Hula In Hawaiian Culture

Hula is the ancient way that Hawaiians tell their stories, pay reverence to nature, and unite mind, body, and spirit with all of creation. Hula and Mele are also a celebration of the beauty of the heart of the Hawaiian people, their love and aloha. Traditionally, hula has helped Hawaiians remember their origins and give thanks for all of the many natural wonders that share their world. Chants and hula carry on the legends and Hula brings forth the meanings of the chants, similar to how the form of poetry may give life to a poem. Interpreted in many ways, hula is an international symbol of Hawaiian culture. Hula has played a big part in making Hawaii a well-known vacation destination. The types are endless but the three most commonly seen by …show more content…
Before contact with the Western world, Hawaiians danced hula simply for social enjoyment. Its chants also preserved epic tales, myths, history, and philosophy (HawaiiHistory). One must practice it long enough for the dance to be within them and the meaning to deepen. Wāhine would grace their audience with the kahiko. The hand woven ti leaf skirts swish to the pounding of the homegrown ʻipu heke. Melodies of the ʻoli fill the sea-salted air as the women serenade the kāne after a long day. They pick up the feathered ʻulīʻulī, with each feather picked from a different bird, and rattle the seeds to the beat of the heart of …show more content…
This is the most familiar type of hula to visitors. Traditional hula gradually became more frivolous and just another part of the exoticism that Hawai`i represented to visitors, making them want to try the art (HawaiiHistory). The highly paid luau dancer performs a couple of moves and the few tourists brought onto the stage will give it their best shot. The move is simple, hands on hips and sway side to side. The Japanese woman puts her stiff hands to side and hops from one leg to the other, making it obvious that she did not want to be pulled up to dance. The Ha’ole woman slowly caressingly holds her waist and begins to moves in what seems to be more of a circular form. She seductively rolls her sunburnt body and embraces the attention. The show dancers quickly rap the performance up because it seems as if the woman is about to twerk to Keali’i Raechel. The hula performed by the common tourist is nothing like the ancient Hawaiian