Marisa McKay

Prof. Presnell

English 1102

February 27th, 2014

Hula Dancing: Then and Now

Inquiry question: What was the original purpose of hula dancing in Hawaii? How has the art form

evolved for the present, and how do American stereotypes distort the image of hula dancing?

Primary Purpose: To find out more.

For this inquiry, I want to find out how the American interpretation of hula dance came about

and how our society’s image of this style of dance differs from its Hawaiian roots. I’d like to explore the

real purpose of this beautiful art form, like when and how it originated, and maybe how it has evolved

into what we Americans see today.

Prior beliefs, assumptions, stereotypes:

Growing up in a suburban neighborhood in Raleigh, NC, I was constantly immersed in Southern

culture and hospitality. “Hey y’all” and “bless your heart” were phrases that frequented the vernacular

of my community and my own vocabulary from an early age. But inside the comfort of my home, a

different culture emerged that you may not suspect after seeing the ethereal hue of my pale skin. My

dad’s side of the family originated in the Polynesian islands, namely the Philippines and Hawaii. My

extended family is filled with tan-skinned, dark-haired, brown-eyed people who will treat you like one of

their own from the moment they meet you.

As you’ve probably assumed from stereotypical images of Hawaiians, we love to talk, eat, and

most importantly, dance. My grandmother is an avid hula dancer even at her ripe old age of 74, and I

was fortunate enough to take lessons in Wake Forest, NC (Can you believe someone in NC knows how to

hula?) for about 4 years. However, if you were to ask someone in North Carolina what their idea of hula

dancing is, they would probably mention the words “coconut bra” or “grass skirt”; an outsider would

think that this type of dance is a form of seduction, used solely to attract men with the swaying of hips

or batting of a woman’s eyelashes. But it’s so much more than that! I hope to find out more on the

origin of hula and how it’s evolved. I want to know why Americans have such a warped image of hula

dancing and how that came about. Was it through movies and songs, or was it through the tourist

attraction that Hawaii has become? I want to know if Hawaiians are “putting on a show” for Americans

that come to visit, because I don’t believe that hula’s present connotation is how the dance style was

originally meant to me interpreted.

Working Knowledge:

Although I have a few years of hula dancing under my proverbial belt, I really don’t know that

much about this style of dance. I know there are two different styles: ‘auana and kahiko, as confirmed

by the Hula Preservation Society. Hula ‘Auana is the more modern version of hula with more swaying of

the hips and fluid hand movements whereas Hula Kahiko is the most ancient form of hula, used

originally as a sort of sacrifice to the goddess of fire, Pele, is full of stiff, warrior-like movements with

outstretched arms and legs. According to “Chant and Hula” by HawaiiHistory.org, most hulas had chants

and meles (or songs) that accompanied them. Before Western influence, “chants remained the primary

focus” while the dance was added to enhance it.

I’m actually surprised by how many articles are coming up when I search “history of hula” or

“hula in American culture”. There is a lot of information out there about hula’s history with controversy

on its origins. It seems split on the legend whether it is about the goddess Pele or other gods. I’m

interested to find out more about it. I had a harder time finding information on how hula has evolved,

but I think digging for that information will be fun in itself! I actually found articles on how hula differs

in the American aspect and how Hawaiians would want it to be viewed by other cultures. I hope to find

out all I can about hula dancing.