Hula

What is Hula?

Hula is a dance form from Hawaiʻi where movement and gesture bring to life the words of a song or chant. Both men and women perform hula, either standing or sitting, alone or in groups. The dance uses expressive hand motions to show ideas from nature, emotion, or story, while the feet and hips follow set steps. Hula is unique to Hawaiʻi and is central to Native Hawaiian culture.

Where does Hula come from?

Hula developed in the Hawaiian Islands among Native Hawaiians, who used it to portray stories, history, and beliefs through movement. Ancient hula, called kahiko, was performed before Western contact and often honored chiefs or deities. The arrival of Westerners in the 19th century brought changes, leading to new styles and the use of Western instruments. Hula faced decline after Americanization and bans on Hawaiian language, but a cultural revival from the late 1960s onward has restored its practice and prestige.

How is Hula danced?

Hula dancers use a wide range of hand gestures to illustrate the meaning of the accompanying chant or song, such as mimicking waves, trees, or feelings. The dance includes basic steps like kāholo, kaʻo, and ʻami, with coordinated hip and footwork. Dancers may perform standing (luna) or sitting (noho), and some dances combine both. The group may move in unison or feature soloists, depending on the style.

The music of Hula

Ancient hula is accompanied by chant (oli) and traditional percussion instruments, such as the ipu (gourd drum), pahu (sharkskin drum), and others. Modern hula uses song and Western instruments like the guitar and ʻukulele. Chants vary in style and function, from prayers to genealogies, and are delivered in distinct vocal techniques. The music shapes the mood and rhythm of the dance.

Costume and what is carried

Traditional female dancers wear a pāʻū, a wrapped skirt, sometimes with a layer of green kī leaves, and adorn themselves with lei on the head, neck, wrists, and ankles. Male dancers wear a malo, or loincloth, and may also wear anklets. Costumes can be elaborate for ceremony or simpler for practice. Decorations are often made from plants sacred to the hula tradition.

When and where Hula is danced

Hula is performed at religious ceremonies, festivals, and public performances. Some dances are sacred and dedicated to Hawaiian gods or goddesses, with strict protocols and rituals for learning and performing. Hula is taught in hālau hula (schools), where students learn from a kumu (teacher) and follow traditional practices, including chanting for permission to enter the space.

Styles of Hula

There are many styles of hula. The main categories are kahiko (ancient, with chant and traditional instruments) and ʻauana (modern, with song and Western instruments). Other named genres reflect historical periods or musical structure, such as hula pahu, hula ʻālaʻapapa, hula kuʻi, and hula ʻōlapa. Each style has its own rules for music, movement, and costume.

What Hula means

Hula is a core part of Native Hawaiian identity and cultural expression. It preserves language, history, and spiritual beliefs. After a period of decline due to outside influence and language bans, hula has seen a strong revival, supported by schools, festivals, and competitions. It continues to be a living tradition, connecting people to their heritage and land.

Questions people ask about Hula

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• A Hip TraditionSmithsonian Magazine, Article

• Hula on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos and video on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data
• Videos of Hula on YouTubeSearch results, not chosen by Ghungroo