Once you have learned the terms for the hula dance steps and
movements, you will not only have a good foundation for beginning to learn the hula dance but you will have a grasp
of some Hawaiian words and their pronunciation.
When you say these words out loud or hear them spoken, you
will know that it is a lovely language. It is astounding to know that the original "Polynesian/Hawaiian" language
was banned for several decades. It could not be spoken in schools and it was replaced by English as the official
state language. In the 1970's, when a revival of traditional Hawaiian culture came into being, the language began
to be slowly reintegrated. It began to once again be spoken and taught.
In the 19th century, there were 500,000 speakers of the old
Hawaiian language. There are approximately 9,000 speakers of the Hawaiian language today. Nine percent of people
who speak the language are native Hawaiians and these are mostly in the elderly population.
Efforts to revive the language are making a slow but steady
increase in its use. It is now being taught and spoken in several public schools in Hawaii.
The Hula was originally called the Ha`a. It was not until the
mid nineteenth century that it was given the name of "Hula". "Ha`a" is defined in the dictionary as a dance with
bent knees. Many of the steps contain "Ha`a" within their name. Some of the words defined for you are not actual
steps, but movements within the various Hula steps.
Following is an alphabetical list of Ha`a or "Hula" terms that
have been passed down through the generations. Pronunciation is given wherever possible.
After, there are a list of terms and steps that you will not
find in the dictionary and a few words about hula chants.
"Hula Speak"
`Ai - style or type of dance.
`Ai `ami (ai' ah mee) - Hula with little foot movement,
dancing with the hips rotating in a circular motion.
`Ai ha`a (ai'hah ah) - Hula step done with bended knees. This
step is done with chanting and the movements are done with emphasis.
`Ai kawele (ai` kah veh leh), also referred to as "`ami
poepoe" - Hula step where one foot moves forward in a half circle and off to the side without ever touching the
ground. This is done in combination with other steps (see holo or `uwehe).
`Ami (ah mee) - hip rotations
`Ami`ami (ah' mee ah' mee) - To jerk the hips as if on hinges.
Done in what is considered a vulgar manner. Simulates sexual intercourse.
`Ami honua (ah'mee hoh noo' (w)ah) - Rapidly rotating of the
hips in hula. "honua" refers to the world or the earth.
'Ami kahela (ah'mee KAH' heh lah) - To rotate the hips with
weight on the right hip and foot. The left heel is lifted slightly off the ground. The movement is then reversed
with the weight on the left side.
"kahela" means to spread out.
`Ami kuku (ah'mee KOO' Koo') - Similar to `ami kahela but the
movements are smaller and faster and done in three groups. These are sometimes combined with two slower kahele
rotations.
"kuku" is a beat of three on a pad and a slap added on the third rise.
`Ami ku`upau (ah' mee koo oo pau') - An uninhibited hip
movement with fast hip rotations. Literal meaning: uninhibited revolving hips.
`Ami `oniu (ah' mee OH' niu) - Rotating the hips in a firgure
8, shifting weight from right hip to left.
`oniu means "spinning"
`Ami `opu (ah' mee OH' POO') - Thrusting the abdominals
forward. This is not considered to be in good taste.
`opu means "stomach"
`Aui - Hula step. The hula dancer will turn to the side and
point the foot out and bring it back several times. The body tips forward, the lowered hand points at the toes of
the moving foot and the other hand is raised the opposite way.
Hela - Hula step. Knees are bent, weight place on one hip
while the opposite leg and foot stretches out to form a 45 degree angle from the body.
Holo - This step is much like the kaholo but the feet do not
have to touch. A running side-step.
Hue - Hip rotations done in perfect timing to the beat of the
drum. These range from slow to very fast.
Here's a video that deomonstrates many of the hula steps
mentioned on this page in a live hula dancing event...
Ka`apuni - A hula spin referred to as "around the island". The
dancer twirls around in a circle on the ball of one foot while the other foot takes steps to complete the
steps.
Kahele - `ami rotations.
Kaholo - The "vamp" step. One foot steps off the the side and
the other follows, this is repeated for two steps to one side. Done to the count of 4, with each movement counting
as 1 (foot out) 2 (other follows) 3 (foot out) 4 (other follows).
Kawelu, Kalakaua - Performed at the beginning of the dance for
King Kalakaua. The first foot taps with the heel keeping the toes in one place while the other foot steps forward
and backwards for two or more repetitions. The feet are reversed and the step is repeated.
Kelamoku - This hula step begins with one foot swinging and
alternating ball to heel while the other foot is pointed to the front and then the back four times. The feet are
reversed and step repeated in the same manner. While performing this dance, the knees are bent, the arms are held
out and bent with the hands held up with fingers snapping and body swaying in time to the music.
