Hula Articles

HOW TO MAKE LOVELY HULA HANDS

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Chang) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:45:00 +0000

Here are a few tips on how to get your hands to become soft and graceful.

1. PRACTICE DAILY: As you lay down in your bed everynight, stretch you arms up above your head and practice pressing your hands gracefully. Eventually your hands will move more easily and look more graceful. When I was a child I used to do this for 5-10 minutes before heading off to sleep. The best part is that it works a lot better than counting sheep. :)

2. PENCIL TRICK: Pretend that you have a round pencil placed between your thumb and middle finger. Roll the pencil slowly from the base of the middle finger all the way to the tip letting the other fingers follow along. Note: This technique will result in a pronounced middle finger dip.

3. FINGERS TOGETHER: Remember to always keep you fingers together. This includes your thumb!

Hope you enjoyed these tips to make YOUR hula hands lovely.

Love,
Sarah

美しい手の動きを作る方法

フラを踊るときのあなたの手を、しなやかで上品にさせるいくつかのヒントをお教えします。

１．毎日やる事：毎晩寝る前に行います。ベッドに横になったら、頭の上に向かって腕を伸ばし、両手を優雅に押さえます。そうすることによって、今まで以上に腕や手が動かしやすくなり、しかも優雅に動くようになります。私が子供のころは、毎晩眠る前に5-10分の間これをしたものです。このプラクティスが最高なのは、それが羊を数えることよりも、断然効き目があるということです(*^―ﾟ)b

２．鉛筆トリック：丸い鉛筆を親指と中指の間にはさんでいると想像してください。中指の付け根から先端までゆっくり鉛筆を転がしてください。その際、他の指も中指に従って動くようにします。※これを行うと、中指がより曲がるようになります。

３．指をそろえる：指は常にそろえるようにするのを忘れないように。もちろん、親指も他の指とそろえます。

これらのヒントを実行して、楽しみながら美しいフラの手を手に入れてくださいね☆

DID YOU KNOW? Some Hula Trivia

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Chang) — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 19:33:00 +0000

1. Halau hula was traditionally used to refer to the long house or building where hula instruction was held. It is now used to describe a hula school or group. (1)

2. Hilo Hattie was actually named Clarissa Haili. She was a native Hawaiian elementary school teacher. Clarissa became famous for doing her comic hula "When Hilo Hattie Does the Hilo Hop" and for singing and dancing "Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai" cross-eyed. Today there is a popular Hawaiian clothing chain named after her stage character, Hilo Hattie. (2)

3. It is popular belief that hula was traditionally danced by only men. However, there is no documented evidence that states this. The earliest written records actually document women dancing hula in 1778. (3) Furthermore, Mary Kawena Pukui thanks women for learning the old hula dances when the men forgot during a time that "hula [was] looked down upon". (4)

4. Queen Lili`uokalani was one of the first people to wear Hawaiian heirloom jewelry in the 1860's. It was a fashion she discovered during her trip to England that was originally worn by English royals while mourning. Queen Lili`uokalani's bracelet read, "Ho`omana`o Mau" or "Lasting Remembrance". Soon after this, flowers and other royal symbols were engraved on bracelets like the queen's and it became a popular fad for all wealthy island women.(5)

5. It is thought that the mele ma`i or procreation dance was reintroduced after a period where it practically vanished because many Hawaiians were becoming sterile due to diseases and royal interfamilial marriage. (6)

6. The ku`i step was created when a member of the Hawaiian royal court was unable to dance because she was wearing a European dress. In the end, she agreed to do the hula but improvised the ku`i or sideward kick so that she wouldn't trip on her gown. (6)

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1. Ku Mai Ka Po`E Hula: Directory of Hula Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Compiled by Manu Boyd, 1996, p. 36. [711 Kapi`olani Blvd., Ste. 500, Honolulu, HI 96813; (808) 594-1888]

2. Ching, Carrie. Things Hawaii: A Celebration of the History, Landmarks, Flavors, Trends & Traditions that make Hawai`i Special. , Mutual Publishing LLC: 2004, p. 46.

3. Barrere, Dorothy B. Hula Historical Perspectives: Pacific Anthropological Records No. 30, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, January 1980, p. 13. [ISBN 0-930897-89-7]

4. Pukui, Mary Kawena. Hula Historical Perspectives: Pacific Anthropological Records No. 30, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, January 1980, pp. 74, 75.

5. Ching, Carrie. Things Hawaii: A Celebration of the History, Landmarks, Flavors, Trends & Traditions that make Hawai`i Special. Mutual Publishing LLC: 2004, p. 44.

