Aloha!, Tell us about yourself. . .

If you're stuck for ideas, here's some questions to get your brain rolling:

1. What's your name or Hawaiian nickname?
2. How long have you been studying hula?
3. What's something interesting about yourself?

~Hau`oli Ha`aha`a ~
25 years
I actually wanted to take piano when I was 5. But since I was extremely clumsy, my mother insisted I take hula instead. `Til this day, my mom claims that while I'm graceful on stage, I'll trip the minute I walk off. (She's honestly pretty accurate. I can actually remember tripping over my own feet while walking off stage about twice.)

Hi Jillo,

Good to have you here! Thanks for posting your super cool and spooky ghost story. . . we seem to have lots of those on Kaua`i.

I started dancing at a young age but only for about 4 or 5 years. I wish I continued my lessons. For several semesters I enrolled in hula class at KCC it was really fun and I hope to get involved again (though I have to finish up at the dental hygiene program to which you devote your whole life to for three years).

Good luck finishing your dental hygiene program! Thanks for popping in!

Hi,

Growing up on the mainland, the only Hula I knew was what I saw on TV, and we know how "accurate" TV is when showing culture.
I met my wife in LA (I'm from NY and she's from HI) and when we were dating she showed me one of the Hula dances she learned when she was younger. After that (and the great dinner she made for me), how could I not marry her. It was so beautiful, graceful, and elegant.

She danced the wedding Hula for me at our wedding and if I ever get around to downloading the video to DVD (yes, it's on video), I'll try and post a clip.

Welcome to our forum, Tatsu 106! Thanks for the info about the Aloha Street article. I'd really love to see the vid clip of your wife dancing your wedding hula! Sounds like fairytale romance come true.

Thanks for popping in, Jillei! Hope you get to enjoy some of our hula info and posts!

been dancing since i was 3/4... that translates to 24/25 years! getting old .
was actually wondering if they still teach hula in HI public schools for may day. does anyone know?

Thanks for introducing yourself, Kat!

I just talked to my friend, "D" who is a long time elementary school teacher. He said that it depends on the school and grade level. Apparently May Day is massive amounts of preparation and work and nowadays, everything has to match up with the national "standards" of education. Luckily, hula for May Day falls in the "culture" category.

Here's some interesting side info:

I've been doing a lot of research and learned in Hawaiian class the other day that May Day was introduced during the 1900's. The song, "He Mana`o Ko`u Ia `Oe" or "I Think of You" was composed during this time and talks about each of the Hawaiian islands and the respective flowers that are assigned to each island. Before the introduction of May Day there was no designated color and flower for each island.

However, nowadays, it is very common to see kahili bearers and princesses in May Day courts and even hula dancers in shows and competitions wearing the colors and flowers designated to each island.

I remember learning a hula for May Day back at WHS. :-)

Aloha! I'm Melanie - learned/danced hula off and on since I could walk (and probably before since my mom danced too). But never studied it consistently enough to be as good as Sarah or my brother who won Master Keiki Hula as a kid. Hula has always been in my heart though and ever since I moved out here to Seattle I have been trying to get into a halau, but then work and time would get in the way..and here I am 8 years later still "trying" to find a halau. But I will!!!


Sarah - this is a WONDERFUL idea!!! I might hit you up for a lesson if I ever get married.

Hello everyone!
I am a belly dance teacher from Croatia in Europe and would like to learn hula dance. I will join summer beginner classes in Germany in a few days and hope to learn basic staps and hand motions.
So, as beginner I will have a lot a questions for you

Aloha, my Hawaiian name is Pualani