Hawaiian hula dance: where to see & learn hula

Here is a very brief introduction to the indigenous Hawaiian dance known as hula. It is intended to give you an appreciation of the history of hula and an overview of its many forms.

We include a list of some of the major hula festivals throughout the year across Hawaiʻi, as well as free hula shows and demonstrations held in shopping malls and other locations.

Hawaiian hula dancers on the shore – DepositPhotos.com

What is hula?

Hula is a very complex dance form unique to the Hawaiian Islands. It is not to be confused with dance forms from other Pacific Island cultures often seen at a lūʻau show, such as Maori haka, Sāmoan fire dance, and Tahitian otea. You can see hula performed at festivals, lūʻau, shopping malls, and many other events and locations throughout the year across the Hawaiian Islands.

Historically, hula was—and still is—a storytelling method used by Hawaiians to pass down history and cultural traditions from one generation to the next. Hula was also used to entertain aliʻi (Hawaiʻi nobility), as well as for religious ceremonies, celebrations, and other important events.

Traditional hula is precise and often graceful, although it can also be a very powerful form of expression. There are basically two types of hula: hula kahiko and hula ʻauana. However, there are many styles and variations within these two broad categories. Either way, hula is always performed barefoot. (Okay, not always. Hula ʻauana performers sometimes wear shoes). Read more about the different types and styles of hula below.

The Maori Haka Dance is indigenous to New Zealand. This dance, along with other Oceanian and Polynesian dances often performed at luau shows are not to be confused with Hawaiian hula. – DepositPhotos.com

Haʻa Koa “Dance of the Warrior”

Haʻa Koa translates to “Dance of the Warrior” and pre-dates hula. Haʻa means “a dance with bent knees” and koa means “brave” or “fearless”. It is commonly called the “bent-knee dance”. However, Haʻa Koa is not a particular dance, rather refers to an ancient style of dance performed by kāne (men). It celebrates the spirit of the ancient koa (warrior), as well as the spirit of aloha and other traditional Hawaiian virtues, including koa (courage), lōkahi (harmony), kupaʻa (allegiance), and mana (divine power). It is uniquely Hawaiian in language, movement, ʻike (thinking), and mana (spiritual power).

The traditions of Haʻa Koa have been lost but organizations today are working to re-establish the dance form. It is not as widely known or performed as hula, but Haʻa Koa is an important component of Hawaiian culture.

Hula Kahiko

Traditional hula kahiko is the more ancient form of hula. It may be performed by men or women. This type of hula is accompanied by an oli, which means “chant” in the Hawaiian language. As with music everywhere, there are many of kinds of chants: love chants, chants to celebrate, to express grief, for prayer, to recite genealogy, and many other purposes.

Oli are generally of two types: mele oli (chants without accompaniment) and mele hula (dancing songs).

Mele oli are performed by one individual without accompaniment (neither instrument or dance). A hula festival and other events (first day of school, etc.) may open with a mele oli.
In contrast, mele hula are performed by groups and accompanied by percussion instruments. A mele hula can speak of actual events or be filled with imagery and kaona—double meanings that can be interpreted differently depending on who is listening.

Hula kahiko dancers dress in earth tones and are adorned only with greenery, such as ferns or other native plants. The mele hula is set to the beat of a percussive instrument, such as an ipu heke (a double gourd drum).

Schools teaching this traditional form of hula are called hālau. Hula kahiko is taught with dedication and discipline to be performed in exactly the same way each time, preserving the history and stories as originally intended. There is no improvisation in hula kahiko. However, there are also new mele and hula being composed today.

In the YouTube video below you can see an example of hula kahiko. This YouTube video features kāne (men) performing hula kahiko at the 2019 Merrie Monarch Festival in Hawaiʻi. Notice the traditional kapa garments (also known as “tapa”, a cloth made from trees).

Hula ʻauana

Hula ʻauana is the more modern dance form and means “to wander”. This style of hula may be performed with lyrical songs in English or Hawaiian, and accompanied by melodic musical instruments such as the ʻukulele or steel guitar.

