Who created the hula?
Legendary origins According to one Hawaiian legend, Laka, goddess of the hula, gave birth to the dance on the island of Molokaʻi, at a sacred place in Kaʻana.
Where was hula created?
Originally, the Hula dance was developed as part of the religious traditions of the Pacific Islands, and is in some ways historically linked to Asian dancing. The full name of the traditional form was Hula Kahiko and it was used to honor and entertain the chiefs, especially when they traveled from place to place.
How did the hula start?
Hula has its origins in ancient history as a ritual dance performed for the Volcano goddess, Pele. It is said that her sister, Hi'iaka originally performed the dance for Pele. The goddess Laka is the keeper of the dance. She was honored with prayers, offerings and leis which were given by the dancers.
Is hula actually Hawaiian?
hula, sensuous mimetic Hawaiian dance, performed sitting or standing, with undulating gestures to instruments and chant. Originally, the hula was a religious dance performed by trained dancers before the king or ordinary people to promote fecundity, to honour the gods, or to praise the chiefs.
How long was hula banned?
Queen Ka'ahumanu converted to Christianity and, deeming hula a pagan ritual, banned hula in public places in 1830. After she died a couple years later, though, people ignored this rule. When Kalakaua became king in 1874, he officially declared that hula could be performed in public again.
What does hula stand for?
HULAAcronymDefinitionHULAHawaii Ultimate League Association
What is a male hula dancer called?
The line of kane (male) hula dancers lies in the shadows, poised to walk onto the Merrie Monarch Festival stage. Their kumu (teacher) takes his place behind the pahu (drum) and raises his arms along with his voice in a powerful oli (chant), calling the dancers to enter.
Why is hula important?
Hula is an important tradition of communication. Hula is an important Hawaiian tradition. The Olis, or chants, and dance moves are used to tell stories and were first used as ways to communicate with the gods.
What are the two types of hula?
Hula, A Continuing Tradition Two overarching styles of hula are hula kahiko (ancient hula) and hula ʻauana (modern hula).
What is a hula girl?
A fair-skinned “Hawaiian” woman dances on the shores of beautiful Waikïkï. Wrapped in a grass or cellophane skirt, her hips sway seductively to- and-fro. She is adorned with tropical flowers, complete with a coconut bra.
Do men do hula?
However, traditionally, men were just as likely to perform the hula. Hawaiian men still perform the hula and you'll find them just as talented and focused.
Is hula dancing religious?
Over the past two centuries, the cherished Hawaiian dance has moved from a sacred religious practice to a tourist attraction, along the way falling prey to cultural appropriation and near erasure. A crowd gathers around a hula show on Waikīkī Beach in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Why is hula important to the Hawaiian culture?
1. Hula is an important tradition of communication. Hula is an important Hawaiian tradition. The Olis, or chants, and dance moves are used to tell stories and were first used as ways to communicate with the gods.
What is the traditional dance of Hawaii?
HulaHula, A Pacific Dance Tradition Though it is one of many Pacific dance traditions, hula is distinctively Hawaiian. Hula is often showcased alongside the Samoan fire dance, Tahitian otea, and Maori haka, particularly in lūʻau shows in Hawaiʻi. But hula should not be confused with those traditions from other lands.
What is the ancient style of hula dancing called?
Hula 'Auana is the contemporary style of Hula and is often graceful, soothing, and emotive. Hula Kahiko is the ancient style of dance. It can be very dynamic and powerful.
Where does Polynesian dance come from?
Typically, the types of Polynesian dance seen being performed are from the islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand and Samoa. The most commonly known form of Polynesian dance is from the island of Hawaii.
Where did the Hula originate?
The origins of the hula are murky, at best. The first point of question is where the first hula was performed. The Big Island, Oahu, Kauai and Molokai all claim to be the birthplace of hula. The next issue is who first performed it. Some say Hopoe, a companion of the goddess Hi’iaka, was the first dancer. Others believe it was Kapo’ulakina’u ...
When did the Hawaiian hula become public?
In 1874, Kalakaua became king, and during his reign the hula again became officially public. It was performed at both his 1883 coronation and an 1886 jubilee celebration. In 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy fell. It would be nearly 100 years before the hula again became a part of the government celebrations.
Where can I see hulas?
You can see hulas performed all over the state, from Kauai resorts to Wailea shopping malls to Oahu luaus and public gatherings. See if you can spot the difference between traditional hulas and the modern form.
What is the Hawaiian hula?
Today, there are two primary forms of Hula. The first, hula kahiko, often referred to as traditional hula, is generally performed in the style used prior to 1894. Much of this form of hula was created in the praise of chiefs and honoring Hawaiian goddesses and/or gods.
What is the second form of hula?
The second form of hula performed today is called hula’auana, which combines the traditional form of hula with western influences like melodic harmonies and Christian morality tales. String instruments like the ukulele, steel guitars and bass guitars are often used to accompany the performers.
When did the Hawaiians stop performing the Hula?
Between 1819 (marked by the death of Kamehameha I) and 1874, many Christian Hawaiians considered the hula immoral. So much so that in 1830, Queen Ka’ahumanu, a Christian convert, made it illegal to perform the hula in public places. Upon her death in 1832, many began ignoring the law and again performed in public.
