The lovely music of POLYNESIA makes you want to do more than just listen!  It's an invitation to try your hands (and the rest of your body) at the art of fluent motion --- The "HULA" --- interpretive dancing at its most basic level.  The Hula gives you the opportunity ro express physically the meaning of the words of the song in gracefully abstract motions of the body ... anybody can do it and do it well, whether "MALIHINI" (stranger) or "KAMAAINA" (old timer).

HERE ARE SOME BASIC HULA INSTRUCTIONS ... HAVE FUN!

The secret of a successful "HULA" is the coordination of the hands, the graceful swaying of the hips and the movement of the feet in one lovely fluid motion.

REMEMBER THESE FOUR POINTS:

1.  The feet keep time and generally move in short steps.

2.  The hips accentuate the rhythm of the music.

3.  The fingers, hands and arms interpret the words.

4.  The face and eyes express the mood.


THE VAMP

This is the basic step and is used to mark time.  First, raise the arms level with the chest.  Extend hands gracefully, holding fingers together.

THE VAMP

LEFT VAMP
Short step to left.  Right slides up beside.  Repeat  Keep knees bent slightly at all times.

RIGHT VAMP
Moving arms slowly to right, take short step to right then slide left foot up beside right.  Repeat.  Shift weight gracefully to left as arms move gradually left.

SOME BASIC INTERPRETIVE MOTIONS

ALOHA
Cup hands toward you.  Then extend arms gracefully while opening hands.

SPEAK OR SING
Bring hands to mouth then move gracefully outward.

MOUNTAINS OR HILLS
Arms raised sideways, palms outward.  One hand is peak, the other is slope.

MOON OR SUN
Raise arms high overhead in a circle, palms upward, fingertips touching.

LOVE OR CUDDLE
Arms crossed over chest.  Head tilted slightly.

GRASS SHACK OR HOUSE
hands form roof-top.

PAU (The End)
This is used to mark the end of all hula dances.  Point right foot forward extending arms forward over toes, hands together.  Bow head, bend forward from the waist.

HUKILAU

A fishing festival in which everyone in the village takes part.  Men, women, children ... all help to pull in the fish nets.  Afterward there is a big "LUAU" (feast) with singing and dancing.

Below are some basic steps to dance the "HUKILAU" song.

2.  TO A HUKILAU ...
Vamp right, using hands and arms as though pulling fish net.

3.  HUKI, HUKI, HUKI, HUKI, HUKILAU ...
Pull more times (as in #2), continue siding four more steps to right.

1.  OH WE'RE GOING ...
Walk forward, swaying hands on hips.

5.  LOVES ...
Cross arms on chest .
A HUKILAU ...
Repeat #2

4.  EVERYBODY ...
Sway hips wide, extending arms out to audience.

6.  WHERE THE LAULAU ...
Sway left, cupping hands upward.

9.  WE THROW OUR NETS OUT INTO THE SEA ...
Raise both arms high over head.  Then seem to throw net far out in front.

8.  AT THE BIG LUAU ...
Sway left.  Move both hands to mouth, smiling broadly.

7.  IS THE KAUKAU ...
Sway right.  Point two fingers toward mouth as if eating.

10.  AND ALL THE AMA AMAS COME SWIMMING ...
Place right hand over left, palms down.  Wiggle thumbs.  Move hands outward and side to side as fish (ama) swimming.

11.  TO ME ...
Point hands to yourself.
OH WE'RE GOING TO A HUKILAU ... HUKI, HUKI, HUKI, HUKI, HUKILAU ...
(Repeat #1 to #3)

12.  WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY ...
Sway right and left, raising arms slowly outward and upward toward sun.

15.  DOWN IN OLD LAIE BAY ...
Arms make circle in front to represent bay.

14.  AND THE HUKILAU NETS ARE SWISHING ...
Sway right and left.  Hands sway side to side gracefully, palms forward (like swishing net).

13.  FOR FISHING THE OLD HAWAIIAN WAY ...
Sway right and left.  Raise right arm as if to throw spear.

16.  OH WE'RE GOING TO A HUKILAU, A HUKI, HUKI, HUKI, HUKILAU
(Repeat #1 to #3)
PAU (end)

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