Hula Traditions
Traditional Hula, Hula'Olapa
Traditional hula were divided into two basic categories formal and informal. Formal instruction required the construction of an altar dedicated to Kapo or Laka.
Hula Pahu - a drum hula performed while standing dedicated to the chiefs and ancestors considered sacred. Hula pahu are the most important formal type of hula instruction. Drum dances are closely associated with the hula ku'ahu, altar hula or hula kapu, a restricted class of hula reserved for the elite cadre of students who are dedicated serious and talented.
Hula 'Ala'apapa - a type of ancient dramatic hula, a standing hula accomapnied by the ipu-heke, the dancer occasionally chants with the ho'opa'a.
Hula Pele - a sacred dance in honor of Pele, anciently a hula danced while standing while 'olapa clapped their hands, in Tahiti this hula was performed with an instrument that was made from the coconut leaf with the midrib still attached. The dancer made a tear in the leaf and formed a circular loop with the excess leaf attached it was twirled around in a circular fashion and the sound of the torn leaf was supposed to imitate the natural sounds of air as gushing from volcanic vents. From; Teri'i Rua, Tahiti and Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Hula Ku'olo - a hula danced to and with the ipu or gourd either with or without the heke attached to the 'olo or lower section of the 'ipuheke. Henry Mo'ikeha Pa was one of the last great performers of this hula style.
Hula Mo'o - a hula imitative of the sounds and movements of a mo'o, dragon or lizard dedicated to Mo'oinanea and the many supernatural Mo'o who once inhabited ponds and lakes. A strenuous and dynamic hula.
Hula Pua'a - a hula imitative of the movements and sounds of a pig, these chants were dedicated to the ali'i, the pig was the animal manifestation of Kane the central ancestor worshipped in the marae or heiau on the island of Huahine, Tahiti.
Hula Honu - a hula in which the dancer imitates the motions of a turtle. Honu or turtle were considered sacred on the island of Huahine from which the family of Kapo, Laka and Pele migrated from.
Hula 'Ilio - a hula imitative of the movements of a dog while seated on the ground, these chants were usually dedicated to the ali'i. The ili'o or dog was the animal manifestation of Lono.
Hula 'Ulili - a hula which imitated the movements of the 'ulili bird done standing while the dancers used the lele short step in which the heel of the foot struck the ground to produce a percussion sound while moving about in formation, the back of the foot is lifted and then set down abruptly, then the left foot while walking foward with the knees bent.
Hula Kohola - a once popular hula from the island of O'ahu dancers moved and jumped about recreating the movements of a whale perhaps leaping in the sea or stranded on the beach.
Hula Mano - a hula imitaive of a shark, dedicated to the ali'i and famous navigators who migrated throughout Polynesia like a school of sharks.
Hula Kolea - a kneeling hula imitative of a plover or kolea bird.
Hula Pe'epe'e makawalu - a spider dancer, with stiff legs the dancers hopped, right foot foward and left in reverse, then opposite, keeping in time with a boisterous chant and hands fluttering vigorously.
Hula Kakua Pa'u - a hula performed in front of an altar in which the performers dressed themselves in their formal dance attire including lei and kupe'e.
Hula Helo - called by mistake the hula 'ohelo by Emerson, a hula in which the dancers are seated on the ground and do a variety of strenuous stretching and balancing moves using their limbs to support their body in time with the ho'opa'a.
Hula Ki'i - a standing hula in which the dancers assume poses imitative of ki'i or images in the sacred temple or heiau dedicated to the ancestors, facial exspressions are over exspressive and also suggestive of the ki'i, Laka performed this hula first on the island of Ni'ihau while Kapo chanted for her. Iolani Luahine was an expert and the last great performer of this hula style.
Hula Kolani - a sitting hula similar to the hula kuhi lima, but in honor of a chief. The dancers gestured with their hands while siting flat on the ground between their two thighs, facial exspression were an important part of this hula style.
Hula Kilu - a hula performed during the game of kilu.
Hula Kolili - a dance with love forfeits, similar to those in kilu games and 'ume.
Hula Ku'ahu - altar hula and hula taught with ceremonies.
Hula Ki'elei - a type of hula in which the dancer danced in a squatting position.
Hula Mu'umu'u - a sitting dance.
Instrumental Hula
Hula Puniu - a seated hula in which the dancers strap a gourd drum to their right thigh amd gesture with their left hand while beating the drum with a ka or beater.
Hula Kala'au -a hula danced with two sticks while standing one long and one short, or two short sticks. If the dancer used two short sticks they were usually seated on the ground in the same position used for the hula 'ili'ili.
