Basic Hula Dance

1. Basic Hula Dance An instruction module of performing hula

2. Origins Hula dance was actually done by the males in honoring their gods in ancient Hawaiian society, then In the 1820's, the missionaries arrived in the islands and brought with them Christianity. Queen Ka'ahumanu became a Christian and ordered all heiau (sacred temple sites) and images destroyed which ended the Hawaiian rituals, including the sacred hula dance by the Hawaiian people. since then they just do it or dance it part of their culture until today. The word hula itself refers to the movements and gestures. telling stories using their hands and gesture there is two kind of Hula; hula kahiko (ancient hula) and hula auana (modern hula)

3. Types of Hula Hula Kahiko Hula Auana

4. Hula Kahiko An ancient and traditional dance of Hawaii, was done asto praise Gods and Godesses.The air of the dance is serious because of the purpose of thedance itself, which is to praised God and Godesses.It is performed by hula dancers who will give the cues by calling out verses (in Hawaiian) by saying the first word in that verse. At the end of the dance, the dancer will announce in whose honor the song was composed. This hula is sacred and hula dancers are well respected. Youtube link 1 Youtube Link 2 Ancient Instruments/Hula Implements (use in modern hula too) Ipu Heke– Double gourd drum Niu – coconut shells (use by Hula Chanters ) Ohe – nose flute (bamboo) Ipu– dancing gourd Pahu – drum Ili’ili – dancing pebbles Pu – couch shell Ka’eke’eke – bamboo organ drum Puili – split bamboo Kala’au – dancing sticks Puniu – knee drum Kulili – triple gourd rattle Uli uli – feather gourd rattle

5. Hula Auana Known as the modern Hawaiian Hula. Auana means to stray away, and that is because the modern hula has strayed away from the serious hulas of the past. Are dance with modern Hawaiian music and instrument that came by theinfluence of western culture. The Hawaiians then would convert ancient chants to modern music or create new fun, romantic and casual songs. The dancers would dance gracefully and smile in which to bring out the song's narations which still tells on a story. Youtube link Instruments The new introduced and invented (ukulele & steel guitar) instruments by western cultures that are played are Double bass/cello, Hawaiian steel guitar, Lap steel guitar, Hawaiian/Slack-Key guitar and ukulele

6. A hula auana dancer with a modern attire

7. Basic Steps of Hula 1. Kaholo This step is done by taking 4 steps to the right then 4 steps to the left. Coming from an island in the middle of the ocean, if we go the right, left, forward or back we notice the sea that surrounds us. Thus when we see the kaholo it reminds us of the vastness of the great Pacific. 2. Hela This step is done by rotating, pointing the feet forward and back. When we walk along the seashore, we notice the waves that go up and down the sand. The pointing of our feet and hands forward and back reminds us of the waves going up and down our sea shore. Hawaiian Village Training guide packet, Page 16

8. Basic Steps of Hula 3. U’ehe This step is done by lifting one foot (right) up, placing it back to the floor, then both knees is pushed forward and quick raising of the heels, then rotating it with the next foot (left) with the same movement. This motion reminds us of the rain drops. The movement of the skirts as one are lifting their knees and heels reminds us of the splashing of the water as the rains drops on earth 4. Ami Kuku We notice whirlpools in the ocean and how the rotate in a circle. We copy this by rotating our hips in a circle. As we observe the center of the whirlpool we notice the water moves faster, so we move our hips faster and call this move the kuku. Hawaiian Village Training guide packet, Page 16 Click here to watch the instruction