Costumes and adornments are colorful and varied. There have been cellophane and raffia hula skirts, muʻumuʻu and holokū (a elegant muʻumuʻu with a long train), and ti leaf skirts with colorful tops, to name a few variations.

Here is an example of a hula ʻauana. This YouTube video features wahine (women) performing hula ʻauana at the 2019 Merrie Monarch Festival in Hawaiʻi. Compare the song and instrumentation with the more traditional kahiko form.

Where to see hula in Hawaiʻi

Here are some of the free public hula shows occurring regularly around the Hawaiian Islands. Find upcoming hula shows in our calendar list below.

Free Hula Shows

Listed below are some of the regular free hula shows and classes available throughout Hawaiʻi. Check our event calendar below for upcoming hula events or follow the links to more information from the organizers.

Hawaiʻi: Queens’ Marketplace Hawaii Resort free one-hour hula show in the Coronation Pavilion performed by local hālau features both kahiko (traditional) and modern hula. Experience the dancers up close and personal as they perform this intricate ancient art of dance and chant in a comfortable outdoor setting. More info: Queens’ Marketplace Event Calendar at Waikoloa Beach Resort (queensmarketplace.com)

Hawai’i: The Volcano Art Center regularly hosts hula performance as well as many other classes and workshops. More info: Hula Arts | Volcano Art Center

Oʻahu: Ala Moana Shopping Mall free Hula Shows and many other local performance groups throughout the week on the Centerstage and the Ewa Wing Stage. More info: Events at Ala Moana Center

Oʻahu: Waikīkī Beach Walk offers a free hula class (RSVP required) as well as other music and cultural events on the Plaza Stage. More info: Entertainment & Activities | Waikiki Beach Walk

Oʻahu: Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center free hula performance and many other cultural performances in The Royal Grove. More info: Events at Royal Hawaiian Center

Oʻahu: Free Kuhio Beach Hula Show takes place on the only authentic pa hula (hula mound) in Waikīkī, which was dedicated in a traditional Hawaiian ceremony. The venue is located on Waikīkī Beach, between Uluniu and Liliʻuokalani Avenues, makai (oceanside) of the large banyan tree. The pau hula is defined by a lava rock wall with a large grass seating area. Paid parking is available a few blocks away, on the streets surrounding Kapiʻolani Park or at the Honolulu Zoo on Kapahula Avenue. Hawai‘i’s finest hālau hula (hula schools) and Hawaiian performers open each show with the traditional blowing of the conch shell. The shows are free to the public. Shows will cancel for parades, street fairs, and bad weather. More info: KUHIO BEACH HULA SHOW (kbhulashow.wixsite.com) and Events — Waikiki Improvement Association

Another place to see hula are at annual hula competitions and festivals. Scroll down for some of the major hula festivals throughout Hawaiʻi.

Hula show at Royal Hawaiian Center Grove – 2022 photo by Carole Cancler

Hula Festivals in Hawaiʻi

Merrie Monarch Festival

Merrie Monarch Festival is Hawaii’s premier hula festival. Since 1963, the week-long festival in Hilo has been a showcase for the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of Hawaiian culture. Through this festival, thousands of people at home in the islands and throughout the world can learn about the history and culture of Hawaiʻi.

The highlight of the festival is a world-renowned three-day hula competition featuring some of the best hālau hula (hula school) from Hawaiʻi and the continental United States. When: spring. Ticket request forms are usually accepted starting in December. More info: Merrie Monarch Festival

2022 Merrie Monarch Festival

The week-long Merrie Monarch Festival runs APRIL 18th-23rd, 2022. However, the annual hula festival is not completely back to business as usual. A limited number of tickets are available for hālau and a few tickets for longstanding supporters of the festival. Tickets will not be available to the general public due to this year’s capacity limitations. More info: 2022 Festival | Merrie Monarch

Kamehameha Festival

Kamehameha Festival is part of the Kamehameha Day celebration that was established in 1871 as the national holiday of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. Kamehameha Day pays tribute to Kamehameha the Great (c. 1758-1819), Hawaii’s first King who united the all of the Hawaiian Islands in 1810.