Who performed the Hula dance?
This claim is further refuted when in 1778, Captain Cook landed on the island now known as Kauai and his crew members wrote about hula dances being performed by both men and women.
How did the hula change in the 20th century?
Hula changed drastically in the early 20th century as it was featured in tourist spectacles, such as the Kodak Hula Show, and in Hollywood films. Vaudeville star Signe Paterson was instrumental in raising its profile and popularity on the American stage, performing the hula in New York and Boston, teaching society figures the dance, and touring the country with the Royal Hawaiian Orchestra. 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 .
Where did the hula dance originate?
It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form.
How is hula kahiko performed?
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 root.
Why do people write mele hula auana?
People write mele hula ʻauana to comment on significant people, places or events or simply to express an emotion or idea.
What is the meaning of the Lei and Tapa?
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.
What is the hula called?
Hula, as it evolved under Western influence in the 19th and 20th centuries, is called ʻauana (a word that means "to wander" or "drift"). It is accompanied by song and Western-influenced musical instruments such as the guitar, the ʻukulele, and the double bass .
What is the difference between a hula and a mele?
An important distinction between oli, hula, and mele is as follows: mele can hold many different meanings, and is often translated to mean simply, song. However, in a more broad sense, mele can be taken to mean poetry or linguistic composition.
When did Hula Hoop start?
They trademarked the name Hula Hoop® and started manufacturing the toy out of the new plastic Marlex in 1958. On May 13, 1959, Arthur Melin applied for a patent for his version of the hula hoop. He received U.S. Patent Number 3,079,728 on March 5, 1963, for a Hoop Toy.
Where did the name "hula hoop" come from?
Origins of the Name Hula Hoop. Around 1300, hooping came to Great Britain, homemade versions of the toy became very popular. In the early 1800s, British sailors first witnessed hula dancing in the Hawaiian Islands. Hula dancing and hooping look somewhat similar and the name "hula hoop" came together.
Why was the hula hoop banned?
Japan once banned the hula hoop because the rotating hip action seems indecent. On June 4, 2005, Australian Kareena Oates set a Guinness world record for hula hooping — with 100 hoops for three full revolutions. 101 hoops were spun by Alesya Goulevich of Belarus on June 11, 2006.
What are hula hoops made of?
Older hoops have been made from metal, bamboo, wood, grasses, and even vines . However, modern companies "re-invented" their own versions of the hula hoop using unusual materials, for example; plastic hula hoops with added bits of glitter and noisemakers, and hoops that are collapsible.
Who invented the frisbee?
Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin founded the Wham-O company, which helped popularize another ancient toy, the frisbee . Knerr and Melin started the Wham-O company from their Los Angeles garage in 1948.
How many hoops were spun in 2007?
105 hoops were spun by Jin Linlin of China on October 28, 2007. The world record for the largest Hula Hoop (by circumference) spun was set by American Ashrita Furman at 51.5 feet on June 1, 2007. Cite this Article. Format.
When was the hula hoop invented?
The Invention of the Modern Hula Hoop. The modern hula hoop first rose to popularity in the late 1950s when it was marketed by the toy company Wham-O. Legend has it that the toy derived its name from British soldiers who had visited the Hawaiian Islands and thought the motion with the hoop looked similar to hula dancing.
What is the history of hula hoop?
The History of Hula Hoops - Hoopnotica. The hula hoop--a symbol of youthful exuberance and 1950s innocence--has evolved into a dance trend and a popular fitness tool.
What is hula hooping?
Hula hooping has also become a popular activity at some concerts and the annual Burning Man festival, with artists and organizers passing out hoops to audience members. This has led to a subculture of hoop dancers or “hoopers”. They plan gatherings, known as Hoop Jams, where they meet and hula hoop to music in community spaces.
What do hoops represent in Native American dance?
Hoops in dance performance hold strong ties to the Native American community as a form of storytelling that dates back to the 1400s. Hoops symbolize the never-ending circle of life to Native Americans, as they have no beginning or end. Native American hoop dancers use anywhere from one to thirty hoops as props in a dance to represent animals, symbols, and other storytelling components. These dance hoops are typically made of reeds or other natural materials and are smaller than the typical hula hoop.
What do Native American hoop dancers use as props?
Native American hoop dancers use anywhere from one to thirty hoops as props in a dance to represent animals, symbols, and other storytelling components. These dance hoops are typically made of reeds or other natural materials and are smaller than the typical hula hoop. Dancers use rapid motion and the off-body use of hoops to represent symbols ...
Where did the hula hoop originate?
The exact date and origin of the hula hoop is unknown, but a tradition of playing and exercising with hoops dates back to both Ancient Greece and Egypt. In ancient times, hoops were constructed from dried grapevines or other stiff grasses/plants, such as willow or rattan.
When did hula hoops become popular?
Hooping became so popular that a National Hula Hooping contest began in 1968 and ran until 1981. Judges evaluated contestants based on their ability to execute a variety of moves, including the Stork, Alley Oop, and Hula Hop.
