Hui O Hula tell stories through dance and song
Hui O Hula meets at Veterans Plaza every Thursday afternoon at 1:30 to learn and practice the Hawaiian dance. Everyone is welcome. Dancers usually dress in tropical attire such as mu’umu’u/long dresses, pa’u/gathered skirts or sarongs/wrap-arounds and dance barefoot— though not so much during cold spells (see photo). They nonetheless enjoy telling the stories of traditional Hawaiian songs through movement.
In the photo above, dancers “tell” the story of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. This historic pink Waikiki hotel had its grand opening on Feb. 1, 1927. More than 1,000 guests were invited to enjoy a black-tie dinner, a concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band (still inexistence)anddancinginthegrandballroom.The festivegalamarkedthebeginningofluxuriousresort travel to Honolulu. In different skill levels, studious dancers describe the grand hotel: its beds with soft sheets,theglisteningmarblewalls,andthearomatic sea smells blowing in from the nearby ocean.
In March, Green Rose Hula will be taught as Hui O Hula celebrates its 16th year at LW. This love song is lighthearted and flirty; blind composer John Almeida was well-known for singing about flowers and their uniqueness, though, in fact, he was talking about his many girlfriends. Anyone may come and audit the class or just enjoy the music. Participants must wear masks and observe social distancing. For more information, call (562) 431-2242 or email Jojo@HuiOHula.com.