Hula 'Uli'uli - a hula performed with the feather gourd rattle either standing or sitting, li, li was the imitative word for the sound of the shells that rattled in the gourd.
Hula 'Ili'ili - a hula in which smooth water worn stones are used as clappers or castanets held between the thumb and index finger in bothe hands, this hula is performed sitting squat on the ground the buttocks is flat on the floor and the feet turned slightly outward. The dancer moves and rises from the position sometimes moving the hips in the motion of an 'ami. The sound of the 'ili'ili were imitaive of the sound of waves as they ran across and rattled the loose pebbles on a beach.
Hula Pu'ili - a hula performed with the split bamboo rattle imitative of wind through the coconut trees either done sittin or standing.
Hula Papahehi - a hula hula performed with a wooden tredle bourd foot instument usually accompanied with the Kala'au, Hi'iaka performed this hula while travelling using the wooden canoe spanner floating in the bottom of the canoe in which she travelled in while accomapnied by the sound of the paddlers oars as the struck the sides of the canoe.
Hula 'Ohe hano ihu - a hula performed standing while the ho'opa'a used the nose flute, the subject of these mele hula were often mele ho'oipoipo or love songs.
Hula 'Ukeke - a hula performed with the ho'opa'a chanting while plucking the strings of the Hawaiian mouth harp the subject of the mele were often mele ho'oipoipo or love songs.
Hula Ka'eke'eke/Pahupahu - in this hula bamboo pipes are used in varyling lengths called pahupahu and 'ohe ka'eke'eke, several musicians would play at the same time and the natural tones came from the various tube lengths. The top was cut open between a bamboo node while the bottom was cut below a node and struck on the ground to produce the sound.
Hula Niau kani - a hula performed to an instrument called a Jews harp, made of a thin strip of wood, about 4 inches long and 1 inch wide, with a coconut midrib, niau or bamboo strip lashed lengthwise.
Hula Pa'ipu - a hula danced with the ipu or gourd drum not with the ipu heke as performed in the hula ku'olo style. Performed either sitting or standing.
Hula Niu - a hula performed with the midribs of the niu which are bundled together like a pulumi niau. the dancers whirl them about in one hand to imitate the sound of wind while standing.
Hula 'Ie kuku - a hula performed while the ho'opa'a uses a kua and and hohoa or kapa beater. From; Dorthy Johnston Beyer, Hilo Hawai'i.
Hula Hoe - a hula performed usually standing with the dancer using a hoe or paddle.
Hula 'Ihe or Pahua - a hula performed standing with a spear using movements associated with warfare.
Hula Ki'i - there were two types of hula ki'i, this hula was performed by a chanter who used a marionette. This hula was popular with the courts of the ali'i and the last pair of ki'i were purchased from the performer by Nathaniel Emerson for the sum of 5 dollars.
Hula Hei - a hula peformed with a string while chanting a mele and making various formations with the string.
Hula Manai - a hula with a thin flexible stick with which the squatting dancer beats time as by striking the floor.
Non Instrumental Hula
Hula Ku'i lua/Ku'i Moloka'i - an ancient fast dance with stamping heel twisting, thigh slapping, dipping knees and doubling of fists as in boxing, vigorous gestures imitative of such pursuits as dragging fish nets and closely associated with the Hawaiian martial art form called lua.
Hula 'Upo'ipo'i - a hand clapping hula standing associated with the closing prayers used at the hula ku'ahu altar.
Hula Pa'i Umauma - a hula danced with chest slapping movements and hip revolutions associated closely with lua, the Hawaiian martial art of bone breaking.
Hula Ma'i - a hula with rapid hip revolutions called 'ami or ho'ai'ami in Tahiti called a Kapa, these mele are dedicated to the chiefs and their sacred genatalia they are lively and sexually erotic and provocative, they are the last set of hula performed at a ho'ike or exhibition.
Hula 'Aiha'a - a bombastic style of hula, dancers use a deep knee positio and employ the use of the 'uwehe, ue and uweke steps called paute in Tahitian.
Hula Ho'onana - any hula for amusement.
Hula 'Auana - informal hula without ceremony or offering, contrasting with the hula ku'ahu or altar hula.
