Tiana Agres

Lexie Castillo

Pd. 3

Hula and the Hawaiian Renaissance

The Hawaiian Renaissance was a vital landmark in Hawaiian history. It allowed the

Hawaiian community to experience a rebirth of their native cultural roots, one of which being

hula.

This all dates back to the early 1800s, where Christian missionaries from New England

arrive in Hawaii with the intent of making hula illegal. Many were appalled by the “noisy” and

“heathenish” hula, making great efforts to abolish the dance, which ultimately convinced the

Christianized royalty to declare it as illegal. Thankfully the traditional dance did not end there,

which was slowly brought back to light throughout the islands.

King David Kalakaua is known to be credited with the return of ancient hula to public

enjoyment. He has not only revived an ancient dance, but also transferred hula into a “living

tradition” that grew and evolved. Western forms of rhythm and melody, such as hymn singing

and band music, were incorporated with the traditional hula forms. The ukulele, borrowed from

Portuguese immigrants, was also introduced. Since the reign of Kalakaua, hula has regained its

role as a respected art form, with dancers devoting years to developing their discipline and style.

As a way to honor him, the Merrie Monarch Festival was held yearly since 1964, as it played a

significant role in preserving the integrity of the chants and dance that make hula a centerpiece of

Hawaiian culture. At first, Merrie Monarch was planned to attract tourists after a tsunami hit

Hilo. It was not a success until it was refashioned into a cultural event that has revolved around

authentic Hawaiian hula. Now, this festival would gather the best hula dancers from all around
the islands, showcase Hawaiian artistry, and create a performance to serve as a celebration about

Hawaii and its people.

Hula has changed drastically compared to how it was in the early twentieth century.

During that time, it has gained recognition through tourist spectacles, such as Hollywood films

and the Kodak hula show. Because of this, certain aspects of hula were altered in order to capture

the imagination of outsiders, such as the English language lyrics, less allusive pictorial gestures,

and heightened sex appeal added by emphasizing hip movements. This was obviously drifting

away from hula’s original religious context, as it focused more on luring in tourists.

All in all, modern hula has evolved so far compared to its ancient predecessors. Its

innovating and ecstatic dances represent how unique Hawaiian culture is, which has helped

spread aloha around the world.