. Many hula were created to praise the chiefs and performed in their honor, or for their entertainment. |
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Serious hula was considered a religious performance. As was true of ceremonies at the [[heiau]], the platform temple, even a minor error was considered to invalidate the performance. It might even be a presage of bad luck or have dire consequences. Dancers who were learning to do such hula necessarily made many mistakes. Hence they were ritually secluded and put under the protection of the goddess [[Laka]] during the learning period. Ceremonies marked the successful learning of the hula and the emergence from seclusion. |
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Hula kahiko is performed today by dancing to the historical chants. Many hula kahiko are characterized by traditional costuming, by an austere look, and a reverence for their spiritual roots. |
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=== Chants === |
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Hawaiian history was oral history. It was codified in genealogies and chants, which were memorized strictly as passed down. In the absence of a written language, this was the only available method of ensuring accuracy. Chants told the stories of creation, mythology, royalty, and other significant events and people. yes |
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=== Instruments === |
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[[Image:Hula0081110.jpg|thumb|Dancer with {{okina}}uli{{okina}}uli (Hula kahiko), Merrie Monarch Festival]] |
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* [[Ipu]] — single [[gourd]] drum |
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* Ipu heke — double [[gourd]] drum |
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* Pahu — sharkskin covered drum; considered sacred |
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* Pūniu — small knee drum made of a coconut shell with fish skin (kala) cover |
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* {{okina}}Ili{{okina}}ili — water-worn lava stone used as castanets |
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* {{okina}}Ulī{{okina}}ulī — feathered gourd rattles |
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* Pū{{okina}}ili — split bamboo sticks |
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* Kāla{{okina}}au — rhythm sticks |
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The dog's-tooth anklets sometimes worn by male dancers could also be considered instruments, as they underlined the sounds of stamping feet. |
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=== Costumes === |
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Traditional female dancers wore the everyday ''pā{{okina}}ū'', or wrapped skirt, but were topless. Today this form of dress has been altered. As a sign of lavish display, the pā{{okina}}ū 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 lei (in the form of headpieces, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets). |
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Traditional male dancers wore the everyday ''malo'', or loincloth. Again, they might wear bulky malo made of many yards of tapa. They also wore necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and lei. |
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The materials for the lei worn in performance were gathered in the forest, after prayers to Laka and the forest gods had been chanted. |
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The lei and tapa worn for sacred hula were considered imbued with the sacredness of the dance, and were not to be worn after the performance. Lei were typically left on the small altar to Laka found in every hālau, as offerings. |
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=== Performances === |
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Hula performed for spontaneous daily amusement or family feasts were attended with no particular ceremony. However, hula performed as entertainment for chiefs were anxious affairs. High chiefs typically traveled from one place to another within their domains. Each locality had to house, feed, and amuse the chief and his or her entourage. Hula performances were a form of fealty, and often of flattery to the chief. There were hula celebrating his lineage, his name, and even his genitals (hula ma{{okina}}i). Sacred hula, celebrating Hawaiian gods, were also danced. All these performances must be completed without error (which would be both unlucky and disrespectful). |
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Visiting chiefs from other domains would also be honored with hula performances. This courtesy was often extended to important Western visitors. They left many written records of 18th and 19th century hula performances. |
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=== Hula kahiko (Hula {{okina}}Olapa) teachers === |
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* John Ka'imikaua |
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== Hula {{okina}}auana == |
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[[Image:Luau-hula-SL.jpg|thumb|200px]] |
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[[Image:Hula0080200.jpg|thumb|Dancer (Hula {{Okina}}auana), Merrie Monarch Festival]] |
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Modern hula arose from adaptation of traditional hula ideas (dance and mele) to Western influences. The primary influences were Christian morality and melodic harmony. Hula {{okina}}auana still tells or comments on a story, but the stories may include events since the 1800s. The costumes of the women dancers are less revealing and the music is heavily Western-influenced. |
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=== Songs === |
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The mele of hula {{okina}}auana are generally sung as if they were popular music. A lead voice sings in a major scale, with occasional harmony parts. |
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The subject of the songs is as broad as the range of human experience. People write mele hula {{okina}}auana to comment on significant people, places or events or simply to express an emotion or idea. The hula then interprets the mele. |
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=== Instruments === |
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The musicians performing hula {{okina}}auana will typically use portable acoustic stringed instruments. |
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* [[Ukulele|{{okina}}Ukulele]] — four-, six- or eight-stringed, used to maintain the rhythm if there are no other instruments |
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* Guitar — used as part of the rhythm section, or as a lead instrument |
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* Steel guitar — accents the vocalist |
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* Bass — maintains the rhythm |
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Occasional hula {{okina}}auana call for the dancers to use implements, in which case they will use the same instruments as for hula kahiko. |
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=== Costumes === |
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[[Image:Kealii Reichel Hula Halau 2005 01.jpg|right|thumb|Keali{{Okina}}i Reichel Hula Hālau]]Costumes play a role in illustrating the hula instructor's interpretation of the mele. While there is some freedom of choice, most hālau follow the accepted costuming traditions. Women generally wear skirts or dresses of some sort. Men may wear long or short pants, skirts, or a malo (a cloth wrapped under and around the crotch). For slow, graceful dances, the dancers will wear formal clothing such as a mu{{okina}}umu{{okina}}u for women and a sash for men. A fast, lively, "rascal" song will be performed by dancers in more revealing or festive attire. |
