Hula Dancing

The heartbeat of Hawaii

By Kai Lani | WAHA Surf Shop

The Soul of Hawaiian Culture

Hula is far more than a dance - it's a complete art form that preserves Hawaiian history, legends, and traditions through movement, chant, and song. Every gesture tells a story.

Types of Hula

Hula Kahiko (Ancient Hula)

The traditional form performed to chants (oli) and percussion:

Hula 'Auana (Modern Hula)

Contemporary style with Western influences:

The Meaning Behind Movements

Every hula gesture (hana) has specific meaning. Understanding these gestures deepens your appreciation when watching a performance at a luau or cultural event. Dancers spend years perfecting these movements, and even small variations in hand position change the story being told.

Traditional Instruments

Learning Hula

Traditional hula is learned in a halau (hula school) under a kumu hula (hula teacher). The relationship between student and teacher is sacred.

Hula Kahiko vs. Hula Auana: Understanding the Difference

The distinction between these two forms goes deeper than old versus new. Hula kahiko is the older tradition, performed to chants (oli) and percussion instruments like the ipu heke (double gourd) and pahu (sharkskin drum). The movements are grounded and strong, with bent knees and deliberate footwork. Dancers wear traditional attire: ti leaf or tapa cloth skirts, lei, and kupe'e (wrist and ankle bracelets made from shells, seeds, or ferns). The chants tell stories of creation, the gods, natural forces, and the deeds of chiefs. There is a weight and solemnity to kahiko that can move audiences to tears even when they do not understand the Hawaiian words.

Hula auana developed after Western contact and incorporates instruments like the ukulele, steel guitar, and acoustic guitar. The movements are softer, more flowing, and often tell stories of love, longing, and the beauty of specific places. Dancers typically wear mu'umu'u or holoku (long formal dresses) and fresh flower lei. The singing is melodic and accessible, and audiences often recognize songs like "Aloha 'Oe" or "Ke Kali Nei Au" (the Hawaiian Wedding Song). Both forms are equally valid expressions of Hawaiian identity, and the best dancers train in both traditions. To hear the music that accompanies hula, seek out live performances rather than recorded albums.

The Merrie Monarch Festival

Named in honor of King David Kalakaua, who revived hula after decades of suppression by missionaries, the Merrie Monarch Festival is the Olympics of hula. Held every April in Hilo on the Big Island, it draws halau from across Hawaii, the mainland, and even Japan. The competition spans three nights: Miss Aloha Hula (solo women's competition), hula kahiko (group ancient hula), and hula auana (group modern hula).

Tickets sell out within minutes of going on sale. Many families watch the live broadcast on Hawaiian television, treating it like a Super Bowl event with food, commentary, and strong opinions about judging. The festival also includes a craft fair, art exhibitions, and free performances in downtown Hilo. If you cannot attend in person, the broadcast is available online through Hawaii media outlets. The Merrie Monarch has done more than any other event to raise the status of hula and keep it at the center of Hawaiian cultural life.

Learning Hula as a Beginner

You do not need to be Hawaiian to learn hula, but you do need to approach it with respect. The traditional path is through a halau (hula school), where a kumu hula (master teacher) guides students through years of training that covers not just dance steps but Hawaiian language, history, chanting, and protocol. Many halau hold an 'uniki (graduation ceremony) that marks a dancer's readiness to perform publicly.

For visitors or those outside Hawaii, introductory workshops offer a taste of hula without the multi-year commitment. Cultural centers in Waikiki, the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu's North Shore, and some community colleges across the mainland offer beginner classes. Focus on the basic kaholo (side step), the ka'o (hip sway), and the 'ami (hip rotation). These three movements form the foundation of most hula choreography.

If you are serious about going deeper, find a kumu who teaches in your area. Halau exist in California, New York, and many other states, as well as in Japan, Europe, and Latin America. The University of Hawaii has published research on hula's history and significance that provides valuable background for any student.

Hula's Cultural Importance

Hula preserves the Hawaiian language and traditions that were once banned. When missionaries convinced Hawaiian royalty to outlaw public hula in the 1830s, the art form went underground. Families kept it alive in private, passing down chants and dances in secret. King Kalakaua's revival in the 1880s brought hula back into public life, but the damage had been done: many chants and dances were lost forever.

Today, hula serves as a living library. Each dance encodes specific knowledge about a place, a historical event, or a genealogy. When a halau performs a hula about Pele at Kilauea, they are not just dancing about a volcano. They are transmitting a worldview in which the land is alive, the gods are present, and humans exist within a web of relationships that includes the natural world. This is why kumu hula insist on accuracy and why changing the words or movements of a traditional hula is taken seriously.

Learn About Lei Making