Hula is an ancient art form practiced by the native Polynesians of the islands of Hawai'i.
As our Polynesian ancestors set sail from the sacred homeland of Hawaiki, to reach all corners of the Polynesian triangle, many similar styles of dance spread and evolved acorss the Pacific.
Our dancers are trained in both Hawaiian hula and Ori Tahiti.
Tahitian dance consists of fast, rhythmic hip movements, usually set to the beat of the toere, or slit-log drum. These hip isolations, known as oteas, are the highlight of many luau performances.
Be swept away in a tropical storm of mesmerising hip-shaking to traditional drumming.
Let us take on you on a vibrant Pacific journey of cultural experience through the art of hula, as exotic maidens tell stories of legends & love with their graceful hands and the gentle swaying of hips to the strums of ukulele.
Let us take on you on a vibrant Pacific journey of cultural experience through the art of hula, as exotic maidens tell stories of legends & love with their graceful hands and the gentle swaying of hips to the strums of ukulele.
What Is Hula?
HULA KAHIKO
In the ancient times of Hawaii, hula was integrated with traditional religion.
Ritual played a key role and dancers were sometimes dedicated to the goddess of hula, Laka.
Hula kahiko is usually vigorous, requiring strength and agility.
It is performed to chants and accompanied by pahu or drums.
The dancers may also use ili'ili or small flat rocks like castanets, sticks to strike together, and even weapons or other implements that are pertinent to a story they are portraying.
HULA AUANA
Hula auana, the modern form of the dance, is characterized by more fluid, graceful motions — often based on and inspired by their origins in hula kahiko.
Beautiful, harmonious island music invariably accompanies hula auana, using guitars, ukulele and other modern instruments.
Costumes are often elegant dresses with beautiful floral accents.
The headbands of ancient times, which were made of greenery, are now intricately braided with colourful flowers and leaves into what is usually called a haku lei.
'APARIMA
The ‘aparima or Kaparima (Rarotongan) is a dance from Tahiti and the Cook Islands where the mimicks (ʻapa) with the hands (rima) are central, and as such it is close to the hula or Tongan tauʻolunga.
It is usually a dance for groups. There are two types of ʻaparima: the ʻaparima hīmene (sung handdance) and the ʻaparima vāvā (silent handdance), the latter being performed with music only, and no singing. The music is often played on the guitar or the Tahitian ʻukulele.
The stories depicted by the dance are taken from daily traditional occupations or ancient myths.
OTE'A
The ʻōteʻa (usually written as otea) is a traditional dance from Tahiti characterized by a rapid hip-shaking motion to percussion accompaniment. The dance is choreographed to execute different figures, such as tamau, varu, otamu, ami, and fa’arapu while maintaining the hip-shaking.
The dance is with music only (drums) at a fast rhythm, and no singing.
