The Art of "HULA" | Hawaiian Dance

By Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, (RA); e-PRO, Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, HI 96789

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Captain Cook's arrival in Hawaii in 1779 signified a change in the Hawaiian culture with Western Civilization comingling with the settlers of the Hawaiian Islands. Before his arrival the Hawaiian people had been dancing the Hula for centuries and it debatable whether the men actually danced more than the women!

In the story about Hawaiian Legends - Nightmarchers, Menehune, and the Tiki Gods I mentioned the four main gods. Now we embark on the one of the other goddessses. The goddess of Hula was "Laka" and invites all of us to dance upon the earth in her teachings of sacred sound and light and inspires us with poetry of life experiences.

There are no specific dates and origine for the Hula although it is thought to have originated from Tahiti, the ancient civilization of Mu and some say it was home grown. Bottom line is that for both ancient and modern Hawaii this dance of Hula link the Hawaiian people with the universe and is the essence of life itself. Performed with grace and movement, it will bring out your own emotions to be displayed in front of all.

Some history of the HULA is as follows:

• Stories about the gods and historical events were passed on in the oral tradition by chants and songs accompanied by music and dance.
• The male or female chanter, was able to recall and repeat chants for hours without error. In this way, sacred lore passed from one generation to the next.
• With the arrival of the missionaries in 1830 they were shocked with the "open dancing" and they convinced Queen Kaahumanu that it was "bad". The Queen outlawed it in the city but they still danced to their hearts delight in the country.
• Chants and songs were similar to modern poetry with hidden meanings and many emotions.
• Along came King David Kalakaua who made it popular again in the 1870's. King Kalakaua healed his culture and raised hula to a national symbol and he earned the title of "The Merrie Monarch."
• King Kalakaua linked waltzes and classical music with traditional hula at great royal celebrations and what appeared as silliness before was now a wisdom that forged a permanent place for hula in Hawaii's future culture.

King Kalakaua's famous words, "The hula is the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people" took it's place in history and hula is now known and danced globally. We have the Merrie Monarch Festival every year. This festival is a non profit organization to promote, protect the Art of HULA through education. The graceful hula is something that is practiced for many years and not something learned overnight!

The following video show of the Hawaiian Wedding Song is the song my parents celebrated their anniversaries with. Throughout the islands this song has been quite popular for years and performed with the hula to show the emotion in such a heartfelt song.

Please enjoy this video! (and watch the graceful movements down to her fingers performing the hula)

HawaiianWeddingSong and Hula

Hawaiian Wedding Song
~ King - Hoffman - Manning

This is the moment
I' ve waited for.
I can hear my heart singing.
Soon bells will be ringing.
This is the moment
Of sweet Aloha.
I will love you longer than forever.
Promise me that you will leave me never.
Here and now, dear,
All my love I vow dear.
Promise me that you will leave me never.
I will love you longer than forever.
Now that we are one,
Clouds won't hide the sun.
Blue skies of Hawaii smile
On this, our wedding day.
I do love you
With all my heart.

There is one thing for certain. The dances and chants of hula contain a power and beauty filling both dancer and audience with Alllloooooooooha!

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com