6. Stagner, Ishmael. Hula (Pamphlets Polynesia Series Number 4)Institute for Polynesian Studies, Brigham Young University-Hawai`i Campus, 1985, p. 14.

RECOMMENDED HULA BOOKS

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Chang) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:43:00 +0000

For Visitors:

The Art of Hula by Ron Laes

Booklet containing a colorful photos of a variety of hula dancers, hula step how to photos and text explanation, hula commands, Hawaiian terminology, and a special portion on how to make a ti-skirt and grass skirt.

Things Hawaii: A Celebration of the History, Landmarks, Flavors, Trends & Traditions that make Hawai`i Special by Carrie Ching

Interesting 140 page book full of color photos and info. The perfect coffee table book!

For Advanced:

The Spirit of Hula by Shari `Iolani Floyd Berinobis

This beautiful book is filled with hula photos of 68 different halaus from Hawai`i, the mainland and abroad. Contains halau lineage, philosophies, memories, achievements and special thoughts by George Ainsley Kananiokeakua Holokai, Blossom Keli`i`aukai Joshua Kunewa, Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, and Hide Kalanimoku of Aoyama, Japan.

Ku Mai Ka Po`e Hula: Directory of Hula Resources.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), compiled by Manu Boyd, 1996.

Contact: OHA, 711 Kapi`olani Blvd. Ste. 500, Honolulu, HI 96813

(808) 594-1888 / 594-1865 (fax)

Booklet of 36 pages containing halau contact info, lineage, awards and philosophies. Also includes the approximate date and contact info for hula festivals and competitions, hula instrument makers, and a glossary of hula words.

For Hawaiian History and Culture:

Hula (Pamphlets Polynesia Series Number 4) by Ishmael Stagner

Hula Historical Perspectives by Dorothy B. Barrere, Mary Kawena Pukui and Marion Kelly

Hula by Jerry Hopkins

'Olelo No'eau : Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings by Mary Kawena Pukui

WHAT TO KNOW WHEN SELECTING A HULA SCHOOL

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Chang) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 02:13:00 +0000

1. Type of hula you want to study

Because of the way hula has evolved over the years, there are various opinions regarding the many types of hula in existence. However, for simplicity’s sake we will break hula down into three major categories: kahiko, `auana, and hapa haole.

Kahiko: The ancient hula dance performed before Western contact. Today kahiko is known for its traditional costumes, the dancer’s solemn look, and chanting. Kahiko is often considered a sacred religious performance and even a tiny error has been known to bring bad luck.

`Auana: The modern hula dance arising from Western influence. Hula `auana is usually danced in a dress or an aloha shirt and slacks. Accompanying music is usually the guitar, the `ukulele, bass and sometimes even the piano. Music is sung in Hawaiian or part English. The hula dancer is free to express joy and smile.

Hapa Haole: The steamer boat hula dance arising from Hollywood influence. Hapa Haole hula is known for coconut or bikini top bras, shiny cellophane or green rafia skirts and very brightly colored costumes. The accompanying musical instruments are usually the `ukulele and steel guitar. Examples of Hapa Haole songs are Blue Hawai`i, Pearly Shells and other songs entirely in English.

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1. どんなタイプのフラを習いたいか？

フラは長い年月を経て進化したため、現在沢山の種類があります。そのどれも大

きく分ければ、kahiko、 `auana,、hapa haoleという代表的な３種類に当てはま
ります。

Kahiko: 古典的なフラで、ハワイ諸島が西洋人に発見されるよりもずっと以前か
ら踊られていました。今日kahiko は伝統的な衣装や厳粛な踊りで知られています
。 Kahikoはしばしば宗教儀式でも踊られ、またどんな小さなミスさえも不運をも
たらすと言われています。

`Auana: 現代的なフラ（モダンフラ）で、西洋の影響を受けたものです。`auana
は通常、アロハシャツとスラックス、またはドレスを着て踊ります。大抵はギタ
ー、ウクレレ、ベースなどを使いますが、時々ピアノを使用することもあります
。歌は英語またはハワイ語で歌われています。また、ダンサーは自由に楽しみ、
微笑む事ができます。

Hapa Haole: 航海時代に汽船で踊られていたフラです。ハリウッドの影響を大き
く受け、ココナッツブラやビキニトップ、緑色のセロファンやヤシの葉のスカー
トなど、カラフルな衣装を身につけて踊ります。その殆どがウクレレとスチール
ギターを使います。歌詞はすべて英語で、Blue HawaiiやPearly Shells等があり
ます。