Where did the hula come from?
Panati also says that the name " hula " came from the Hawaiian dance in the 18th century, due to the similar hip movements.
Who invented the hula hoop?
In 1957 Joan Anderson brought back a bamboo "exercise hoop" from Australia, and came up with the name Hula Hoop at a dinner party. Her husband showed it to Arthur "Spud" Melin and they agreed on a gentleman's handshake that they would share in any profits (the company cut her out, and they got nothing).
What is the song that Wall E is hula hooping?
Artist Keller Williams released a song " Hula Hoop to the Loop ", dedicated to the toy.
What is the tape used to line the inside of a hula hoop?
These hoops may be covered in a fabric or plastic tape to create a visual image and distinguish between the hoop and dancer. Gaffer tape is used to line the inside of a hula hoop to add grip, or a bare hula hoop can be roughened by using sandpaper.
What is a hula hoop?
This article is about the hula-hoop toy. For other uses, see Hula Hoop (disambiguation). A hula hoop is a toy hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck. They have been used by children and adults since at least 500 BC. The modern hula hoop was inspired by Australian bamboo hoops.
What is Native American hoop dance?
Origins. Native American Hoop Dance is a form of storytelling dance incorporating hoops as props. These props are used to create both static and dynamic shapes, which represent various animals, symbols, and storytelling elements. The dance is generally performed by a solo dancer with multiple hoops. Before it was known and recognized as the common ...
How big are hula hoops?
Hula hoops for children generally measure approximately 28 inches (71 cm) in diameter, while those for adults measure around 40 inches (1.0 m).
When was the Hula dance invented?
Those dances date from as early as the regional cultural fusion during the Japanese Heian period, from 794 to 1192 CE. Chinese, Korean and Japanese music and artistry influenced court dances that would eventually evolve into important elements of Kabuki theater.”
Who was the first hula dancer?
Some say Hopoe, a companion of the goddess Hi’iaka, was the first dancer. Others believe it was Kapo’ulakina’u (Kapo), the goddess of fertility who first danced the hula. Finally, a third myth says the first hula dancer was the navigator goddess Laka.
When did women dance hula?
About the best you can discover through research is this: While its specific origin may still be foggy in nature, it has been recorded that James Cook, the first European to visit Hawaii, saw women dancing hula in 1778 in Kauai. At this time there was still some speculation that only men were allowed to dance the hula.
Silly Putty
Who invented it: General Electric engineer James Wright, who was trying to replicate rubber
Hula Hoop
What it is : A brightly colored plastic hoop designed to be twirled around the waist
Super Soaker
What it is: A high-power water gun that claimed to be able to shoot water up to 50 feet away
Play-Doh
What it is: A molding toy that feels like a cross between clay and bread dough
Lincoln Logs
Who invented it: Architect John Lloyd Wright, cribbing from a design of his famous dad, Frank Lloyd Wright
Magic 8 Ball
Who invented it: Albert Carter, son of—what else?—a Cincinnati clairvoyant
Overview
Hula is a Hawaiian dance form accompanied by chant (oli) or song (mele). It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Native Hawaiians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form.
There are many sub-styles of hula, with the main two categories being Hula ʻAuana and Hula Kahiko. Ancient hula, as performed before Western encounters with Hawaiʻi, is called kahiko. It i…
Hula kahiko
Hula kahiko, often defined as those hula composed prior to 1894 which do not include modern instrumentation (such as guitar, ʻukulele, etc.), encompasses 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. Types of hula kahiko include ʻālaʻapapa, haʻa, ʻolapa, and many others. Today hula kahiko is simply stated as "Traditional" Hula.
Hula ʻauana
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 ʻauana 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.
Training
Hula is taught in schools or groups called hālau. The teacher of hula is the kumu hula. Kumu means "source of knowledge", or literally "teacher".
Often there is a hierarchy in hula schools - starting with the kumu (teacher), alaka'i (leader), kokua (helpers), and then the 'olapa (dancers) or haumana (students). This is not true for every hālau, but it does occur often. Most, if not …
History
There are various legends surrounding the origins of hula.
According to one Hawaiian legend, Laka, goddess of the hula, gave birth to the dance on the island of Molokaʻi, at a sacred place in Kaʻana. After Laka died, her remains were hidden beneath the hill Puʻu Nana.
Another story tells of Hiʻiaka, who danced to appease her fiery sister, the volca…
Films
• Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture (1989) Directed by Robert Mugge.
• Holo Mai Pele - Hālau ō Kekuhi (2000) Directed by Catherine Tatge
• American Aloha : Hula Beyond Hawaiʻi (2003) By Lisette Marie Flannery & Evann Siebens
Books
• Nathaniel Emerson, The Myth of Pele and Hi'iaka. This book includes the original Hawaiian of the Pele and Hi'iaka myth and as such provides an invaluable resource for language students and others.
• Nathaniel Emerson, The Unwritten Literature of Hawaii. Many of the original Hawaiian hula chants, together with Emerson's descriptions of how they were danced in the nineteenth century.
See also
• Cordyline fruticosa, the kī, a sacred plant whose leaves are traditionally used for hula skirts