The History and Evolution of Hula
From ancient sacred ceremonies to modern cultural renaissance
Written by a Hawaiian Culture Expert
Kalani MillerAncient and Modern Forms
Today's hula exists in two main styles, though the reality is more complex than many realize. Each form carries its own spiritual power and cultural significance.
Understanding these forms helps us see that hula ʻauana didn't just appear as some tourist version. It grew organically from foundations laid by our own people, for our own people.
Hula Kahiko: The Ancient Sacred Form
Hula kahiko represents the ancient form that existed before significant Western contact. This is hula in its most sacred, ceremonial form. The movements are strong and deliberate, often performed in the low ʻai haʻa stance that keeps dancers connected to the earth's power.
Characteristics of Hula Kahiko
- • Sound: Human voices chanting oli, no melody
- • Instruments: Traditional percussion only (pahu, ipu, ʻiliʻili)
- • Movements: Strong, deliberate, low ʻai haʻa stance
- • Clothing: Natural materials - kapa, ti leaves, lauhala
- • Connection: Direct link to earth's power and ancient ceremonies
The sound of kahiko comes from human voices chanting oli, accompanied only by traditional percussion instruments. The commanding pahu drum, the resonant ipu gourd, and other implements played by the dancers themselves. No melody, no Western instruments.
Dancers wear clothing made from natural materials - kapa bark cloth, fresh ti leaves, woven lauhala. Everything connects them to the ʻāina, our land.
Hula ʻAuana: The Wandering Evolution
Hula ʻauana, meaning "to wander," evolved under Western influence during the 19th and 20th centuries. The movements are more flowing and graceful. The oli becomes mele, song with melody carried by ʻukulele, guitar, and other string instruments.
Characteristics of Hula ʻAuana
- • Sound: Melodic songs with string instruments
- • Instruments: ʻUkulele, guitar, bass, steel guitar
- • Movements: Flowing, graceful, more interpretive
- • Clothing: Creative freedom, modern fabrics allowed
- • Stories: Island beauty, love, tributes to places
The stories in ʻauana often focus on the beauty of our islands, love relationships, and tributes to beloved places and people. The costuming allows more creative freedom, from flowing muʻumuʻu to colorful modern outfits.
Hula Kuʻi: The Bridge Between Worlds
Between these two styles existed hula kuʻi, meaning "to join." This transitional form emerged around 1865 during King Kalākaua's reign. It consciously blended traditional Hawaiian elements with new Western influences. This wasn't corruption of an ancient art. It was Hawaiian creativity, our people actively shaping their cultural expression for a changing world.
Understanding Hula Kuʻi
Understanding hula kuʻi helps us see that hula ʻauana didn't just appear as some tourist version. It grew organically from foundations laid by our own people, for our own people, showing Hawaiian adaptability and creative spirit.
📅 Timeline
- Ancient: Kahiko era
- 1820: Missionaries arrive
- 1830: Hula banned
- 1865: Kuʻi style emerges
- 1874-1891: Kalākaua revival
🎭 Style Comparison
Kahiko
Ancient, sacred, percussion only
Kuʻi
Transitional, blended elements
ʻAuana
Modern, melodic, flowing
👑 Key Figures
Enacted hula ban (1830)
"Merrie Monarch" revival
Modern festival advisor
Survival Through Suppression
The story of hula mirrors the larger story of our people's struggle for cultural survival.
The Truth About the Ban
Contrary to popular belief, American missionaries didn't ban hula when they arrived in 1820. They lacked the legal power to do so. The actual prohibition came in 1830 through Queen Kaʻahumanu's edict, part of a massive internal transformation of Hawaiian society.
This followed the 1819 ʻai noa, when our leaders formally ended the ancient kapu system that had governed all aspects of Hawaiian life. The hula ban was enacted by Hawaiian leadership, influenced by new Christian ideas, as part of sweeping social change.
But our people never let hula die. Despite the official ban, it continued in secret, especially in rural areas and after Kaʻahumanu's death in 1832. The underground practice proved how deeply hula lived in our hearts.
The Merrie Monarch's Revival
King David Kalākaua, the "Merrie Monarch," brought hula back to public life during his reign from 1874 to 1891. He understood hula as essential to Hawaiian identity, famously calling it "the language of the heart and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people."
Kalākaua made hula a centerpiece of his 1883 coronation and 1886 Silver Jubilee celebrations. These events marked the first time in decades that chanters and dancers performed publicly with royal blessing. By placing hula at the center of state ceremonies, he restored its honor and made a bold statement about Hawaiian identity.
After Kalākaua's death and the illegal 1893 overthrow of our kingdom, hula again lost official support. During the era of American territorial control and cultural suppression, hula became a private practice and quiet form of resistance.
The Festival That Changed Everything
For decades, hula remained on the edges of public life until the Merrie Monarch Festival transformed everything. Ironically, this celebration of our most sacred art form began in 1964 with the practical goal of boosting Hilo's depressed economy. Early years featured beard contests and barbershop quartets.
The real transformation started under Dottie Thompson and cultural advisor George Naʻope. They introduced a women's hula competition in 1971, followed by men's competition in 1976.
This created something revolutionary: a prestigious stage that pushed kumu hula and their students to research Hawaiian language, chant, history, and traditional practices with new intensity. Everyone wanted to present the most authentic, excellent performances possible.
The Merrie Monarch Festival became the engine of modern hula kahiko revival and a major force in the broader Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s. It elevated our art form to world-class competitive standards while maintaining the highest respect for tradition.
Today, winning Merrie Monarch is the ultimate achievement in hula. The festival has preserved and strengthened our traditions in ways that seemed impossible just a few generations ago.
Key Moments in Hula History
Hula Banned
Queen Kaʻahumanu issues official prohibition
Royal Revival
King Kalākaua brings hula back to public life
Modern Renaissance
Merrie Monarch Festival adds hula competition