Cover image credit: Photo by J. J. Williams, public domain. Originally sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Hula dancing is a well-known artform unique to Indigenous Hawai’ians. There are 2 main types of hula dance: kahiko and ʻauana.
Kahiko refers to the style of hula that was popular before white colonizers invaded the island. ʻAuana, meaning “wander” or “drift”, is the more modern form of hula dance post-colonization, reflecting the inclusion and influence of Western instruments like the guitar.
Dance moves of the hula have a deeper symbolism, with some representing forces of nature like the wind. Some moves are even designed to be performed while sitting.
Watch the video to see some traditional hula dancing with bamboo pu'ili “rhythm sticks”. Notice how the girls’ singing and percussion with the pu'ili completes the song of the backing band.