Hula dancing evolved from the ancient Hawaiian dancers who performed the dance as part of religious ritual. It was a uniquely Hawaiian dance, unlike other styles of dance that were imported from other Pacific Islands. Performed by both men and women, the Hula told the story of people, places and nature. The Hawaiian culture did not have a written language and all of their history has been passed down from generation to generation through song, dance and 'talk story'. The Hula is a celebrated art form that thanks to King Kalakaua, was resurrected from near extinction in the 1800's as missionaries forbade native islanders from performing this 'devilish' dance. Each year, the Merrie Monarch festival in Hilo on the Big island of Hawai'i, is the focal point and catalyst that supports and draws together an extensive network of instructional hula studios, hula masters, instructors, researchers, professors of Hawaiian studies and students of all ages who are committed to the perpetuation and advancement of the Hawaiian history and culture of dance.
"Hula is the Language of the Heart and therefore the Heartbeat of the Hawaiian People" from
