Essay on Hula Dancing: A Cultural Journey Through Ancient and Modern Hawaiian Traditions

Introduction

Hula dancing originates from the Hawaiian Islands with a chant. The meaning of the song is in the movements of the hands and body of the dancers (Komiyama et al.). The Hula dancing is either Kahiko or Auana. The people of the Hawaiian Islands believe it came from the Island of Moloka'i in the area where the goddess of Hula gave birth to the dance in the early 19th century. Therefore, Hula dancing is a sacred form of dancing, but when American Protestants visited the area, they did not recognize it as such, and they banned the dance (Komiyama et al.). However, King David Kalakaua ensured that the ritual continued as he ensured that traditional practices and art in Hawaii did not die (Komiyama et al.). The Hula dance is present in the modern area as Hawaii has an annual festival where they celebrate the traditions of their culture. The main festival is Merrie Monarch, which celebrates the Late King Kalakaua (Komiyama et al.).

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Hula Kahiko

Hula Kahiko is the ancient form of Hula dancing. It involves chanting and dance movements accompanied by the traditional Hawaiian drum (Skyline Dance Department). The drum and chants are pahu and mele, respectively, in Hula dancing. The Kahiko dance is mainly for telling stories that pass on through generations. It was a form of preserving Hawaiian history as they could not record it in text. The words are primarily about creation, myths, events, and influential people, mostly leaders. The pahu is the main drum instrument in the dance, and it is made from a coconut log and covered in sharkskin (Skyline Dance Department). The drummer plays the instrument with their palms or fingers. A deep tone comes from the drum, which helps set the pace and transitions in the dance (Skyline Dance Department). An alternative drum instrument to the pahu is the Ipu, it provides a steadier beat than the pahu, and they can be useful together. The Hula Kahiko dancers dress strictly in matching costumes.

Hula Auala

The Hula Auala is the modern form of the Hula dance, and its instrument is a ukulele and a slack key guitar. The music in the dance is melodic and smooth. The Hula Auana dance is more graceful and slower than the Hula Kahuko, which is fast and has more swift movement (Maui Now). The Hula Auana is useful primarily for entertainment; therefore, it is popular in events for presentation while the Hula Kahiko is more in rituals (Maui Now). The Hula Auana is also helpful in telling a story. The Hula Auana dancers do not need to dress strictly in matching costumes. It is modern and has fewer restrictions as the focus is on the movements and the instruments (Komiyama et al.). The Ukulele is a modern instrument the Hawaii people got from European culture. It has four strings, and it is a form of a guitar (Komiyama et al.). The Ukulele can either be the baritone, tenor, concert, or soprano.

Conclusion

Different legends explain the roots of Hula dancing in the Hawaiian Islands. It is a form of art, and it reflects the beautiful Hawaiian culture in different ways. The main difference between Hula Kahiko and Hula Auana is that they are ancient and modern, respectively. However, it does not explain the main differences, including the musical instruments, dancing styles, and costumes. Hula Kahiko is popular in traditional ceremonies, and its main distinctions are the chants and fast movements. Hula Auana is informal and is primarily for entertainment with melodic tunes from the musical instrument with slow dance movement. Hula dancing uses the mele poetic rhyme and chant (Komiyama et al.). Hula dancing is not as simple as it looks in the videos, but it needs dedication in training, and the Hawaiians take it to a professional level.

Works Cited

Komiyama, K., et al. "Dynamic hip kinematics during recreational classical ballet and hula dance after total hip arthroplasty: two case reports." Journal of Medical Case Reports, vol. 13, no. 1, 2019, doi: 10.1186/s13256-018-1942-2.

Maui Now. "Halau Kealaokamaile with Kealii Reichel, MauiNOW June 18, 2010." YouTube, 18 June 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNrNk57liWI.

Skyline Dance Department. "hula kahiko at hale maumau kilauea volcano 聖なるフラ ハレ・マウマウ火口." Youtube, 29 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbCjzmayo1Q.