According to the Hawaii State Society, "Hukilau" in Hawaiian means to pull ropes, as in pulling a fishing net. This form of fishing, called "purse seine fishing," has been traditional to Polynesian culture for millennia. During the fishing festival, when everyone in the village helps to pull in the nets, there is a "luau" with feasting and dancing. The Hukilau is an interpretive dance that dramatizes the pulling of the nets.
Basic Hula
The Hukilau is a hula dance, which tells a particular story in that interpretive form. The four aspects of basic hula are feet, hips, hands and face. The feet take short steps, and the dancer doesn't travel. The hips keep rhythm with the music. The hands tell the story. The face tells the mood of the story.
The most basic motion in a hula is the "vamp," in which the hands move right or left at the same time the dancer steps in that direction. The movement is gentle, like waves on a calm sea.
Hula is a dance that usually tells a story, and there are many gestures common to most hula dances. Here are some:
Sing: slowly bring hands up to the mouth, then outward.
Aloha: extend hands gracefully outward, as in greeting.
Moon or Sun: make a circle with your arms, raised toward the sky.
Mountain: raise both arms to the side, one higher than the other, like mountain peaks.
Love: cross both arms over your chest, head tilted to one side.
Home: hands form a peaked roof.
"Pau" or "The End": All hula dances end with this. Put your right foot forward, toes pointed, clasped hands extended over it. Bow your head and bend from the waist.
Hukilau
The Hukilau is a slow, gentle dance, and simple enough to be ideal for teaching children the basics of hula.
The old style of hula, called "kahiko," performed before the advent of Western culture in Hawaii, is accompanied by chant and percussion instruments. The Hukilau, however, falls under the category of "auana," which is accompanied by modern instruments, including guitar and ukulele. The Hukilau is performed to a particular piece of music, written in 1948 by Jack Owens. It is based on a visit he made to Laie Beach in Hawaii. The lyrics can be found at the Laie Beach Retreat link below.
There are a number of ways to interpret the story of this song in dance. It is up to the dancer to choose the movements for herself, according to her talent and skill. The instructions at the Huladance HQ link below are just one suggestion.
Tags: both arms, dance that, hula dances, Laie Beach, link below, over your