Out in the Hawaiian Islands, the Hula is recognized as an expression of life and love, of the stars and seasons, it is a dance of worship. It was danced to the Shark Goddess and the gods of Wind and Fire as well as the chieftains. This ancient ritual is only danced by the young. The thump of the drum, the rattle of the gourd and the sound of the surf in the distance, the light of the Kukui torches all add to the flavor of this dance.

    This dance tradition includes the hand extended at shoulder height, the head bowed, one bare foot placed at a right angle to the others instep. The "Lehua" flowers adorn the hair, while the "leis" (flowers strung together) hang around the shoulders. From the waist hang "Ti leaves", partly revealing the hips, legs and knees. They sing to the music as they sway to the rhythm. Often times the hula is called Hawaiian dancing. This dance is a story told with the hands as well as the body. The Hawaiians invented (some say the Portuguese) the Ukulele from the Portuguese guitar in 1879 with the Kings (Kalakaua) help, this instrument became a Hawaiian tradition.

    The hula had lapsed for a time due to Missionary influence, however it was not lost due to the secret dancing rituals. The hula is said to have originated with the beginning of time, when the race sprung from the gods.

   Don Wallace is said to have refined the nightclub Hula (Hukilau) into the ballroom Hula in 1949. The Night Club Hula, which became popular in the movies in the 1910's and 20's such as the "South Sea Hula" with Gilda Gray. It is basically a wiggle, a straw skirt, a blatant rhythm, a file of bushy-haired girls with paper leis waving their hands and shaking the hips. This version hardly resembles the original hula of the Hawaiian islands.

Films / Movies

Instructional / Exercise

Publications

1914 - The Hula Hula Land

$ Be a Hula Girl [DVD]

1944 - Hula Mag (Tongg)

1914 - The Cave Man

$ How To Hula

$ A Pocket Guide to How to Hula

1917 - Hula, Hula Hughie

$ Hula For Children

$ "Birthday Hula" Choreography

1919 - The Hula Cabaret

$ Hula For Health [DVD]

$ Collection of Hawaiian Hula Chants

1920 - Hula Hula Town

Hula Workout [DVD]

$ How To Hula (Murray)

1922 - South Sea Hula

$ Hula Workout - Abs & Buns

$ Hula (Jerry Hopkins)

1926 - Aloma of the South Seas (Gilda Gray)

$ Hula Workout - Cardio

$ Hula (Lisa Shea)

1926 - Yak-A-Hula-Hick-A-Doola

$ Hula Workout for Beg'rs [DVD]

$ Hula Dancers & Tiki Gods

1927 - A Hula Honeymoon

$ Hula Workout Gift Set (v.1&2)

$ Hula Girls and Surfer Boys

1929 - South Sea Rose

 $ Hula Workout for Weight Loss[DVD]

$ Hula Heaven: The Queen's Album

$ 1934 - Flirtation Walk

$ Hula Historical Perspectives

1931 - Ideal Cinemagazine (Aloma Hawaiians)

$ Hula Kahiko Choreographies

1937 - Hula Heaven

$ Hula Kapu (Selma R. Davis)

1937 - WaiKiKi Wedding

$ Hula Pahu: HI. Drum Dances

1937 - Zula Hula

$ Images of Hawaii's Ancient Hula

1940 - Hawaiian Rhythm

$ The Art of Hula (Laes)

1942 - Pardon My Sarong

$ Under the Hula Moon: Living in HI.

1942 - Song of the Islands

1945 - Tahiti Nights?

1951 - Hula La La

1954 - Screen Snapshots: Hula from Hollywood

Hula Accessories

Ballets / Stage

1958 - Conny Hula Hopp

$ ECCO 'Hula Girl' Sandal

1966 - Paradise, Hawaiian Style

$ hula by Tilt (Shirts)

1988 - Black Hula

$ Kulanui of Hawaii Store (Bags)

$ 1989 - Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture [DVD]

Television

Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture/ Hawaiian Rainbow [DVD]

$ 1995 - Under the Hula Moon

2002 - Hula mo, huli ko

Entertainers in British Films: a century in British Cinema

Other Related Dances of the time...

Dancers, Choreographers etc.

Political

Books, Magazine Articles on the dance...

Title

Author

Date Published

Publisher

Musicians

Singers

Poets / Writers

Hoopii, Sol

Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches

Ukulele

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