Maxine treated our Rotarians to a History of Hula Dancing and it's significance in Hawaiian Culture.
A Short History of Hula
Hula as a visual form of a language
In ancient times, the Hawaiians had no written alphabet, but they recognized the importance of recording their history and rich culture. Hula became a culturally significant and prominent form of storytelling. Early Hawaiians use Hula and Ōlelo (chants) as a way of recording their history, culture, mythology, genealogy, and battles. If you have the opportunity to watch Hula Dancers the motions with their hands, arms and other gestures are all telling a specific story from their history.
Male Dancers and Teachers
Historically, Male dancers have tattoos on their body, which record the family’s history and rank within their local community or group. Also, teachers (called Kumu in Hawaii) are entrusted with guarding and passing down their accounts of history, via Hula, through multiple generations of each family.
When Hula was Banned (and how it survived)
The first Christian missionaries to arrive in Hawaii were a group of Americans, who sailed aboard a ship called the Thaddeus and arrived on March 30, 1820. Hula Dancing was not something the missionaries approved of. However, this was not the reason it was banned. In 1830 Queen Kaʻahumanu who had converted to Christianity forbade public performances of Hula.
Thanks, to the Kuma, who secretly continued to teach Hula in private settings. Thus Hula remained alive, and by the 1850s, public hula became regulated by a system of licensing.
Thankfully, the Hawaiian performing arts had a resurgence during the reign of King David Kalākaua (1874–1891), who encouraged the traditional techniques of the arts. Thanks to King Kalākaua, Hula remains a vital, vibrant, and ongoing part of Hawaii’s culture and history today!
The original video of the speech of this article is based on can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofSaddlebrooke/videos/1384086515089370/?t=644
