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.

Historically, hula was—and 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 and other important events and celebrations.

Traditional hula is precise and often graceful, although it can also be a very powerful form of expression. You can see hula performed at festivals, lūʻau, shopping malls, and many other events and locations throughout the year across the Hawaiian Islands.

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 it 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

Free hula shows are regularly offered at shopping malls and events across Hawaiʻi. Due to health and safety restrictions, these free shows have been on hiatus. When free hula shows become available, we’ll add free hula shows to our calendar.

Oʻahu: Ala Moana Shopping Mall Center Stage presents a Hula Show daily from 1:00-1:20pm and features dancers showcasing hula kahiko and modern hula ʻauana.

Oʻahu: Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center hosts hula performance every Sunday from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM in The Royal Grove.

Oʻahu: Waikīkī Beach Walk shopping & entertainment district hosts regular shows on their stage. Dates, times, performances and activities are subject to change without notice – weather permitting.

Oʻahu: Waikiki Kuhio Beach Hula Show (weather-permitting) at Kalakaua & Uluniu Ave on Tues-Thurs-Sat. Feb-Oct: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nov-Jan: 6:00-7:00 p.m. An hour-long authentic Hawaiian hula show opens with torch lighting and traditional blowing of the conch shell.

Hawaiʻi: Queens’ Marketplace Hawaii Resort Calendar lists a Free Weekly Hula Show every Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 pm in the Coronation Pavilion. Performed by a local halau 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.

Hawai’i: The Volcano Art Center on the Big Island regularly hosts performances and workshops in Hula Arts at Kīlauea. More info: https://volcanoartcenter.org/hula-arts/

Another place to see hula are at annual hula competitions and festivals. Listed below are some of the major hula festivals throughout Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiian percussion instruments used for hula dance

Percussion instruments used in hula – iStockPhotos

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.

Everyone can watch the competition online April 21-24: Streaming: Merrie Monarch Festival (hawaiinewsnow.com)

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 AND 2021 Kamehameha Festivals were cancelled.

Nā Hula Festival

Hawaii’s longest running annual non-competitive hula event, the 2-day Nā Hula Festival is hosted by the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) at Honolulu’s Kapi‘olani Park. Admission is FREE. More info: Na Hula Festival | Facebook

2021 Nā Hula Festival

The 80th Annual Nā Hula Festival can be seen virtually on YouTube every sunday in August. The Royal Hawaiian Band and five hālau will be sharing their talents in new videos, along with five videos from the 2014 Nā Hula Festival. More info: http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/dpr/nahula_docs/Na_Hula_Flyer_2021.pdf

Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation YouTube Channel

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

Virtual: 2021 Prince Lot Hula Festival

The 2021 Prince Lot Hula Festival is scheduled to be televised Thursday, October 28, 2021 on KHON2. More info: 2021 Prince Lot Hula Festival | Moanalua Gardens Foundation

Virtual: 2020 Prince Lot Hula Festival

The 2020 Prince Lot Hula Festival was live streamed on KHON2 and also presented on KHON’s YouTube channel and Moanalua Gardens | Facebook. This first-ever virtual festival was filmed in compliance with State and County COVID-19 guidelines at historic Queen Emma Summer Palace. The 2020 festival features eleven hālau hula, showcasing a mixture of kahiko and ʻauana dances. More info: 2020 Prince Lot Hula Festival. Watch it here:

Where to learn hula

To learn hula, find a hula hālau (hula dance school) that is accepting new students. Some restrict classes to keiki (children), or girls (kaikamā.hine) and women (wāhine), or boys (kama kāne) and men (kāne).

To find a hālau, talk with hula performers at festivals and other event or search online for a hālau near you or in your city or on your island.

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

Upcoming events showcasing Hawaiian hula

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

Thursday, July 7, 2022

Kauai Aloha Market Thursday + Hula Show in South Shore

10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), South Shore Visitor Center, 4425 Lawai Rd (Kauaʻi)

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Kauai Aloha Market Thursday + Hula Show in South Shore

10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), South Shore Visitor Center, 4425 Lawai Rd (Kauaʻi)

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Kauai Aloha Market Thursday + Hula Show in South Shore

10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), South Shore Visitor Center, 4425 Lawai Rd (Kauaʻi)

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Banner for Waimea Valley summer concert series 2022

Oʻahu: Ho'i Hou Mai i Waimea summer concerts in Haleʻiwa

3:00 pm | $20.00 | Waimea Valley, 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleʻiwa, HI 96712

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Kauai Aloha Market Thursday + Hula Show in South Shore

10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), South Shore Visitor Center, 4425 Lawai Rd (Kauaʻi)

Other events showcasing Hawaiian arts & culture

The following events from our calendar showcase traditional and contemporary Hawaiian culture, including music, hula, history, arts & crafts, and other events.