Hula Ku'i - an interpretive hula, so called since the days of King David Kalakaua; lit., joining hula, join old and new steps. The hula ku'i was attributed to Queen Kapi'olani's sister Po'omaikelani and her family. Today the term 'auwana or 'auana is used for modern hula and hula kahiko or "old hula" is used for the category of traditional hula called 'olapa or ha'a.
manuhaokalani@yahoo.com
Hula Pahu - a drum hula performed while standing dedicated to the chiefs and ancestors considered sacred. Hula pahu are the most important formal type of hula instruction. Drum dances are closely associated with the hula ku'ahu, altar hula or hula kapu, a restricted class of hula reserved for the elite cadre of students who are dedicated serious and talented.
Hula 'Ala'apapa - a type of ancient dramatic hula, a standing hula accomapnied by the ipu-heke, the dancer occasionally chants with the ho'opa'a.
Hula Pele - a sacred dance in honor of Pele, anciently a hula danced while standing while 'olapa clapped their hands, in Tahiti this hula was performed with an instrument that was made from the coconut leaf with the midrib still attached. The dancer made a tear in the leaf and formed a circular loop with the excess leaf attached it was twirled around in a circular fashion and the sound of the torn leaf was supposed to imitate the natural sounds of air as gushing from volcanic vents. From; Teri'i Rua, Tahiti and Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Hula Ku'olo - a hula danced to and with the ipu or gourd either with or without the heke attached to the 'olo or lower section of the 'ipuheke. Henry Mo'ikeha Pa was one of the last great performers of this hula style.
Hula Mo'o - a hula imitative of the sounds and movements of a mo'o, dragon or lizard dedicated to Mo'oinanea and the many supernatural Mo'o who once inhabited ponds and lakes. A strenuous and dynamic hula.
Hula Pua'a - a hula imitative of the movements and sounds of a pig, these chants were dedicated to the ali'i, the pig was the animal manifestation of Kane the central ancestor worshipped in the marae or heiau on the island of Huahine, Tahiti.
Hula Honu - a hula in which the dancer imitates the motions of a turtle. Honu or turtle were considered sacred on the island of Huahine from which the family of Kapo, Laka and Pele migrated from.
Hula 'Ilio - a hula imitative of the movements of a dog while seated on the ground, these chants were usually dedicated to the ali'i. The ili'o or dog was the animal manifestation of Lono.
Hula 'Ulili - a hula which imitated the movements of the 'ulili bird done standing while the dancers used the lele short step in which the heel of the foot struck the ground to produce a percussion sound while moving about in formation, the back of the foot is lifted and then set down abruptly, then the left foot while walking foward with the knees bent.
Hula Kohola - a once popular hula from the island of O'ahu dancers moved and jumped about recreating the movements of a whale perhaps leaping in the sea or stranded on the beach.
Hula Mano - a hula imitaive of a shark, dedicated to the ali'i and famous navigators who migrated throughout Polynesia like a school of sharks.
Hula Kolea - a kneeling hula imitative of a plover or kolea bird.
Hula Pe'epe'e makawalu - a spider dancer, with stiff legs the dancers hopped, right foot foward and left in reverse, then opposite, keeping in time with a boisterous chant and hands fluttering vigorously.
Hula Kakua Pa'u - a hula performed in front of an altar in which the performers dressed themselves in their formal dance attire including lei and kupe'e.
Hula Helo - called by mistake the hula 'ohelo by Emerson, a hula in which the dancers are seated on the ground and do a variety of strenuous stretching and balancing moves using their limbs to support their body in time with the ho'opa'a.
Hula Ki'i - a standing hula in which the dancers assume poses imitative of ki'i or images in the sacred temple or heiau dedicated to the ancestors, facial exspressions are over exspressive and also suggestive of the ki'i, Laka performed this hula first on the island of Ni'ihau while Kapo chanted for her. Iolani Luahine was an expert and the last great performer of this hula style.
Hula Kolani - a sitting hula similar to the hula kuhi lima, but in honor of a chief. The dancers gestured with their hands while siting flat on the ground between their two thighs, facial exspression were an important part of this hula style.
Hula Kilu - a hula performed during the game of kilu.
Hula Kolili - a dance with love forfeits, similar to those in kilu games and 'ume.
Hula Ku'ahu - altar hula and hula taught with ceremonies.
Hula Ki'elei - a type of hula in which the dancer danced in a squatting position.
Hula Mu'umu'u - a sitting dance.
Instrumental Hula
Hula Puniu - a seated hula in which the dancers strap a gourd drum to their right thigh amd gesture with their left hand while beating the drum with a ka or beater.
Hula Kala'au -a hula danced with two sticks while standing one long and one short, or two short sticks. If the dancer used two short sticks they were usually seated on the ground in the same position used for the hula 'ili'ili.