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=== Performances === |
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Hula is performed at luau (Hawaiian parties) and celebrations. Hula lessons are common for girls from ages 6–12 and, just like another kind of dance they have recitals and perform at luau. |
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== History of hula == |
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=== Legendary origins === |
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There are various legends surrounding the origins of hula. |
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According to one Hawaiian legend ''[[Laka]]'', goddess of the hula, gave birth to the dance on the island of [[Molokai|Moloka{{okina}}i]], at a sacred place in Ka{{okina}}ana. After Laka died, her remains were hidden beneath the hill ''Pu{{okina}}u Nana''. |
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Another story tells of ''Hi{{okina}}iaka'', who danced to appease her fiery sister, the volcano goddess [[Pele (Goddess)|Pele]]. This story locates the source of the hula on Kaua{{okina}}i, in the north shore valley of Hā{{okina}}ena. |
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Another story is when Pele, the goddess of fire was trying to find a home for herself running away from her sister Namakaokaha'i (the goddess of the oceans) when she finally found an island where she couldn't be touched by the waves. There at chain of craters on the island of Hawai'i she danced the first dance of hula signifying that she finally won. |
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=== During the 19th century === |
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American [[Protestantism|Protestant]] missionaries, who arrived in [[1820]], denounced the hula as a heathen dance. The newly Christianized ali{{okina}}i (royalty and nobility) were urged to ban the hula — which they did. However, many of them continued to privately patronize the hula. |
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The Hawaiian performing arts had a resurgence during the reign of King [[Kalākaua|David Kalākaua]] (1874–1891), who encouraged the traditional arts. Hula practitioners merged Hawaiian [[poetry]], chanted [[Singing|vocal performance]], [[Dance|dance movements]] and [[costume]]s to create the new form, the ''hula ku{{okina}}i'' (ku{{okina}}i means "to combine old and new"). The ''pahu'' appears not to have been used in hula ku{{okina}}i, evidently because its sacredness was respected by practitioners; the ''ipu'' gourd (Lagenaria sicenaria) was the indigenous instrument most closely associated with hula ku{{okina}}i. |
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[[Ritual]] and [[prayer]] surrounded all aspects of hula training and practice, even as late as the early 20th century. Teachers and students were dedicated to the goddess of the hula, Laka. |
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=== 20th century hula === |
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[[Image:Movie_lilo_and_stitch_hula.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hula is universally known as primarily a Hawaiian dance. It was featured prominently in the Walt Disney movie, ''[[Lilo & Stitch]]''.]] |
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Hula changed drastically in the early 20th century as it was featured in [[Tourism|tourist]] spectacles, such as the Kodak hula show, and in [[Hollywood]] films. However, a more traditional hula was maintained in small circles by older practitioners. There has been a renewed interest in hula, both traditional and modern, since the [[1970s]] and the [[Hawaiian Renaissance]]. |
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=== Contemporary hula === |
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== Contemporary hula festivals == |
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[[Image:Hula0082200.jpg|thumb|Dancer with pū{{okina}}ili (Hula {{okina}}auana), Merrie Monarch Festival]] |
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* ''Ka Hula Piko'', held every May on Moloka{{okina}}i. |
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* [[Merrie Monarch Festival]] is a week-long cultural festival and hula competition in [[Hilo]] on the [[Hawaii (island)|Big Island of Hawai{{okina}}i]]. |
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* ''[http://kaleinani.com Hula Workshop, Ho{{okina}}ike and Hawaiian Festival]'', held every July in Vancouver, WA. |
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* ''E Hula Mau'', held every [[Labor Day Weekend]] (September) in Long Beach, CA. |
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* [[World Invitational Hula Festival]], a 3 day art and culture contest held every November on [[Oahu]], [[Hawaii]] in the [[Waikiki Shell]]. |
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* "Share da Aloha", held in February at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. http://www.ohanapraise.com/ |
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==Films== |
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*''Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture'' (1989). Directed by [[Robert Mugge]]. |
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*''Holo Mai Pele - Hālau ō Kekuhi '' (2000) Directed by Catherine Tatge |
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*''American Aloha : Hula Beyond Hawai{{okina}}i '' (2003) By Lisette Marie Flannery & Evann Siebens |
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*''[[Hula Girls]]'' (2006) |
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== External links== |
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{{commonscat}} |
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* [http://www.huapala.org/ Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives] |
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* [http://www.hulapreservation.org Hula Preservation Society] |
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* [http://www.hulafestival.de/ European Hula Festival] |
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*[http://www.territorialairwaves.com Territorial Airwaves - Your Source For The History Of Hawaiian Music] |
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* [http://www.kaahelehawaii.com/pages/hula.htm Ka`ahele Hawai`i] |
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[[Category:Hawaiian music]] |
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[[Category:Dances of Polynesia]] |
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[[Category:Tiki Culture]] |
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[[Category:Hawaiian words and phrases]] |
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[[Category:Dance]] |
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[[Category:Dances]] |
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[[ar:هولا]] |
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[[de:Hula (Tanz)]] |
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[[es:Hula]] |
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[[nl:Hula]] |
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[[ja:フラ]] |
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[[pt:Hula]] |
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[[simple:Hula]] |
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[[fi:Hula]] |
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[[tr:Hula dansı]] |
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