The Festival serves to protect, preserve, and perpetuate Hawaiian culture. It features traditional Hawaiian dance, chant, culture, arts & crafts, and of course food. When: June 11, also known as Kamehameha Day on Mokuola (aka Coconut Island) in Hilo. More info: Kamehameha Festival

The 2020-2022 Kamehameha Festivals were cancelled.

Nā Hula Festival

The Nā Hula Festival has celebrated the artistry and grace of Hawai‘i’s premiere dance form since its creation in 1940, when City & County of Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) kumu hula (hula instructors) did a hō‘ike (showcase) of their haumāna (students). This tradition has continued every year, making Nā Hula Festival the longest-running, annual, non-competitive hula event in Hawai‘i. Nā Hula Festival is a free, family friendly event that is open to the public. Be sure to bring your hāli‘i (covering, spread) and mea ‘ai (food) to help enjoy a beautiful, relaxing day of hula at Kapi‘olani Park!

2022 Nā Hula Festival

Presented virtually the past couple of years on the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation YouTube Channel, everyone is excited for the return of in-person Nā Hula Festival on Sunday, August 7, 2022 at the Kapi‘olani Park Bandstand (Kapiolani_Park_Map.pdf). The Royal Hawaiian Band will open the event at 9:00 AM, followed by hourly hula performance. Here’s the schedule (subject to change):

9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. Royal Hawaiian band
10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Nā Wāhine o ka Hula
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Puanani Alama Hula Studio
12 p.m. to 12:10 p.m. 2022 Lei Queen and Court
12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m. Hālau Hula o Pua ‘A‘ala Hone
1:10 p.m. to 2 p.m. Hālau Hula o Hōkūlani

More info: Na Hula Festival (honolulu.gov)

Prince Lot Hula Festival

Moanalua Gardens Foundation (MGF) has presented the Prince Lot Hula Festival since 1978. It is Hawaii’s largest non-competetiveHula Festival. The festival honors Prince Lot Kapuāiwa, who helped reprise hula in Moanalua and reigned as Kamehameha V from 1863 to 1872.

MGF is committed to preserving and perpetuating the native culture and environment of Hawaiʻi through stewardship of Kamananui Valley and celebration of the Prince Lot Hula Festival. When: Fall

Last time we checked (July 15, 2022), the 2022 Prince Lot Hula Festival date had not been announced. The 2020-2021 Festivals were presented virtually.

Where to learn hula

Like any other art form, learning hula takes years of practice that includes ʻōlelo makuahine (literally “Mother tongue”) or ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). Hula is taught at hālau hula (hula school) by a kumu hula (hula teacher). There are many different schools and each one establishes the requirements for practice, language study, performance and events, costume making, and other aspects of hula. If you are serious about hula, there is a school for you.

For serious study, first you must find a hula hālau (hula dance school) that is accepting new students. Some restrict classes to girls (kaikamā.hine) and women (wāhine), or boys (kama kāne) and men (kāne). Some offer classes for keiki to kupuna. To find a hālau, talk with hula performers at festivals and other events, or of course search online for a hālau near you or in your city or on your island.

Visitors to Hawai’i often state they would like to learn hula. Of course, serious study is not possible during a short stay. However, there are a number of opportunities to learn a few basic hand gestures, along with some footwork and put it together to tell a story. We regularly search for visitor classes and put them on our Hula event calendar below.

To get started where you are, listed below are Hawaiian resources for hula lessons online or DVDs (free and paid):

Hawaiian percussion instruments used for hula dance

Hawaiian percussion instruments photo by VickyRu via iStockPhotos by Getty Images

Upcoming events showcasing Hawaiian hula

The following events from our calendar include free hula shows, hula festivals, and other events featuring hula.

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Hawaiʻi: Hula Voices talk story at the VAC

5:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Volcano Art Center, 19-4074 Old Volcano Road, Volcano, HI 96785

Hawaiʻi: Queens' Marketplace free one-hour hula show in Waikaloa

6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Queens’ Marketplace, 69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa, HI 96738

Oʻahu: Kona Nui Nights in Kakaʻako

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Ward Village, 1020 Auahi St, Honolulu, HI 96814