Hula 'Uli'uli - a hula performed with the feather gourd rattle either standing or sitting, li, li was the imitative word for the sound of the shells that rattled in the gourd.
Hula 'Ili'ili - a hula in which smooth water worn stones are used as clappers or castanets held between the thumb and index finger in bothe hands, this hula is performed sitting squat on the ground the buttocks is flat on the floor and the feet turned slightly outward. The dancer moves and rises from the position sometimes moving the hips in the motion of an 'ami. The sound of the 'ili'ili were imitaive of the sound of waves as they ran across and rattled the loose pebbles on a beach.
Hula Pu'ili - a hula performed with the split bamboo rattle imitative of wind through the coconut trees either done sittin or standing.
Hula Papahehi - a hula hula performed with a wooden tredle bourd foot instument usually accompanied with the Kala'au, Hi'iaka performed this hula while travelling using the wooden canoe spanner floating in the bottom of the canoe in which she travelled in while accomapnied by the sound of the paddlers oars as the struck the sides of the canoe.
Hula 'Ohe hano ihu - a hula performed standing while the ho'opa'a used the nose flute, the subject of these mele hula were often mele ho'oipoipo or love songs.
Hula 'Ukeke - a hula performed with the ho'opa'a chanting while plucking the strings of the Hawaiian mouth harp the subject of the mele were often mele ho'oipoipo or love songs.
Hula Ka'eke'eke/Pahupahu - in this hula bamboo pipes are used in varyling lengths called pahupahu and 'ohe ka'eke'eke, several musicians would play at the same time and the natural tones came from the various tube lengths. The top was cut open between a bamboo node while the bottom was cut below a node and struck on the ground to produce the sound.
Hula Niau kani - a hula performed to an instrument called a Jews harp, made of a thin strip of wood, about 4 inches long and 1 inch wide, with a coconut midrib, niau or bamboo strip lashed lengthwise.
Hula Pa'ipu - a hula danced with the ipu or gourd drum not with the ipu heke as performed in the hula ku'olo style. Performed either sitting or standing.
Hula Niu - a hula performed with the midribs of the niu which are bundled together like a pulumi niau. the dancers whirl them about in one hand to imitate the sound of wind while standing.
Hula 'Ie kuku - a hula performed while the ho'opa'a uses a kua and and hohoa or kapa beater. From; Dorthy Johnston Beyer, Hilo Hawai'i.
Hula Hoe - a hula performed usually standing with the dancer using a hoe or paddle.
Hula 'Ihe or Pahua - a hula performed standing with a spear using movements associated with warfare.
Hula Ki'i - there were two types of hula ki'i, this hula was performed by a chanter who used a marionette. This hula was popular with the courts of the ali'i and the last pair of ki'i were purchased from the performer by Nathaniel Emerson for the sum of 5 dollars.
Hula Hei - a hula peformed with a string while chanting a mele and making various formations with the string.
Hula Manai - a hula with a thin flexible stick with which the squatting dancer beats time as by striking the floor.
Non Instrumental Hula
Hula Ku'i lua/Ku'i Moloka'i - an ancient fast dance with stamping heel twisting, thigh slapping, dipping knees and doubling of fists as in boxing, vigorous gestures imitative of such pursuits as dragging fish nets and closely associated with the Hawaiian martial art form called lua.
Hula 'Upo'ipo'i - a hand clapping hula standing associated with the closing prayers used at the hula ku'ahu altar.
Hula Pa'i Umauma - a hula danced with chest slapping movements and hip revolutions associated closely with lua, the Hawaiian martial art of bone breaking.
Hula Ma'i - a hula with rapid hip revolutions called 'ami or ho'ai'ami in Tahiti called a Kapa, these mele are dedicated to the chiefs and their sacred genatalia they are lively and sexually erotic and provocative, they are the last set of hula performed at a ho'ike or exhibition.
Hula 'Aiha'a - a bombastic style of hula, dancers use a deep knee positio and employ the use of the 'uwehe, ue and uweke steps called paute in Tahitian.
Hula Ho'onana - any hula for amusement.
Hula 'Auana - informal hula without ceremony or offering, contrasting with the hula ku'ahu or altar hula.
Hula Ku'i - an interpretive hula, so called since the days of King David Kalakaua; lit., joining hula, join old and new steps. The hula ku'i was attributed to Queen Kapi'olani's sister Po'omaikelani and her family. Today the term 'auwana or 'auana is used for modern hula and hula kahiko or "old hula" is used for the category of traditional hula called 'olapa or ha'a.
manuhaokalani@yahoo.com