Ki`i, Waewae Ki`i - Right foot points to 3 o'clock, then 1
o'clock, then back to position with the left foot. Then the left foot points to 9 o'clock, then 11 o'clock and
returns to position with the right foot. The step is said to have been done on Maui by Pele and Hopoe.
Kupe (koo' peh)- Feet stay in standing position, knees bend,
body swings low to the right, left, then up. Repeated 3 times.
kupe means "to stumble"
Lele (leh' leh) - Stepping forward, lifting the rear heel on
every step, heel turns inward slightly. May be done backwards.
lele means to fly, skip or leap.
`0 (OH') - Hip thrusts out in an "O" motion. This is much like
the kawelu but the foot is pivoted as it turns in the opposite direction.
`0 means to thrust
Ue, Uwe (oo' (w)eh) - The drummer changes beat and the dancer
extends the right foot to the front with pointed toes. Both arms are brought in front of chest, the hands are
crossed and the fingers point up - The left hand remains in the upward position while the right arm and foot is
swung in a backward arc. It ends with the toes of the right foot pointing to the back. The right arm and foot come
forward again and the move is continued with the left limbs. Then, three steps forward, turn body to the right. In
last step, the left hand is forward while the right foot and arm are back.
ue means to jerk, twist, turn, or pull
`Ulili (OO' lee lee) - similar to the `uwehe (following),
except one heels is raised at a time instead of two.
`ulili refers to a whistle, tattle bird, or an instrument made from a gourd that makes a whirring sound.
`Uwehe (oo weh' heh) - one foot lifts, then as it is lowered,
the weight is shifted to the opposite hip. Then the heels are raised and both knees pushed forward while the hips
sway.
`uwehe means to open, reveal or uncover
Not Found in the Dictionary!!
`Ai holoholo - same as "holo"
Akalewa - Swaying the hips from side to side
Ha`anapu - Same meaning as akalewa
Hehi - On count one, stamp right foot and raise left knee up
to a position just below the hip. On count two, stamp the heel of the right foot while leaving the left knee in the
air. On count three, switch legs and stamp the left foot while lifting the right knee. On count four, Stamp the
left heel while leaving the right knee in the air.
Hehi means on the count of..
Ku`i - Done with loud stomping noise: hop onto the right foot
while moving to the right and bring the left heel - toes pointing to the left- in front of the right knee at a
distance of about six inches. Repeated four times and then switched to the other side and done again. The body is
not supposed to bounce, only the legs are used.
ku`i means to pound. It can also mean to join or unite.
Ku`i Moloka`i - much like the k`ui, but while hopping to the
right, the left leg goes out to the left with full extension. After the fourth count, the legs are switched. Meant
to be done with a pounding noise.
moloka`i - refers to the island of Moloka`i
Hilo Ku`i - The right foot touches the ground lightly in an
alternating heel to toe motion. It begins with the heel and ends the same. Done in seven counts with the foot being
placed in the start position on the count of eight. The toes should point to the right at an angle of 45 degrees.
The foot is perpendicular to the floor or ground and the heel in a position to the right. The opposite foot bears
the weight of the body and shuffles to the right, alternating heel to toe at an eight count. On the first count,
the left foot is held still, on the second count, it begins to shuffle beginning with the heel. This is done by
placing all weight onto the ball of the left foot while the heel turns to the right. The weight is transferred to
the ball of the left foot and it is then moved to the right. Repeated until the right foot returns to start on the
eighth count. Direction is changed and process starts again. Hilo means to twist or braid.
Here's another great video
Ki`i Kuhi - Keeping time by ha'a gesturing with the left hand
front and then back while the right hand taps on the lap.
Double Hela - On the count of one the right foot is in the
hela position. On count two, it is brought back beside the left foot. On count 3, it is once more in the hela
position. On count 4, weight is shifted by stepping on the right foot.
Ho`oholo glide or slide - kaholo step more than 2 counts. This
is usually done in 3 to 4 counts.
Ka'o - swaying from side to side
Triple - Hela step. The foot is pointed to the back, then
side, then front.
Ulepahu - On count one, stomp the ball of the right foot on
the ground or floor. On count two, stomp the heel. On count three, stomp the ball of the left foot. On count four,
stomp the heel.
This step may have its origins in the "Ulepahu I ka Motu" chant.
Finally, the "Quarter Turn" is the vamp step done within a
semi-circle.
When you are able to understand the terms and can put them
with the steps, you will already know several words and their pronunciations. If you are interested in learning
more about the culture of Hula, there is no better way to begin than to study hula chants.
The Hula Preservation Society has several pages of chants that
are written in both Hawaiian and English. You can also access pronunciation by playing audio for each phrase. To
learn more about hula and the language of the people, visit the Hula Preservation Society's page at: http://www.hulapreservation.org/chants.asp
Traditionally, the chants are considered more important than
the dance. Read some of them and you will see how hula dance is performed to a "mele" (chant) and understand how
the dance interprets the meaning of the mele.