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Hula is the heartbeat of Hawai’i, a living tradition that tells stories of the islands through graceful hand gestures, rhythmic footwork, and flowing movement. It preserves Hawaiian history, mythology, and cultural identity, allowing both dancers and audiences to connect deeply with the land, ancestors, and community.

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Hula Is More Than a Dance—It's the 'Heartbeat' of the Hawaiian People | Short Film Showcase

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Traditional Hula, or Hula Kahiko, is a sacred Hawaiian dance performed to ancient chants and traditional percussion instruments like the pahu (drum) and ipu (gourd). Every hand gesture and foot movement tells a story about nature, mythology, or history. Dancers wear culturally significant attire, including kapa skirts and lei, which connect them to the land and ancestors. Hula Kahiko emphasizes ritual, storytelling, and cultural preservation, keeping Hawaiian heritage alive through movement.

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Hula has evolved over centuries, beginning as a sacred dance performed in temples to honor Hawaiian gods and tell ancestral stories. Despite suppression by Western missionaries in the 19th century, it survived in secret and was later revived, becoming a celebrated symbol of Hawaiian pride and identity under King Kalākaua’s cultural renaissance.

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A History Timeline About Hula. Hula is a traditional Hawaiian dance form that dates back to ancient Polynesian culture. Originally…

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Hula: What Are the Origins and Meanings of the Dance?

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Hula endures as a powerful form of Hawaiian cultural expression.

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This early photograph of hula captures a moment in the 19th-century Hawaiian Islands when the dance, deeply rooted in sacred ritual and communal memory, was beginning to be seen through the lens of colonial visitors. The image shows dancers in traditional attire, their gestures frozen in time, while the caption notes that missionaries often misunderstood the “languid grace and reverent spirit” of hula as something quite different. It highlights how hula survived cultural suppression and later emerged as a potent symbol of Hawaiian identity and renaissance.

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Hula has always been more than just performance — it communicates values, social norms, and communal memory. From religious ceremonies to contemporary festivals, Hula connects Hawaiians to their land and ancestry while reflecting political and cultural struggles, including resistance to colonial suppression and the ongoing efforts to preserve native traditions today.

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Hula practitioners in community performance

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Hula practitioners in community performance

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Every hand gesture, foot movement, and facial expression in Hula carries meaning, telling stories of nature, love, history, or spiritual devotion. Hula Kahiko uses traditional chants and percussion instruments, while Hula ʻAuana incorporates melodic instruments like the ukulele, blending rhythm, storytelling, and expressive technique in a way that communicates narrative without words.

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Diagram of common Hula movements or gestures

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Diagram of common Hula movements or gestures

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Experience the power of Hula firsthand through performance videos. Notice how dancers embody the waves, mountains, and stories of Hawai’i with precision and emotion. From the strict ceremonial style of Hula Kahiko to the flowing, melodic Hula ʻAuana, each performance is a living narrative of culture, history, and identity.

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2015 Merrie Monarch Winners- Hula Kahiko (Wahine Division)

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Hula costumes are rich with symbolism and history. Traditional Hula Kahiko attire includes feathered headpieces, kapa cloth, and lei made from plants and flowers, each representing elements of nature, gods, and ancestral lineage. Modern Hula ʻAuana costumes use flowing dresses and floral accessories, blending tradition with contemporary aesthetics while maintaining cultural meaning.

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The traditional Hawaiian ‘pa’u’ (a skirt) is common for the traditional Hawaiian ‘pa’u’ (a skirt) is common for both men and women. It was originally worn as a loincloth of sorts, but eventually evolved into the decorative garment it is today

The pāʻū ma ōlō (blouse) follows the shape of an inverted triangle with one point at the top, and is often made with lace or a similar fabric. The shape of this garment can vary from simple to fanciful depending on its use in hula costume, lua (a traditional Hawaiian martial art), or as evening wear.

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Hula practitioners, or kumu hula, share the depth of meaning behind each movement, teaching not just dance steps but cultural values, historical knowledge, and spiritual connection. Their stories illustrate how Hula functions as both education and devotion, keeping Hawaiian heritage alive across generations.

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Kumu Hula Share How They Are Preserving the Legacy of Hula for the Next Generation | Dance Teacher

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At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many throughout the dance industry gathered to discuss ways to navigate the challenges of the time while keeping everyone’s health and well-being at the forefront. The hula community was no different, and on August 17, 2020, an advocacy-based coalition of “kumu hula,” or hula teachers, convened to discuss a culturally proactive approach to the pandemic.

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What It Takes To Tell Warrior Stories Through Hula 😮🌺

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Keeping hawaiian heritage alive across Generations

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Keeping hawaiian heritage alive across Generations

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Scholars emphasize Hula’s role as a repository of cultural memory and social identity. Academic studies explore how Hula conveys history, maintains community cohesion, and negotiates modern challenges, including commercialization and diaspora preservation. These insights provide context for understanding Hula’s significance beyond the stage.

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Hula: Past and Present, Local and Global, by Anne-Kristine Tischendorf

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Huna Article by Anne-Kristine Tischendorf ~ Hula: Past and Present, Local and Global

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Chronicling America Dispatches: Hula on the Mainland United States 

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Uniquely Hawaiian dance plays important role in perpetuating Native Hawaiian culture | Kauai Now

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From festival coverage to cultural commentary, contemporary media highlights Hula’s ongoing relevance. Articles show how it bridges past and present, inspires community pride, and continues to evolve while honoring its sacred and historical roots.

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| ‘Hula is life’: Uniquely Hawaiian dance plays important role in perpetuating Native Hawaiian culture

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‘Hula is life’: Uniquely Hawaiian dance plays important role in perpetuating Native Hawaiian culture | Kauai Now

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Hula still connects people today to the foundation of Hawaiian knowledge and culture. It is a vehicle for historical and social commentary and passing down stories and information.

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Learning Hula is not only about mastering steps — it is about understanding the stories, traditions, and respect for Hawaiian culture. Local hula schools, halau, and online tutorials offer guidance from experienced kumu hula, providing a pathway to connect with the cultural essence of the dance.

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Hula Classes - Hālau Hula O Na Mele `Āina O Hawai`i

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Our halau practices the traditional style of hula and protocols. Haraguchi teaches both kahiko, the ancient style of hula, and auana, the modern style. Haraguchi also emphasizes learning the chant, or ’oli, of each dance. Students begin each class with Kūnihi Ka Mauna, an entrance chant to ask for permission to enter. Only with the approval […]

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Consider the deeper meanings of Hula beyond performance. Reflect on its ability to communicate history, preserve culture, and evolve with modern influences while remaining rooted in Hawaiian tradition.

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How does Hula communicate stories without words?

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Through the dancer’s facial expressions, hand gestures, and body movements

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By using written scripts during performances

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Through translations displayed on stage screens

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By relying only on the rhythm of modern instruments

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How has Hula evolved while preserving its cultural significance?

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It has replaced traditional chants with pop music

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It combines traditional elements like storytelling and gesture with modern influences

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It has become purely a tourist attraction with no cultural roots

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It abandoned all historical meanings to focus on performance technique

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How do costumes, instruments, and gestures enhance storytelling in Hula?

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They add visual beauty but have no symbolic meaning

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They represent specific aspects of nature, spirituality, and history

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They are chosen randomly by the performers

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All sources for this Padlet have been carefully selected to provide accurate, in-depth insights into Hula’s history, technique, and cultural significance.